I am really excited to tell you about something happening over the next few months here in Vinton County. The Education and Demonstration Subcommittee of the Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest is hosting a second Friday series called “A Day in the Woods.”
Held on the second Friday of each month from May through November, these classes will cover everything from identifying trees to understanding the game in your woods. Each class will run from 10 am to 3:30 pm. The registration fee for each class will be $10 which will include lunches and handout materials. To register email Dave at apsley.1@osu.edu or call 740-586-5212.
This is a very inexpensive way to learn about forestry topics important to many woodland owners. Here is what they have planned:
Matching Your Harvest to Your Woods – May 11 (Register by May 7)
- Get information to decide if a harvest is right for you
- Visit sites harvested over the past 60 years using various methods
- See how trees regenerate and grow after a harvest
- Understand the steps to take to assure that a harvest is compatible with your goals and considers the future of your woods
- Discover the basic steps to minimize damage from a harvest
- Learn where to get help
Identifying Trees in Your Woods – June 8 (Register by June 4)
- Use leaf and other characteristics found in summer to help you identify many of the trees in your woods
- Learn how to use a simple leaf key
- Take a walk with foresters and learn how to use branching, form, location and other identification characteristics
- Bring in samples of trees for help with identification
Tending Your Woodlot – July 13 (Register by July 9)
- Discover Crop Tree Management which provides space for trees to produce timber, wildlife food and other benefits
- Understand invasive plants and learn how to reduce their impact
- Learn about Timber Stand Improvement and how it can improve your woods
- Visit field sites to see results, get hands on practice, watch demonstrations and interact with experienced foresters
- Understand where to get advice and assistance
Measuring Forest Trees- August 10 (Register by August 6)
- Understand reasons for measuring trees in your woods.
- Learn how to measure tree height and diameter
- Estimate the number of board feet in trees
- Learn the basics of tree quality and how it impacts tree value
- Use basic sampling techniques
Woodland Wildlife Game Species – September 14 (Register by September 10)
- Learn about behaviors and needs of white-tailed deer, wild turkey, woodcock, ruffed-grouse, squirrel and other woodland game
- Understand wildlife habitat, forest succession and how they influence wildlife populations
- Observe techniques that you can use to enhance wildlife habitat
- Visit and discuss a variety of woodland habitats found on the Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest
- Interact with wildlife biologists and foresters, and learn what you can do to enhance wildlife habitat in your woods
Non-Game Woodland Wildlife – October 12 (Register by October 8)
- Learn about the wide variety of relatively common, non-game wildlife species found in Ohio woods
- Get updates on the status of less common species like bobcat, black bear and timber rattlesnake
- Understand the habitat needs of many of these species and how land-use influences their populations
- Visit and discuss a variety of woodland habitats found at the Vinton State Furnace Experimental forest
- Interact with wildlife biologists and foresters, and learn what you can do to enhance wildlife habitat in your woods
The Wood From Your Woods – November 9 (Register by November 5)
- Learn the difference between hardwoods and softwoods
- Learn basic wood identification terminology
- Learn how to identify 25 common woods by sight, odor and other characteristics
- Understand the characteristics of and common uses of many of the woods from your woods
Wood identification kits containing 24 samples will be available for purchase for $25 on Nov 9.
Get more information on the partners who organize these events plus info on the Experimental Forest, including directions, by visiting the Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest at their blog.