Regeneration Harvesting in a Challenging Environment silviculture workshop

The Owl Hill Preserve is an 1800 acre tract consisting of various northern hardwood mixes with red oak, white pine and hemlock with a long history of active management. It includes a wide range of silvicultural treatments, featuring some large and small clearcuts, various shelterwood and selection methods.

The Vermont Forestry Foundation will hold a Regeneration Harvesting in a Challenging Environment silviculture workshop at the Owl Hill Reserve in Chester, VT on May 22^nd from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

The property was accumulated by the Tomasso family in the 80’s and 90’s with light cutting and deer habitat management for several decades. In 2018, it was bought by the Rodrigues, a production logging family from NH, who implemented aggressive regeneration harvesting on a majority of the acreage over the next three years. Some of the regeneration is 20 feet tall. This will give us plenty to review and discuss.

Topics will include sun v shade based regeneration systems,

Regeneration v tending operations, and age-class estimation.

Registration and greetings will start promptly at 8:30 with an introductory session at 9:00 and tour of recent harvesting.

We will be back to the tent about 12:30 for a catered BBQ chicken lunch.

In the afternoon, we will look at additional units, returning about 3:30. An informal discussion and beverages will follow.

Speakers:

Mariko Yamasaki: (retired) USFS wildlife biologist, Durham office

Coeli Hoover, Forest Carbon scientist, USFS Durham office

Ken Desmarais, New Hampshire state forester/USFS/semi-retired

Mike Rodgrigue, logger and former owner

Steve Hardy: Green Mountain Forestry

Robbo Holleran: private forester, president of Vermont Forestry Foundation

 Cost is $60 per person, catered BBQ chicken lunch for those who pre-register by May 14. No lunch for ‘walk-ins’, sorry, but you are still welcome to attend- BYO chair, BYO bug repellent, BYO beverages for afterwards. TGIF.

 Continuing Ed credits are being arranged for Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, LEAP and SAF

Checks to be made out to VFF and sent to Robbo Holleran, 211 GMT Chester VT 05143

For more information contact Robbo Holleran 802-875-3021 or email robbo@vermontel.net