FOR THE LOVE OF LAND AND YOUR TREES

Our magnificent butternut trees died and were lost soon after we purchased our land for “Mountain Mead Farm”.  Our elm trees grow up to twenty feet and then die from Dutch Elm disease.  Our beeches are dying from a fungus type disease, so we harvest them for firewood.  The young beeches grow with extended branches as if trying to receive extra energy from the sun to save themselves from the disease.  We mechanically harvest the small beeches to keep our roads and trails open for recreational use such as hiking and cross-country skiing.

Our hemlocks need constant monitoring as there is an invasive disease already killing trees in southern Vermont.  Vermont’s precious maples are also under scrutiny as we hear about an insect that can kill entire sugarbush plantations.   Now the Emerald Ash Borer is threatening our ash trees.  In the words of a young forester, “It is not a matter of if they will kill our trees - but when”.

‘Stick time’, when the leaves are gone, is a great time to monitor your forest.  Leaf bearing trees generally die from the top down while cone bearers die from the bottom up, many times from ant infestations or other predators.  Go for walks, get to know your forests, and look for indications that the trees are not right.

Talk with your county forester or any of the knowledgeable consulting foresters who practice in your area.  Most importantly, get involved before it is too late!