2009 Tree Farmer of the Year Tour

DERBY- Members of the public are invited to attend a Forest Land Tour of Pine Hill Farm owned by Trevor Evans, the 2009 Tree Farmer of the Year.  The tour will be held on October 17th from 8:45AM to 5:00PM.  Evans and a team of foresters have created a program that promises to be educational and  enjoyable.

The day's activities will begin with coffee and donuts at 8:45AM followed by  a welcome and introduction by Put Blodgett, Vermont Woodlands President.  Evans will then give a history of the Tree Farm. Consulting Forester, Ross  Morgan will discuss the management plan and lead the group on a tour of a  sugar maple stand and a hemlock stand, along with George Buzzell, retired  Orleans County Forester, and birding specialist Carolyn Boardman. A Southern  Style lunch will be served and guest speaker, author, and UVM Professor,  Thom McEvoy will present on "Essential Elements of Selling Timber." After  lunch, Evans and naturalist/birding specialist Jayson Benoit from the  NorthWoods Stewardship Center, will lead a tour of a white pine and red pine  plantation with transplant planting, crop tree pruning, apple tree pruning  and release, and invasive species removal demonstrations.  The day will end  with a walk on a recreational trail through northern hardwoods that has  ample signs of wildlife.  The trail project measures the effects of  recreational trails on wildlife movement before, during and after  construction by monitoring browsing, scat, tracks, other indicators, and  movement with infrared cameras.

There is no cost for this tour, but pre-registration is required by October 1st.  Please visit www.vermontwoodlands.org for directions and the registration form.