Forest Management Hike
Saturday February 17th starting at 10:00 AM
Forest Management will be explored on a hike in the woods south of Gays Mills on Saturday, February 17 at 10:00 am. The event is sponsored by the Kickapoo Woods Cooperative, a landowner group offering forestry and education services to woodland owners. It will take place at the property of member landowners Todd Osman and David Swasko. Osman, who has been there for 21 years, figures it was logged hard about 50 years ago, and has grown back up into a nice forest.
Their 80 acres is all wooded, and county forester Cindy Kohles wrote a MFL management plan for them some years ago. The plan could not be implemented as they could not get access from the neighbors for a required harvest. "Our goal," said Osman, "is to manage sustainably." Last year they did a limited harvest of cherry and oak, and hired a sawyer to process the logs. The resulting lumber is air-drying on the property. They also thinned some pines, which are laying in a field.
Osman continued, "As a sustainable builder, the long-term big picture of sustainable forestry makes sense." He works with many clients who are concerned about the origins and environmental impact of the materials used to build their homes.
After the hike we will return to the house for light refreshments and coffee, and some books and tools will be available for purchase.
All are welcome to come and take the hike at David Swasko's place, 21112 Walker road. Take County Road S east from Highway 61, 10 miles north of Boscobel, and 10 miles south of Soldiers Grove. Take S 3.3 miles east to Walker Road. Turn left, the only way it goes, and go to the second driveway on the left. Park on the road and walk in the 1/8 mile driveway. For more information, contact KWC Education Coordinator Lila Marmel, 608-624-5269 or sunmoon@mwt.net.
The Kickapoo Woods Cooperative’s mission is to provide forestry education, management and marketing services to residents of the Kickapoo valley and neighboring watersheds that will improve the forestry resource for the region.