A Forest Management Plan

[crtreedude]

When I first saw the picture I thought Jeff was curing salmon eggs...

[Jeff]

Well, same family. Even canola fits. 

Yes it "can". Although not all rapeseed is canola, but all canola is rapeseed.

[thecfarm]

Jeff,could you plant some beets or is the ground too wet?One year I got busy and left the beets in the ground.The deer pawed through the snow to get at them.The snow was purple.They liked the carrots too.

[Jeff]

THis next year I will plant some turnips in the mix. The ground isn't wet at all.

[SwampDonkey]

Deer love beet greens, and I bet turnip tops to. Ask any gardener with deer around.

[crtreedude]

Jeff could plant tulips - I know that deer like them. 

[SwampDonkey]

Lilies to, and some are native.

[Jeff]

Part of the management plan that Ron had prescribed for my property is the removal of the Aspen and Balsam Poplar. 

I think I invented a new word.    "Aspendectomy" 

Most of you know that I spent most my entire working life in a saw booth with a few stints in the woods and on the road in a log truck, plus a little hauling lumber when times were lean in the mill. My Logger experiences though were limited to mechanized machinery. I ran Skidders and Loaders, Slashers and total tree chippers, and a bobcat with a feller buncher, however I never did any felling with chainsaws. I did work behind a feller as a limber and bucker, but never any felling.  This leave me inadequately prepared, safety wise, for starting the removal of some of the larger aspen on my property. I just don't want to go up there with only book knowledge and end up killing myself or worse. (I figure there are fates worse then death). 

So, I have found some help in giving me some training. Friday, Tammy is taking me up to the cabin and dropping me off and Saturday morning Kevin is coming down to spend the weekend. Were going to start taking down some of my larger aspen that I am going to use to saw framing material out of.  The start of my management plan's Aspendectomy

Tuesday, Burlkraft is coming over and we're going to probably start skidding logs our with the Logrite Mark7 arch. That is if it isn't to wet in there yet. If it is, then were going to transplant some Balsam fir to a place where I need a visual screen.

[Gary_C]

Sounds like a fun weekend. Too bad I am so far away as the forwarder is not being used much right now. But it would cost more to get it there and back than the trees would be worth.

Hope you have a good winch to pull them down after they are cut.

How many do you plan to cut?

[Jeff]

My land is to sensitive to use a fowarder on. I'll be using the Logrite arch.  I don't know exactly how many  saw log size trees, but my guess is less then 20, but not necessarily all this weekend. Pete has some good size Tamarack that he wants me to take at the cabin as well since several died last year, were guessing due to the very dry conditions they went through.

[SwampDonkey]

Heard a land owner ask someone today. Should I cut that old cedar down there and replant it?

First, I was wondering if he knew it lives a mighty long time. And I wondered if he knew how bad the cedar actually was and if it was worth trying to market. Sometimes it's best left standing, for wildlife if nothing else and maybe for greater significance, water quality. Be dang shame a deer or moose might have a cedar stand to winter in. 

Then a respond was given that it has a long life. And pretty much followed my additional thoughts given above.

Then I wondered how he thought a wet cedar swamp was going to be reforested with anything other than cedar and maybe balm of gilead, possibly tamarak and how was he going to achieve it. I never heard a solution.

I don't agree with clear cutting cedar, yet this is the attitude around here. The guy that owns it will be long dead and that cedar will be there for a long time to come.

[Bow Saw]

Jeff,
Remember to bring your video equipment
so we can see your post on youtube!
Mrs. B.S.

[leweee]

How did the "Aspendectomy"     GO?

[Jeff]

Still in da O.R. in da U.P.  No good way to post til I get home next weekend. Lots of work. Its good for me.  Wait until you see the video of a Logrite cant hook felling a 75 foot tall aspen!

[SwampDonkey]

Wish I had the camera today Jeff. I coulda showed ya some big old whallopers for cedar where I was marking out for thinning. There was 3 huge ones within a  tight circle, each about 30 inches or so on the but end. Many are dying in that spot from age. I bet they are over 300 years old. Most would be hollow. I seen a few cords laid to waste along the roadside.  Criminal.