Woodland workshop set for April 22 near Hagerstown

April 03, 2008

Farmers and others with wooded land are invited to a workshop Tuesday, April 22, near Hagerstown.

Sponsored by the Maryland Tree Farm Committee and the Maryland Chapter of the Walnut Council, the workshop includes speakers and a field tour emphasizing issues of concern to private woodland owners.

Among the speaker topics related to private forest landowners are carbon credits, technical and financial assistance, wood certification programs, landowner liability, recreational access and hunting lease values.

Speakers represent the Tree Farm System, Walnut Council, American Paulownia Association, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, NewPage Corporation, and Sustainable Solutions LLC.

A highlight of the day will be the afternoon field tour. It includes wildlife plantings, pine thinning, paulownia, black walnut marketing, hardwood management and income opportunities through tree conservation plantings.

The daylong program will be west of Hagerstown at the farm of Don and Linda Grove, Walnut Council members and former Maryland Tree Farmer of the Year.

The Tree Farm System (www.treefarmsystem.org) promotes family tree farming and sustainability forestry for wood, wildlife, recreation and resource conservation. As few as 10 wooded acres qualify for the Tree Farm program. The Walnut Council (www.walnutcouncil.org) promotes the production and use of black walnut, with an interest in black walnut as the only requirement for participation.

The program is open to all. Registration, which includes lunch, is required by Wednesday, April 16.

For more information and registration, contact Don and Linda Grove at 301-739-6744.

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