Alive in the Forest

ALIVE IN THE FOREST — February 2020

IN THIS ISSUE: 2019 through the seasons (VFF’s Annual Report is here!), Keeton lecture next week, amphibian update, chainsaw classes, and more.


Hot off the Press: VFF’s Annual Report 
2019 Through the Seasons

Take a look at what Vermont Family Forests was up to last year, in words and photos, in our 2019 Annual Report. From working one-on-one with forest landowners to imagining ways to care well for the water, wildlife, and carbon-sequestration capacity of our home grounds at our autumn Commons Conservation Congress, we dug deep into the humus of forest community connectivity and conservation.

Explore the Report >


Climate-Friendly Forests:
Community Lecture by Dr. William Keeton

Thursday, February 27
Ilsley Library, Middlebury 6:30pm
Free

How can our forests be more “carbon friendly” in the face of climate change? Join UVM professor and forest ecologist Bill Keeton as he discusses the role of forests in keeping carbon out of the atmosphere, how carbon markets work, and the possibilities for Vermont landowners to participate in these markets.

Event details  >


Basic Chainsaw Use & Safety for Beginners–NEW COURSE!

If you’ve never handled a chainsaw before and would like to learn how to do so safely and confidently in a positive, supportive setting, this is the course for you. Taught by the same great instructors from Northeast Woodland Training who teach our Game of Logging chainsaw training, this course introduces safe chainsaw handling and basic maintenance. It will boost the confidence of anyone with very little or no experience with a chainsaw.

Details and registration > 


Game of Logging Chainsaw Training, Spring 2020
Level 1: April 16, 2020 (Thursday)
Level 2: April 23, 2020 (Thursday)
Level 3: April 30, 2020 (Thursday)

Back by popular demand, our Game of Logging chainsaw training courses—taught by the outstanding instructors at Northeast Woodland Training—will make you safer and more efficient in the woods. Learn precision felling, effective bucking of fallen trees, and much more. We’re offering Levels 1-3 this spring. If you don’t feel quite ready to fell a tree, consider starting with our Basic Chainsaw Use & Safety course (see above).

Details and Registration >


Amphibians Course in Full Swing!

It’s no secret that Jim Andrews is an awesome teacher, so when we offered his 23-hour course, Conserving Vermont’s Amphibians, through VFF’s Hogback Community College, people jumped at it, just like spring peepers. Twenty-one students are currently immersed in all things amphibian in a series of four in-class sessions. Come spring, they’ll be heading into the field during the months of April, May, and June. Jim’s giving his students plenty of reading materials, and we’ll be posting them on our website as we receive them.

Check out Jim’s amphibian resources > 


Did you know that spring salamanders (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) live in Vermont’s clear, cool, healthy mountain streams? Careful forest practices keep sediments out of streams, which helps conserve spring salamander habitat. Visit our Facebook page to see what’s cooking (and clambering and hopping and flapping and growing) in the forest through the seasons.


VFF Facebook     VFF Website

Our mailing address is:
Vermont Family Forests
PO Box 254
14 School St. Suite 202A
Bristol, VT 05443