Blog
Blog
VWA Executive Director Position
It’s official! I am retiring this year and VWA is recruiting for a new executive director. Transition planning has actually been underway for a while and that work has culminated in the creation of a job announcement. I have loved my work…
Roscoe Blaisdell: Understanding the Forest
Roscoe Blaisdell is the owner of several thousand acres of forestland in New Hampshire and Vermont. Roscoe is a land surveyor who lives in Raymond, NH where the majority of his forest land is located. His Vermont acreage is in Ryegate, VT….
Recreation & Conservation: David Sunshine and Carol Jordan
David Sunshine and Carol Jordan are the owners of approximately 180 acres in Richmond, VT. The property has been enrolled in the Tree Farm program since the 1970s. While privately owned, the property includes trails that are part of the Richmond Trail…
Into the Woods: Forest management is not deforestation, Chittenden County Forester says
Over the last few centuries, Vermont’s forests have been on a transformative journey. Prior to European colonization, Vermont was about 90-95% forested. Following the massive clearing of the early-mid 1800’s, Vermont rebounded from a low of about 20% forested around 1850 to…
Into the Woods: Remembering E.O. Wilson, a writer, professor and conservationist
On December 26, 2021, Edward O. Wilson, known by most as E.O. Wilson, passed away. A two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, as well as an array of other awards and honors, Wilson is the author of more than twenty books, a…
250th Anniversary of The Pine Tree Riot
Tom Thomson owner of the Thomson Family Tree Farm with grandson Jaden Thomson. Tom is holding a 24″ diameter cross-section of a White Pine Tree which in 1690 the King claimed were Mast Trees for his Royal Navy, then in 1722 a…
Ernst Tree Farm: 50 Years and Counting
Jay and Ginger Maciejowski are the owners of Ernst Tree Farm in Athens, VT. The tree farm consists of 90-acres of woodland and pasture. The land has been managed by the family since the late 1930s and is nearing its 50th anniversary…
“One Fire Touches Many”: Cyr Lumber rebuilds after sawmill fire
In November of 2020 a fire broke out at the Cyr Lumber sawmill located in Milton. While thankfully no one was hurt, the fire did completely destroy the sawmill. Since then, the company has been working to rebuild and is nearing a…
Making a Case for Community-Scale Forestry
With a mindset of staying small, a sawmill in Fletcher sees wood products as the next “go local” movement. By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Tucker Riggs, owner of Laughing Stock Farm (LSF) Forest Products in Fletcher, is busier than he’s ever been….
US Doubles Tariffs on Canadian Softwood Lumber and Contractors Expect Higher Prices
The Biden administration’s US Commerce Dept. on Nov. 24 followed through with expected anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber producers, placing tariffs of 17.99% on their imports, more than twice the rate of 8.99% during the Trump administration. “These unjustified…
Timber or steel? Study helps builders reduce carbon footprint of truss structures
Buildings are a big contributor to global warming, not just in their ongoing operations but in the materials used in their construction. Truss structures — those crisscross arrays of diagonal struts used throughout modern construction, in everything from antenna towers to support…
Into the woods: Two misconceptions about forests
As I write this, Chittenden County is settling into winter, last night’s rain notwithstanding. As December progresses you might start to hear the buzzing of chainsaws and the thrum of skidders in the woods, logs piling up by the side of your…
Vermont Food System Plan Brief Highlight
Agroforestry Product Brief The Vermont Food System Plan Product Brief on Agroforestry describes the multiple benefits provided by the deliberate management of trees, crops, and livestock in one area to enhance the health and economic viability of cropland and pastureland. Agroforestry practices can…
Connecting People to Place, Middlebury Grads Return to VT to Start Woodworking Business
By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network When three friends at Middlebury College couldn’t find the perfect gift for their boss, they decided to make something special. Nathaniel Klein, Jacob Freedman, and Alex Gemme wanted to thank their supervisor at the Middlebury…
VWA Annual Meeting
Watch the Annual Meeting Here!