Blog
Blog
2023 Tree Farmer of the Year: Brendan and Dorothy Whittaker
The Outstanding Tree Farm of the Year Award recognizes a Vermont Tree Farmer who is committed to long-term stewardship, sustainable forest management practices, and a dedication to educating the public about the role of working forests in Vermont. The Vermont Tree Farm…
New Publication: Managing Northeast Forests Threatened by EAB
A new publication is available from partners on managing emerald ash borer (EAB). The goal of this publication is to give those making decisions about the stewardship of forests—landowners, foresters, loggers, conservation organizations, and community leaders—the information they need to address the…
Give the Gift of Vermont Woodlands All Year!
Are you looking for the perfect gift for the woodland enthusiast in your life? Are you looking for the perfect gift? Look no further than a gift membership to the Vermont Woodland Association. Purchase a gift membership as a gift, and we’ll…
VWA Depends on You! Make a Year-End Gift Today!
Vermont’s woodlands are integral to our daily lives, providing for every breath we take and every glass of water we drink. In the face of climate change and loss of biodiversity, our forests need our help. Thoughtful stewardship is the best way…
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…
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…
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!
Several new detections of EAB in Vermont
Several new detections of EAB in Vermont have expanded existing Infested Areas, including into two new counties. The new detections were found in the towns of Hartford (White River Junction), Brookfield, and Belvidere. The Hartford detection is the first in Windsor County, although there were already areas within Windsor County that were within 10-miles of a New Hampshire EAB infestation. The new detection in Belvidere is…