Hidden Valley Nature Center
Egypt Rd., Jefferson, Maine
Forestry
Sustainable Forestry
Sustainable forestry is a major part of HVNC’s activities. The entire 800 acre nature center is enrolled in a certified sustainable forestry program. Forest management activities are conducted under the supervision and assistance of licensed forester, Barrie Brussila of Mid-Maine Forestry.
Each year we do low impact thinning and pruning on about 15 acres. At this rate we hope to have covered all of Hidden Valley in about 50 years! Barrie has just marked a new 15 acre area we will be working on this winter. The area is just north of the new Haybale Brow Trail. Come check it out.
Our sustainable forestry activities include:
Tree stand improvement. Every year we're engaged in tree stand improvement (thinning and pruning) on 15 - 20 acres. In this area we harvest firewood, pulpwood, some low quality logs, but mostly we are managing the forest to improve the health and growth of the best trees, improve wildlife habitat, and maintaining or improving water quality. It usually means adding a mile or so to the trail system too.
Water quality improvement. Forestry involves a lot of water quality and erosion control. Trails and roads are improved, culverts and bridges are installed, and areas damaged during logging operation of previous owners are repaired. We have installed several innovative water crossings under programs sponsored by Maine’s WoodsWise Program.
Value added activities. Our efforts to make the forestry work economically viable and to support local community businesses have led us to find opportunities to engage in value-added activities.
- Lumber. The logs we cut are turned into lumber by Richard Hatch’s bandsaw mill. Buy our FSC Certified Green lumber for your building projects and you will save a bundle compared to Home Depot or Lowe’s and you will be supporting the Nature Center and local businesses.
- Sheds and Log Cabins. Our Stump-to-Hut project took low grade relatively small diameter pine that had been marked for removal. The wood would ordinarily be either destined for the pulp mill or simply left on the forest floor. Instead, we harvested the trees and brought in Richard Hatch, a local band sawmill operator to turn them into usable lumber and two sided logs for building our Two-Dog Hut Cabin.
- TIMBERFRAMING CLASS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. Bob Lear, an experience builder of post-and-beam buildings, will be teaching a course. He will start with trees and Richard will mill the logs into posts and beams on-site. Bob and his students will build aesthetically pleasing, sturdy, and functional sheds out of certified sustainable lumber harvested at HVNC. Sheds and shed kits are for sale.
For Scheduling or questions contact Director and Professional Maine Guide,
Gary Hayward (207)586-6752 or
waywards@hotmail.com