Help Us Manage Invasive Plant Species at JRF
We're reaching out to the folks who use the forest to help us maintain its health. While the presence of invasive plants is surprisingly low on the forest, their prevalence may be increasing. We have been managing invasives by aiming to minimize the disturbance scale and trying to control them before doing any vegetation management. Monitoring has been suggested, and we will be proposing a student project for a more systematic forest wide monitoring program, a field assessment, and prescription of control strategies. This approach will take time to complete so for the interim we will track existing observations.
What we're looking to collect: Any information will be appreciated, but ultimately we would like to know: Species Found, Location Description, Extent (individual plant or area covered), Density (if extent measured in area), High (nearly complete coverage), Medium (scattered coverage), Low (scattered individuals), Size of Individuals (height), and Habitat at Location (edge, hardwood forest, roadside, young forest, etc.).
Known invasives currently on the forest are Japanese knotweed, honeysuckle, moneywort, and barberry. Identification and more information of these is available on the new Vermont Invasive Exotic Plant Committee website http://www.vtinvasiveplants.org/invaders.php.
If you see any, or are already aware of invasive species, please contact Ralph Tursini, Coordinator of the Green Forestry Education Initiative at ralph.tursini@uvm.edu.
Greening of Aiken Timber Harvest Underway at JRF!!
The UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources is using wood from its own Jericho Research Forest to adorn the interior of the renovated Aiken Center. The first loads of red oak, sugar maple and black cherry have been cut and brought to the landing by logger Bill Torrey using his forwarder. Once harvested, the wood will be milled and dried all within a 50 mile radius of UVM - now that's local!!
Click on links below to see recent photos!!
RSENR student Sean Mahoney measures tree for Greening of Aiken project
GreenHouse Director Walter Poleman marks tree for harvest
Logger Bill Torrey wedges a stubborn treeForwarder loaded and ready for transport
Logger Bill Torrey unloads sugar maple log
End-coated logs on landing
JRF 'Open Forest'
Novermeber 6, 2010
Click on links to see photos:JRF Open Forest
Flatbread
RSENR Dean Mary Watzin
Green Forestry Director David Brynn
HP's Bob McCullough gives tour of Thompson House
Game of Logging
Rubenstein Senior Capstone Projects at the Jericho Research Forest
The Green Forestry Education Initiative is pleased to announce that students from the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources in NR 206 led by Professor Matt Kolan will be undertaking four different service-learning projects based at the Jericho Research Forest this fall. The projects are as follows: Designing a Composting Toilet for Jericho, Uses and Species of Wood in the Thompson House, A Comprehensive Forest Management Plan for Bowl Woods, and Exploring the Use of Light Clay at Jericho. Watch for more details as the semester progresses.
Forwarder Mini-Workshop Postponed until 4/8
The forwarder mini-workshop with Bill Torrey scheduled for 4/1 has been postponed until 4/8 due to wet conditions in Jericho. Please email Kelly Hamshaw with any questions at kahayes@uvm.edu
Summer Woodturning & Wildlife Tracking Courses Now Open for Registration
Join us at the Jericho Research Forest this summer! Ralph Tursini and David Brynn will be offering a session of Woodturning and Conservation June 22-25. Mike Kessler will be offering three Wildlife Tracking courses June 8-12. Visit the UVM Registrar's Page for more information...
Woodturning and Conservation Courses for Spring 2009!
Join Ralph Tursini and David Brynn at the Jericho Research Forest this upcoming spring semester. Learn woodturning techniques as well as principles of sustainable conservation and harvesting. Courses will be held on Fridays and Saturdays beginning in March. Follow the link below to download the course announcement.
Progress on the Forrest E. Orr Conservation Center!
Over the summer there has been a lot of activity at the Jericho Research Forest, focused on the renovation of the Forrest E. Orr Conservation Center. Follow the link below to check out photos of lumber being sawed and milled as well as the new windows being installed. Stay tuned for more updates.
Vermont Eco-Wood Energy Project in Orion Magazine
An article written by Emily Schadler about the Vermont Eco-Wood Energy Project and wood-fueled schools was published in the September-October issue of Orion Magazine. Follow the link and see Page 14 for the article.
Woodturning & Conservation Courses: Fall 2008
Join Ralph Tursini and David Brynn at the Jericho Research Forest this fall. Learn woodturning techniques as well as principles of sustainable conservation and harvesting. Courses will be held Wednesday and Friday afternoons 1-5 PM, beginning September 10th. Follow the link below to download the course announcement.
Community Wood Energy Final Report Now Available Online
Field Naturalist Emily Schadler's final report entitled Community Wood Energy: A Case Study of Woodchip Fuel at Mt. Mansfield Union High School is now available online in the Green Forestry Education Initiative's Resource Library. The report discusses a case study regarding the use of woodchips as a fuel source at a local high school in Jericho, Vermont and the application of a community-based wood energy model. Follow the link to download the report.
Green Forestry in May 2008 RSENR Newsletter
Check the May 2008 issue of the Rubenstein School Newsletter for the latest updates from the Green Forestry Education Initiative. Follow the link below...
Humble Bowls Course: Summer 2008 Enrollment Now Open
Join Ralph Tursini and David Brynn at the Jericho Research Forest this summer for an introductory course to woodturning. Learn techniques as well as principles of sustainable conservation and harvesting. Course to be held from June 23 to June 26. See flyer for more details.
Forrest E. Orr Conservation Center at the Jericho Research Forest
The Green Forestry Education Initiative is pleased to announce that Susan Orr, Class of 76, (Arts and Sciences) has given the Rubenstein Schools Forestry Department a generous gift in honor of her late father, Forrest E. Orr. The gift will be used to support the renovation and improvement of two buildings at the Jericho Research Forest, the classroom and the pole barn. To follow the progress of the renovation of the Forrest E. Orr Conservation Center, please visit the link below.
Community Wood Energy Project on WCAX Channel 3 News
The February First Saturday Forest Walk and Fire featuring presentations and demonstrations by Emily Schadler, David Brynn, and Paul Cate was a great success! Follow the link for press coverage by WCAX Channel 3.
Emily Schadler's Community Wood Energy Project in RSENR News
Read about Emily Schadler's Community Wood Energy Project with two local high schools in the December issue of the Rubenstein School News.
Spring 2008: Woodturning & Conservation Course
The Green Forestry Education Initiative announces a Spring 2008 course offering entitled Woodturning & Conservation with expert woodturner Ralph Tursini and our own David Brynn. Please follow the link for more information.
GreenHouse Humble Bowls Guild: Round II
Students from the GreenHouse participated in Round II of the GreenHouse Humble Bowls Guild with master bowl turner, Ralph Tursini. Follow the link for photographs from this semester's workshops.
Resource Library added to Green Forestry website
We have a number of files available for downloading at our new Resource Library page.
Dale Bergdahl featured in New York Times
Dale Bergdahl, recently retired after 29 years as a University of Vermont forestry professor, was recently featured in the New York Times for his work with butternut trees at the Jericho Research Forest. To view the article, follow the link below.
Service-learning projects are online
Last spring, students implemented service-learning projects in community-based forest conservation at the UVM Jericho Research Forest in support of the Vermont Town Forest Project. Information on each project has been posted on our website.
Humble Bowl Production Days
The UVM Green Forestry Education Initiative is launching a series of Humble Bowl Production Days at the Jericho Research Forest and Conservation Center. Each Wednesday students will get to work with Ralph Tursini and David Brynn to produce humble bowls. David Brynn said, "these high quality bowls will be made from the student-generated portfolio of sugar maple and black cherry trees the forest is willing to yield." 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these bowls will go to support the conservation work at the forest. The first project will restore the east entrance of the 1832 Thompson House. According to Ralph Tursini, "we are engaging past students of our Forestry 185 (i.e. Woodturning and Forest Conservation class) to help in the restoration of Jericho. They will fine-tune their woodworking skills in the process. A true win-win." Callie Brynn, UVM 2009, will assist in telling the humble bowl story and in developing markets for the bowls. Sessions are currently set for Wednesdays September 30, October 7, and October 14. Each session will run from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Former FOR 185 students are encouraged to send your RSVP to Kelly Hamshaw at Kelly.A.Hayes@uvm.edu by Monday before the Wednesday session that you'd like to attend.