Our Work Program:

In Winter and Early Spring when it is soaking wet and cool, we transplant seedlings. We also dig up wildings of different species that we may want to move to different locations where they are needed.  We prune the limbs up on some of our trees to allow air circulation and prevent fuel buildup that could become a ladder carrying fire up into the crowns of the trees. This is also when most of the jelly and jam-making occurs and when we are preparing to ready for gardening season, getting seeds started in the greenhouse and preparing the tools for a summer of work.

In Late Spring and Early Summer when it is still damp and not yet too warm, we thin our tree stands to eliminate competition by suppressed, sick or diseased trees.  Some of the wood becomes lumber, some firewood and some is chipped or broken up on the ground to assist in soil building.  We haul logs down to the sawmill, measure and grade it, and cut trims to cure for firewood. We also clean up any storm damage that may have occured over the winter. 

Gardening is front stage at this time- tilling and getting starts out, watering and weeding to ensure a good crop.

In Summer and Early Fall we must use caution whatever we do, due to fire hazard. We operate our equipment in safe areas, like roads and landings.  When it is too unsafe to use equipment, we walk and mark trees for next year's work. We must process the wood that we have removed from the forest while the weather permits.  This involves operating our sawmill, planers and other finishing equipment; working on projects and splitting firewood.

Water is our first and foremost concern for the gardens, fruit trees and nursery.  Blackberries, strawberries and raspberries berries are a scrumptious reward, as are the veggies that we eat fresh or put in the freezer.

In Late Fall we complete our season's work in the forest, buttoning up the road, cleaning ditches and readying for Winter storms. We complete Sawmill  and any outdoor finish work. Everything is transferred indoors or protected so that it won't be soaked when the rains start. The harvest from the garden, trees and vines is a full-time project. Not only must they be picked, they must be processed for our winter stores. Fruit is stored, dehydrated or juiced to be made into jellies and jams later to save time as well as to allow the heat from the stove to serve dual duty by keeping us warm while we are canning. 

Early Winter is spent mulching the plants, watching the rain, planning our next season's work and catching up on paperwork. When we get a bright day, we run outdoors and go crazy trying to do whatever we can-usually handling drainage issues.  We also prepare for the transplanting, replanting and wilding collection that will occur when the soils are saturated and this can be accomplished.