Care for your Forest with MyLandPlan.org

by Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation

Years ago, I was fortunate enough to inherit land in Wisconsin that my grandfather, Bump, and his children first bought in the 1960s. I now manage the land along with my sister. Our certified Tree Farm Wisconsin woods are the one constant in my life, and my family and I spend as much time there as we can.

While woodland owners like me share a lot in common, what we want to do on the land is an individual decision, and there’s a lot to consider.

With today’s perfect storm of forest threats—invasive species, tree disease, drought, and wildfire—keeping woods healthy requires family forest owners take a more active role managing their land than ever before.

Growing Stewardship Every Day
Here at the American Forest Foundation (AFF), our staff is dedicated to help woodland owners protect and enjoy their land.  We work on-the-ground with families, teachers, and elected officials to promote stewardship and protect our nation’s forest heritage.

The American Tree Farm System (ATFS), AFF’s certified woodland program, is grateful for its longtime partnership with STIHL. STIHL is the presenting sponsor of the ATFS Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year awards, which annually recognizes outstanding sustainable forest management on privately owned woodlands. We’re grateful for the support, advice and #1 products STIHL provides to woodland owners all over the country.  Our organizations share a passion for supporting landowners as they work on their land.

Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year are the stellar stewards of America’s forests.  This year’s national winners, Walt and Barbara McPhail, are leaders in Tree Farm’s nationwide community of forest owners who share the desire to leave the land better for the next generation.

What Do You Want to Do with Your Land?
We know that there are a lot of woodland owners out there that are just starting to learn about forest ownership and caring for their trees. Folks wonder about their woods—am I doing the right thing? Are my trees healthy? What if I want to take down some trees, who do I call? There are so many questions! And there are also so many ways to ensure that our families and friends can enjoy our land safely, too.

That’s why AFF developed MyLandPlan.org, an easy-to-use, fun, and interactive website for woodland owners. The new website is geared toward woodland owners of all stripes: from wildlife lovers and legacy owners who inherited land, to families planning for a timber harvest and landowners enrolled in cost-share programs like those in the Farm Bill.

With MyLandPlan.org's planning tool, members map woodlands and record features such as streams, trails, plants and wildlife. The tool supports landowners as they identify goals for their property, and once selected, suggests recommended action steps and relevant information automatically to help reach those goals.  The site also connects users to local professionals and organizations that can help them reach their goals.

Innovative Solutions for Conservation
MyLandPlan.org is also an innovative part of the conservation solution. If you are, or know, a stewardship-minded woodland owner, check out MyLandPlan. Sign up today at www.mylandplan.org to use all the    resources and tools designed for woodland owners, by woodland owners.

MyLandPlan Quick Links for Woodland Owners
Make It Healthy: This section will help woodland owners care for streams and lakes, learn how to address pests attacking woods, and implement an Integrated Pest Management plan.

Pass It On: An important part of caring for and preserving woods is planning for the future. MyLandPlan is designed to help families get on board with legacy plans, find the right estate planner, and set up the mechanisms for implementing an owner’s vision for their land.

Profit From It: This section helps identify new opportunities for generating income.  Users can explore whether their land is a good candidate for a hunting lease or financial assistance like Farm Bill conservation programs.

Enjoy It: This section has information to help woodland owners enjoy their woods to the fullest. In this section, information is available about how to establish a family’s connection with the land through hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, and hiking.

Protect It: Pro-active care can go a long way in protecting the woods MyLandPlan has information about how to recover from a natural disaster, discourage trespassing, and choose the right type of property insurance.

My grandfather, Bump, instilled in me a love for the land, which I know you have too.  It’s an even tougher job in 2012 to keep family woodlands healthy, so I hope you will join with other woodland owners and take an active role in keeping your land healthy.  MyLandPlan.org can help.

While there is no single solution to stemming the loss of America’s forests, partnerships like the one we share with STIHL is one way for us to achieve better stewardship on more acres of land.

3, 2, 1 Saw!: A STIHL Intern’s Experience at The 2012 STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® U.S. Championship

By: Tiffany Hopkins, Marketing and Sales Summer Intern 2012

Wow! What a week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I was able to participate and work “behind the scenes” in a weekend event that I have watched since I was a little “Lumberjill”: The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® U.S. Championships.

Last week’s adventure to the Great Smoky Mountains was an opportunity of a lifetime. Whether it was looking at film to settle tie breakers, hanging out with athletes such as Mike Sullivan and Dave Jewett, or even singing country music with announcer Steven “Lurch” Scott, I was able to see how everything comes together to create the 2012 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS U.S. Championships.  This year was the first ever STIHL TIMBERSPORTS event to be held indoors. Yes, I said indoors and I can’t tell you how exciting that was for the crew, the athletes, and the venue….Lumberjack Feud.

After the 10 hour drive in the RAM truck and the all day set up Wednesday, May 30, I attended the “Lumberjack Feud” Dinner Show. Between the chopping, sawing, axe throwing, pole climbing, and even log rolling events, there was never a dull moment. With this show closely related to STIHL TIMBERSPORTS, I knew that this venue could be a great home for the show not only this year, but years to come as well.

With the whole crew ready to begin, we started The 2012 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS filming at 10 am on Friday.

During the show I was dubbed “runner”. This meant that I would run backstage and post scores of each event as well as overall scores for the athletes. Along with this, I also helped settle tie breakers as well as see when competitors were “jumping the gun”. We had a few close calls, but since we were filming each heat of each event, we were able to rewind the tape and prove who won, who started early, and even those who disqualified.

Saturday, in between all the chaos of chopping and sawing, STIHL recognized a group of individuals that were celebrating 50 years of service…the original Navy SEALs. Roger Phelps, Promotional Communications Manager of STIHL, introduced the 9 soldiers from the original Seal teams and ended his salute to the Navy SEALs saying “STIHL TIMBERSPORTS is the original extreme sport celebrating the original extreme warrior”.  Check out a clip of the Seals being honored.

 
With that, Brad Sorgen, Event Marketing Specialist at STIHL, presented two tiger-stripped camouflage chainsaws, on behalf of STIHL, to the SEALs for their service in the United States Armed Forces.

“STIHL went overboard for us and giving us the chainsaw out there, that was the final glory,” said Rudy Boesch, former Navy SEAL and finalist on Survivor: Season 1.




Along with this recognition, a raffle was arranged and all money collected went to Bryce Smith, a lumberjack at Lumberjack Feud. Bryce lost his hearing at the age of 3, and received a cochlear implant that he wears in order to hear. It is 20 years later and his loan is up and he is in need for a more modern implant that can help him in the extreme sport. STIHL donated a STIHL FARM BOSS Chainsaw to help spark interest in the raffle because they understand the importance of the implant for Bryce. By the end of the weekend, an amount of $2,700 was given to Bryce, which included a generous donation of $500 from STIHL Incorporated.

I can’t give this experience anything but a two thumbs up! The people were great, the show went perfect, and the crowd was awesome. I am so glad that I was able to be apart of the 2012 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS U.S. Championships.

Make sure to tune in to The Outdoor Channel starting this Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 4pm ET to watch the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series and every Sunday following to see who took the gold!

For more information on the TIMBERSPORTS Series visit our website .

Tree Care Tips for Summer

 by Mark Chisholm, World-renowned Tree Care Expert

Trees are an integral part of any landscape. Keeping them green and healthy requires a proactive approach that reaches into every season, but especially the summer. Here are a few tips from third-generation tree care expert Mark Chisholm and STIHL on what to look for during the summer and moving into the fall.

Drought Stress
When the heat is on, water is crucial to a plant’s survival. Yellowing leaves on hardwoods and ornamentals and yellowing or browning of evergreens can indicate a need for supplemental watering. Being aware of drought during the summer months and providing the trees with a cool drink can help a tree stay healthy and help fight off any other afflictions it may have.

Disease and Insect Detection 
Some diseases are easiest to identify in the late summer or early fall. For example, Elm trees may show flagging (wilting or yellowing) or larger dying sections due to Dutch Elm Disease. Oak trees may be struggling with Bacterial Leaf Scorch, and testing is best done in the late summer. Sycamore trees and Dogwoods may get a leaf infection known as Anthracnose that could cause health complications over time. Insects such as spider mites tend to increase in populations when the temperatures rise and rainfall dwindles off.

Tree care professionals, especially certified arborists, can help you identify these problems and provide a great starting point to learn more about your own trees. To find a reputable professional, visit the International Society of Arboriculture at www.treesaregood.org or the Tree Care Industry Association at www.treecaretips.org.

Leaf Size and Color
One way to gauge how vigorous your trees are is to visually assess their leaf size and color in peak season. A very light green leaf or extremely large leaf could tell a tale of a serious stress. Early leaf drop, ahead of similar trees in the same general area, could mean trouble as well. Comparing your trees with the same species in your neighborhood is a great way to stay on top of their preservation.

Storm Damage
Summer storms can spell serious trouble both for you and your trees. Pruning out structural flaws and hazardous deadwood before a storm hits can help reduce damage. After a storm rolls through, take great care to inspect your surroundings by looking up into the canopy and trying to identify any broken or damaged tree sections. If you find anything dangerous, or for any work above the ground, call in a professional arborist to take a look and provide an expert opinion on the proper action to take. 

Summer Seasonal Garden Tips

The official start of summer is right around the corner and it's a great time to enjoy your garden. But as you know, the season brings its own challenges. When the heat arrives follow these tips from STIHL to keep your lawn and garden looking perfect all season long.

June

· If your spring-blooming perennials are starting to look a little worse for wear, cut them back to encourage new healthy growth. It’s safe to do this until mid-July.

· When pruning hedges, shear the sides on a slight bevel, so the bottom sticks out a bit further than the top. If the top of the hedge grows out too much, it will shade the bottom branches and they will become thin and leggy. When pruning the top, create a cutting guide by anchoring poles at each end of the hedge and stringing a level line in between; then just prune along the line for a clean, finished look. The STIHL HSA 65 Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmer will make quick work of this project.

· Cut lavender blooms in early morning before the sun burns off the aromatic oils. After the flowering stops you can lightly prune the plant to keep it in shape. You can keep your hands protected with a pair of the STIHL HomeScaper Series™ gardening gloves.

· Deadhead lilacs after the blooms fade. This prevents seeds from developing and directs energy toward next year's blooms. Cut the stems back to a single set of leaves.

July

· Raise the blade on your lawn mower to about 2-3” depending on the grass species. Doing so helps keep the roots cool and conserves moisture—a must during the hot, dry weather typical of July. Remember to pick up larger twigs and rocks to help preserve the condition of your blades, and make cleanup easy with the STIHL lawn mower bag—a large mesh bag with a wide opening that hangs on your lawn mower handles.

· Now is a good time to make rose cuttings. Choose stems that are just under the diameter of a pencil. Make your cut at an angle just above a leaf node. Be sure the cutting is at least 4-5” long and has a couple sets of leaves.

· Keep those weeds pulled, particularly those that spread by reseeding. If you can get rid of them before they go to seed you’ll have less work next year. Avoid getting sore hands and fingers from weeding by wearing STIHL gloves with extra padding, like the STIHL Proscaper Series gloves.

· Provide a source of clean water to attract birds to your garden. Bird baths should be shallow with a rough surface for the birds to stand on. Place the bath at least four to five feet away from feeders to prevent droppings and seed debris from contaminating the water.

August

· Freeze summer berries for winter use by spreading them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and placing it in the freezer. Once the berries have frozen, toss them into an air-tight bag and store in your freezer. This works for blackberries, blueberries and raspberries.

· Sun-dry Roma tomatoes for use this winter. Cut them into thin slices and lay them on a cookie sheet. Salt and pepper the pieces and place the tray in the sun. Once dried, just place them in airtight bags and put them into your freezer.

· As you begin your garden cleanup in preparation for the fall, be sure to remove and throw away any diseased foliage. Don't put it in the compost pile. This will help prevent fungi like black spot and powdery mildew from carrying over to next year. Depending on the size of your garden, you may be doing some extensive shovel work. Protect your feet with durable, steel-toed work boots.

To get these and other tips and information from STIHL emailed to you Subscribe to our enewsletter.