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Newsletter
| January 13, 2012
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 EDITOR'S BLOG
Of, By, For the People
Dave Mance III
"Government" is a dirty word these days. As the election cycle ramps up, so does the anti-government rhetoric from the Republican candidates for President. Not to be outdone, President Obama's re-election strategy seems to be to run against congress. The message from both sides is that things in Washington are shortsighted, corrupt, petty, and hopelessly divided...
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 THE OUTSIDE STORY
The Ecological Effects of Road Salt
Virginia Barlow
Spreading salt to make treacherous ice disappear must have seemed brilliant in the early days of its use. Naturally occurring, abundant, and cheap, road salt allows people to get to work on time and to get home again, even when slippery snow or sleet pelts through the total darkness of a typical winter evening commute...
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 WHAT IN THE WOODS IS THAT?
Our Biweekly Guessing Game!
Penny Harris of Cambridge, Vermont found this gelatinous ribbon of brown stuff on a log next to some moss. Do you know what it is?
Every other week we run a photo of something unusual found in the woods. Guess what it is and you'll be eligible to win a copy of The Outside Story, a paperback collection of our Outside Story newspaper columns. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner's name, will appear in next week's column.
This week's contest deadline is 8:00 AM, Wednesday, January 25, 2012. |
 Previous Contest Answer
Congratulations to our winner Gabe Roxby of Dover, NH! Gabe receives a copy of our book, The Outside Story. The larvae pictured here may seem a bit out of place on a snowy winter's day. Who are these guys? We don't have a video for you, but they were reported to be alive and wriggling when found on top of the snow.
NW Answer: Large yellow underwing caterpillars.
Johanna Vienneau of New Hampshire was quite surprised to find caterpillars writhing on top of the snow-covered ground one morning while walking out to her barn. She found about 25 in all, and wrote to Northern Woodlands for help identifying these unlikely winter visitors.
We learned from Trish Hanson, entomologist for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, that these are large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba) caterpillars, sometimes called winter cutworm. While it may seem odd to find a fleshy caterpillar on a January day, these cutworms are active during winter thaws, and can be found sauntering down sidewalks and wriggling into garages.
Visit our What In The Woods Is That? contest archive. |
 NORTHERN WOODLANDS NEWS
Financial Facts for Forest Owners
Cornell Cooperative Extension, in partnership with the New York Forest Owners Association, is hosting a day-long workshop covering the business of stewardship, income and property taxes, succession planning, and conservation easements. The event is Saturday, January 14th in Queensbury, New York. For more information, call (518) 623-3291 or (518) 668-4881.
Massachusetts Forest Landowners Association Annual Meeting
The Massachusetts Forest Landowners Association's annual meeting will include a talk by Jasen Stock of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association. Stock will discuss how the group has been effective in creating a coalition to further the interests of New Hampshire landowners. Other portions of the program include a workshop on controlling invasive plants by forester Lincoln Fish, and a discussion of current issues and opportunities affecting landowners in Massachusetts. The event will be at the Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield, Saturday, January 28th, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, email Charlie Thompson.
New Hampshire Farm and Forest Exposition
New Hampshire's 28th Farm and Forest Exposition features a tradeshow, educational workshops and seminars, and an auction. The event will be held February 3rd and 4th in Manchester, New Hampshire, and is sponsored by the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, and the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. Click here for more information.
Maine Dowel Plant Uses 100% Domestic Wood
The Saunders Brothers mill in Greenwood, Maine, reached a significant milestone by the close of 2011. All of its products are made from Maine birch, sourced from mills located within 20 miles of the restarted company. "You won't find a stick of anything from China in the mill. Every product now that we make originates in Maine," explained owner Louise Jonaitis, in Maine's Sun Journal. The company recently became a supplier to IKEA. |
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We Welcome Your Questions and Comments
Postal Address:
Northern Woodlands
1776 Center Road
P.O. Box 471
Corinth, VT 05039
Toll-Free: (800) 290-5232
Phone: (802) 439-6292
Fax: (802) 439-6296
Email: mail@northernwoodlands.org
General inquiries form
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The mission of the Center for Northern Woodlands Education is to advance a culture of forest stewardship in the Northeast and to increase understanding of and appreciation for the natural wonders, economic productivity and ecological integrity of the region's forests. Our programs give people the information they need to help build a sustainable future for our region. Through Northern Woodlands magazine, the Northern Woodlands Goes to School program, and special publications, we make a difference in how people care for their land.
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