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Newsletter
| October 17, 2014
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 EDITOR'S BLOG
As I write this I'm listening to a tractor trailer back up to the office; it's here to deliver the first shipment of our new seasonal nature calendars. I have a sample on my desk, and at the risk of sounding like a shameless self-promoter, I have to say that it's a handsome product...
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 THE OUTSIDE STORY
Gray Jays: Birds With Attitude
Joe Rankin
I have friends who live in the North Woods. Moose graze on their lawn. Loons call from the pond. And the gray jays line up on the deck railing for breakfast. They swoop in when they hear the coffeemaker rev up, knowing that my friend Pam will soon be out to feed them...
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Compost - A Hot Mess
Madeline Bodin
At the New Hampshire University Organic Dairy Research Farm in Lee, even the heat for the wash water is organic and locally-sourced. The heat comes from the farm's composting facility...
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This small black patch was seen on the forest floor in early October in southern Vermont. What is it, and what helped cause it?
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 one of our Season's Main Events Day Calendars. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner's name, will appear in our next e-newsletter.
This week's contest deadline is 8:00 AM, Wednesday, October 29, 2014.
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 Previous Contest Answer
Congratulations to our winner Jen Weimer of Hillsboro, NH! Jen receives a copy of our book, More Than A Woodlot.
What the heck happened to make this tree "turn" out this way? (Thanks to Rick Russack in New Hampshire for the photo.)
NW Answer:
Here's a forester's explanation of the deformed tree: "Typically a tree that has crazy turns like that was damaged when it was smaller...most likely from another, larger tree falling on it. The top snaps but stays attached to the trunk. If the tree lives, it will right itself by growing toward the sun. (Often, one of the side branches will become the main trunk if it's already pointing up when the rest of the tree is horizontal). With this yellow birch I believe the trunk was snapped twice. The funny thing is that the trunk looks healthy and sound; often when a small tree gets partially knocked over by a bigger tree the wood of the small tree is damaged and either rot will be introduced or the wounds will callus over and the trunk will look enlarged and sometimes the bark will change appearance (below is a photo of an ash that likely suffered this fate). If the yellow birch tree was knocked over when it was younger, it was a vigorous tree that was able to grow quickly and heal the wounds. The other explanation is that this growth pattern results from some sort of genetic deformity."
Visit our What In The Woods Is That? contest archive.
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 NORTHERN WOODLANDS NEWS
Our cup runneth over. Actually, our inbox spilleth over. Either way, we have a lot of interesting news stories that cross our desks. Here were some of our favorites:
NATURE
Hardwired hardwoods, an experiment in heating the forest floor. Speaking of mixing technology with nature, it turns out even amphibians can get addicted to smart phones. A touching story about a mating dance between man and crane. Deep-fried maple leaves are a hit in Japan, and on the topic of foods, can garlic treat tree diseases? A tall order: measuring the height of Earth's forest canopy. What happens when squirrels lose their nuts? Forests grow. They could use the help of some forgetful squirrels in New York City, where work continues on a goal to plant 1 million trees.
INDUSTRY
A new sawmill opens in Maine and firewood is in short supply in New Hampshire. The U.S. Forest Service is seeking input on management plans for forests in Vermont and Massachusetts. Innovative building projects compete for the Dutch Wood Prize, and a tall wood building competition is taking place right here in the U.S. International intrigue: is the Russian mob selling wood here?
STORIES YOU'VE SHARED
We recently received a copy of Lynn Levine's new life-size pocket guide to Mammal Tracks and Scat. The spiral-bound guide is waterproof, so it will hold up well in the field. There is a track key in the beginning to help users narrow the animal in question by using the shape and pattern of the tracks. Then, there are life-size examples of each with more detailed information and measurements. Finally, there are sketches of scat, along with information on size and shape. More information on this guide book can be found here.
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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) 368-1053
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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