Conservation Practices

Silvopasture (excerpt from the USDA National Agroforestry Center web site)

Above Photo:  Image of cattle grazing amongst trees

Silvopasture combines trees with forage and livestock production. The trees are managed for high-value sawlogs and, at the same time, provide shade and shelter for livestock and forage, reducing stress and sometimes increasing forage production. In plantations of conifers or hardwoods for timber or Christmas trees, managed grazing provides added products and income. Some nut and fruit orchards may also be grazed.

For more information, click this link:  Silvopasture

Keep Your Wood Pellets Dry!  (excerpts from the Lammert Report)

...as I travel around Maine, I see pallets of pellets sitting outside of homes and garages, and I’m not sure that the owners of these pellets realize that they have a commodity that can’t get wet. The outer pallet wrapper and the 50 bags inside should each have a notice in very large letters that says “DO NOT ALLOW PELLETS TO GET WET.”  When produced, some pellets have a moisture content as low as 7 percent. Our average air moisture content on a bright warm sunny day can be as high as twenty percent. Any little tear or hole in the wrappers will expose the pellets inside to the higher moisture content and the pellets will swell up as they suck moisture into the punctured bag. Once the pellets swell up, they lose their density and will crumble into sawdust when moved.

If you cannot store all the pellets that you want to buy in guaranteed dry storage, then possibly you should only purchase what you can store in the dry storage area that you have. If you don’t burn pellets but have a friend that does, please pass this message along. Outdoor storage of bagged pellets is not recommended. They should be stored in as dry a place as possible away from anything that can puncture a bag. If a bag is accidentally punctured, either use the contents as soon as possible or put duct tape over the puncture site. 

"Sizzle Wood" - an article about firewood woes

As more and more people in Maine venture towards heating their homes with wood there has been a huge demand for firewood.  However for first timers there is a lot you should know about firewood and how to properly prepare the wood for burning in order to get the most heat out of the wood you purchase.  The "Sizzle Wood" article was written by Peter Lammert, Stewardship Forester, Maine Forest Service and will help educate novice woodburners.   Please note that the article has been shortened and contains key excerpts.