Comments for Vital Forests Vital Communities

Comment on Summer’s Exclamation Point – Goods from the Woods by Vicky Schiller

Vicky Schiller — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:12:34 +0000

Our family has been going to Goods in the Woods since it started. We were very disappointed that it was moved from the IRA arena to a resort south of Grand Rapids. It’s just an advertisement for Sugar Lake Lodge. My husband and I drove up from Stillwater to go to GFTW with my Mom. Since the Hwy. 38 garage sales started 2 hours earlier, we went up Hwy. 38, and didn’t make it back in time to drive south of G.R. to go to GFTW. Does your group realize how many visitors you lost by moving south of town? We hope you either pick a different weekend, or move the GFTW back to the IRA arena. It should be in a public place – not a private resort.

Comment on Aitkin County Land Dept. Hosts Intermediate Treatment Tour by Amber Ellering

Amber Ellering — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:19:35 +0000

Thanks Katie for producing the video!

From my experience, (also in northern Aitkin County), the limiting factors for successful intermediate treatments in recent years has been two-fold:
- Relatively few logging businesses are interested in/ equipped to harvest thinning treatments. Those who are have plenty of projects to choose from across ownerships.
- Businesses that harvest these treatments on an occasional basis, (usually pine thinnings, as a summer niche) have dropped out recently due to difficulty locating a market for their products (esp pine saw bolts).

Conversely, the increased utilization of maple by pulp manufacturers has greatly increased the economy of hardwood thinnings, when we do find people to do the work.

Comment on Aitkin County Land Dept. Hosts Intermediate Treatment Tour by Paul

Paul — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:40:02 +0000

I really enjoyed your video production and the summary of treatments. Wished I could have been there! Hopefully, we can continue to promote this type of harvest while recognizing that most of the logging community have conventional equipment and not Cut to Length (CTL). Tours on a Friday….. Hmmm -PD

Comment on New study looks at county tax-forfeited land in northern Minnesota by Gary Midge

Gary Midge — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:51:58 +0000

All of the “public benefits” associated with retention of tax-forfeited properties do not address what for many people are the core issues:

1. Does government have a legitimate right / duty to possess land, especially land previously held in private ownership?

2. Widesweeping policies, such as Cass County’s regulation prohibiting public sale of primary access tax-forfeited land signal to many citizen’s out government’s willingness to engage in a good old fashioned “land grab.” Let’s get it now so the people can’t have it and then figure out what to do with it later.

Comment on The Richness of Shared Learning by Minnesota Jobs

Minnesota Jobs — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:11:58 +0000

Thanks for this. Just subscribed.

Comment on Beyond Vital Forests/Vital Communities: Sustaining the Work by Mark Heyde

Mark Heyde — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:52:58 +0000

Bernadine and all the partners that have contributed to the VC/VF process, I was present at the kick-off meetings back in 2003 and have monitored your progress (with some envy)over the past few years. Congratulations for your accomplishemts and the cooperative spirit that you have fostered over the last 6 years.

You have shown that varied interests can come together to create a common vision to invest in our forests.

I look forward to opportunities for us to collaborate across the Great Lakes Region to build on our common strengths…great people…great forests…great organizations…a progressive spirit and a committment to sustainablity.

Mark Heyde
Chief, Planning & Analysis Section
Wisconsin DNR, Division of Forestry

Comment on Blandin Foundation commits $7 million to The Conservation Fund for Upper Mississippi Forest Project by ziusudrablog

ziusudrablog — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:56:44 +0000

Congratulations, keep up the good work. Are you promoting biodiversity in these forests ?

Comment on Trees and Climate Change Policy: Ideas about Getting it Right by Greg Nolan

Greg Nolan — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:03:57 +0000

Hi Denny, I am that Greg Nolan. Haven’t jumped out of any airplanes lately but do still have some fond memories. What’s up with you? Greg N

Comment on Trees and Climate Change Policy: Ideas about Getting it Right by Denny Lewis

Denny Lewis — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:23:29 +0000

I am looking for the Greg Nolan that smokejumped out of LaGrande, Or in’79??

Please respond only if you are the person I am looking for. Thank you Denny Lewis

Comment on Snow Pines Restoration’s Idea: Aligning young trees and young humans for better economies and healthier landscapes by Terry Schaedig

Terry Schaedig — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:40:07 +0000

Sounds like a great idea. It would integrate well with the Stewardship Program – espececially for older or absentee landowners who are unable to carry out many prescriptions.