Headed to MOFGA Low-Impact Forestry Workshop!

[mitchmaine]

good news to me carl, i’ve read alot of regional papers that were good reading but of no use to me in my neck of the woods, and thats what we seem to be missing is an overview of the subject, simple enough to apply to many, hopefully all, and boiled down, says what this is. i tried a few times and missed, and gave up, but here’s hopin you do better. i think you have it in you.
mitch

[dominiquer60]

Two years ago I learned how to drive Jim Hawkes team of steers at LIF, last year I started my own pair and this year I returned for the Chainsaw Safety course that coincides with LIF. Now I can safely cut, move and haul firewood with my cattle, it is nice to have enough pieces to the puzzle to be able to do something useful, and yet still so much left to learn:) Thanks to everyone that organized and participated in LIF!

Erika

[bradley]

I had a great time too. Thanks to Mitch for letting me ground skid with that team of mares and it was just nice to spend time with an expert teamster. And thanks to Carl for letting me follow him around for the rest of the time. I am going to start rebuilding a bob sled this weekend. Thanks to Scott for the presentation on Forestry in Colorado. And the cooks!!!!!!!!!!

[near horse]

@bradley 22203 wrote:

…. Thanks to Scott for the presentation on Forestry in Colorado….

Speaking of Scott – does anyone know where he is right now? He wasn’t so foolish (like me) as to drive back there, was he? If so, he’s heading straight into some serious winter driving – we’ve got blizzard warnings for tonight and tomorrow – 30 mph wind, snow and temps near zero.

[jen judkins]

He flew back yesterday…or at least that was the plan. Maybe he didn’t make it through the security pat down:eek:

I’m sure he will turn up soon…

[dominiquer60]

So while I was at LIF I heard that sometimes MOFGA questions why they have a forest element to a farmer gardener association. I think that a good forest or wood lot is essential to many farms. The care and management is also similar, thin, harvest reduce compaction, etc. The LIF event is incredibly unique, where else can you have a hands on education involving traditional animal power with modern safety and innovation.

I know that we all filled out an evaluation and much to Geoff’s dismay, we probably gave rave reviews, but I also sent a thank you note to MOFGA as well. I thought that those at MOFGA who may question LIF would see my gratitude easier in a personal note than in the evaluation. There doesn’t seem to be any significant push against LIF, but in an effort to positively reinforce their efforts to put on a great event, I thought a little thanks was in order.

I won’t be able to go every year, but I look forward to the chance to make my way to Unity, ME another November.

Erika

[near horse]

@jenjudkins 22211 wrote:

He flew back yesterday…or at least that was the plan. Maybe he didn’t make it through the security pat down😮

I’m sure he will turn up soon…

Sorry but I have to say “Is that a chainsaw in your pants or are you just happy to see me?”

[Scott G]

Now I know what the definition of surreal means…

Left the MOFGA mansion early yesterday morning and just kept heading north until I was puttin’ around the New Brunswick border then headed back to the airport to catch my flight. By 11:30 last night I was almost to our place trying to keep my eyes open and stay on the road. Lot of ground to travel in one day. No major travel clusters this time, only an hour delay and no body cavity search:D Woke up this morning to fresh snow, 12 degrees and crystal clear skies & sun. Still need to unpack, haven’t even gotten the gear out of the car yet. Still in a bit of denial I guess…

To say I had a great time with you folks would be an understatement of magnitude. Way beyond the exchange of information, methods, & philosophy was the core of something much larger. Something, at this time, I can not even find words to express. Like others, I had a lot of time to think on the way back…

I have never had the opportunity to spend so much (but yet so little) quality time with so many like-minded folks that are so immersed in a belief, culture, and lifestyle, as I am.

Think I’ll get a handful of some lines this afternoon and go for a drive in the woods to further ponder those same thoughts…

We need to take this energy and move our culture/methods forward.

You people now occupy a very special place in my soul…

[Scott G]

…5 degrees and 30 mph winds yesterday. Wind chill conversion was -35F. Balmy -20F today. Picking boughs yesterday on the north/dark side of the mountain and thinking Maine is a pretty desirable tropical destination in November.

So, how do we take the energy & ideas of LIF and move them forward through the rest of the year? This is a question…inquiring minds want to know.

I tried with the DAPFI effort, but obviously that fizzled. Suggestions??

[near horse]

“I have never had the opportunity to spend so much (but yet so little) quality time with so many like-minded folks that are so immersed in a belief, culture, and lifestyle, as I am.

We need to take this energy and move our culture/methods forward.

You people now occupy a very special place in my soul…”

Amen and well put Scott! Those were my feelings as well when I was leaving NEAPFD. I felt guilty that maybe I was getting too sentimental, soft and touchy feely but you have validated what I feel.

So, in going forward, we are moving toward building a draft animal power network (DAPnet) with membership, newsletter and other “stuff” (perhaps including NEAPFD and ???). We are in the earliest stages of development but “that energy” you feel is the driving force.

Glad you made it back safe and were able to commune with all those good folks “back there”:)

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Carl Russell]

Scott G;22293 wrote:

…….So, how do we take the energy & ideas of LIF and move them forward through the rest of the year? This is a question…inquiring minds want to know……

Just for perspective, I attended LIF for the first time in 2003, and was equal enthused by my experience at a gathering of like minded folks sharing so many beliefs and working methods. Being a born networker, I was inspired to find some way to strengthen the connections between states, and to start some similar local effort. In 2005 we held a horse-logging workshop at our farm, with 40 attendees and 20 teamsters and support staff. That was the jumping off point for NEAPFD, and DAP.com, which have now grown into a fledgling organization DAPNet.

So in some ways we are taking that energy and moving forward already.

I really am also interested in building a collaborative text/digital/video resource to try to clarify LIF, ecological forestry, and the use of draft animals in the woods.

Carl

[Author]

Posts