Restorative Forestry Institute

[Gabe Ayers]

For Immediate Release:

The Healing Harvest Forest Foundation’s

Restorative Forestry Institute

Like in our farming and food systems, our post-modern and increasingly localized southern mountain region is demanding a more sensitive and sustainable approach to forest harvesting. A long time leader in the struggle for equitable forest management in the Southern Appalachians is the Healing Harvest Forest Foundation (HHFF). Since 1999 HHFF has trained and supported hundreds of forest workers in the practices of Restorative Forestry, with many achieving full certification as Biological Woodsmen. The 501c3’s newly formed Restorative Forestry Institute (RFI) is furthering the way in which the ground-level practitioners of community-based forest restoration are educated and supported. In correspondence with the interest in their communities’, regional colleges and universities also have sought to make available the information and skills necessary to practice environmentally sensitive forest management. Through collaborative partnerships RFI courses range from introductory to advanced and credit hours are available with several area schools. Instructors represent the best in the field of hand crafted forestry and strive to make each student’s experience a life changing one. In conjunction with the development of instructional courses RFI is building a multi-disciplinary research faculty from around the region. By combining instruction and research RFI is emerging as a world leader in bio-cultural forest management.

http://www.healingharvestforestfoundation.org

Offered Spring ’09: Introduction to Forestcraft

Openings: 9

Costs: $900 for instruction, lodging, meals and equipment

Schedule: Each Friday for 17 weeks beginning January 16th.

Location: Various instructional sites in the NC/VA High Country

Course Description:

This ground breaking and highly intensive offering from the Restorative Forestry Institute of the Healing Harvest Forest Foundation seeks to provide students initial exposure to the ground level work and principles of restorative forestry. No experience is necessary and scholarships are available. We will survey the numerous approaches to forest management practiced in our bio-region while familiarizing ourselves with the classic tenants of small scale forest development. Building on these concepts we will delve into the hard and soft skills of the daily work in progressive forestcraft; such as eco-awareness, personal fitness, teamwork, tool use and maintenance, tree selection and harvesting, work animal husbandry, processing lumber and direct marketing Draftwood forest products. Through a progression of readings, lecture/discussion, laboratory observation and instruction and finally student lead practicums we will provide each participant the opportunity to gain personal hands on experience in the most vital role of sustainable ecosystem development. Additional topics include backcountry medicine, forest/farm interaction, and the forest as art.

***If completed with merit this course will certify the participant as an Apprentice Woodsmen with the HHFF/C and therefore preferred eligibility for a Journeyman stay with a practicing Biological Woodsman. Additional certifications include Wilderness First Aid and CPR from S.O.L.O. Wilderness Medicine.***

Instructors include:

Jason Rutledge, Titled Forester, Virginia Department of Forestry

– President and Biological Woodsman, Healing Harvest Forest Foundation

– Master Horseman, farmer, and father of four

Eustace Conway, Director, Turtle Island Preserve

– Master Horseman, Long Rider, educator, woodsmen and woodworker

Ian Snider, M.A., Appalachian State University

– Biological Woodsman, Healing Harvest Forest Foundation

– Wilderness First Responder, SOLO Wilderness Medicine

Brent T. Cochran, M.B.A., Appalachian State University

– Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, SOLO Wilderness Medicine

– Farmer, outdoor leader and instructor

***For a course application and syllabus email mtnworks@gmail.com or call 828-266-3379 for more information.***

Attached Photo by: Roey Yohai
Caption: Biological Woodsman Chad Vogel brings the wood with “Ridge” and “Tray”.

—
—Ian Snider—
Mountain Works Sustainable Development, Inc
PO Box 230
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 266-3379
mtnworks@gmail.com
http://www.mtnworks.org

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