WOMEN AND THE WOODS PROGRAM TO HOLD LOW IMPACT FORESTRY DEMONSTRATION DAY

The Women and the Woods Program will hold a Low Impact Forestry Demonstration Day, Saturday, March 5, at A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm in Sumner. It will include an introductory discussion about low impact forestry and outdoor, hands-on activities on horse logging, low impact harvesting technologies, chainsaw use and safety and maple sugaring. Women will meet with forestry professionals and with others who are managing woodland. Participants can choose the activities they want to be involved in and should come prepared to walk and work in the woods. Lunch will be provided. More information and registration forms are available from Laura Sebastianelli at 207-789-5808, lauras@umext.maine.edu .

The goal of Women and the Woods, a program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, is to help increase the proportion of women woodland owners who are aware of the options for caring for their woodland. In an environment supportive of women's preferred learning styles, participants have opportunities for discussion and networking with other women woodland owners, and a preference for participatory, hands-on and/or outdoors activities.

This year, Women and the Woods will also offer: locally organized network meetings throughout the state and a multi-day conference focusing on all business aspects of woodland ownership including land stewardship, communicating with resource professionals, timber harvesting, estate planning, and forest-related tax laws.

Women and the Woods is a program created in direct response to requests from women landowners who suggested they would benefit from a forestry program for women. Funded by USDA Forest Service, the program is the result of a creative partnership between the Maine Forest Service, the Women's Agricultural Network (WAgN) of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center.

Vivianne J. Holmes, Ph.D.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Women's Agricultural Network (WAgN)
24 Main St.
Lisbon Falls, ME 04252
207-353-5550
207-353-5558 fax
In Maine only 800-287-1458
vholmes@umext.maine.edu
http://www.umaine.edu/umext/WagN/