Get Growing Blog
Trees
September 29, 2021
- Land management
Some key questions that will help you determine management actions: Have I spoken to a consulting forester?
(hint… if you are considering selling timber, this is an absolute must to get a fair price and ensure the well-being of your forest!). What am I hoping to leave behind after a timber harvest? Do I need to consider cutting trees, or can I profit from my land in another way?
Some ways to earn income from the woods:
- Permitting hunting or foraging
- Harvesting timber sustainably
- Cultivate and sell non-timber forest products
- Maple syrup
- High-value edible or medicinal mushrooms
- Ginseng, BlackCohoshor other medicinal forest plants
- Firewood
Some ways to OFFSET the costs or taxes of land ownership:
- Cost-share programs such as EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) offered by NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
- Tax relief programs such as OFTL (Ohio Forest Tax Law) or CAUV (Current Agricultural Use Value)
The following resources are for those who want to manage their woods for income:
- American Tree Farm System
- Call Before You Cut
- National Timber Tax Website
- Ohio Forestry Association’s Master Loggers
- USDA National Agroforestry Center
“What should I know about Ohio forests and forestry?”
- If you want to speak to a natural resource professional or consulting forester about your goals, it helps to have some basic terminology. Check out ourglossary of common forestry terms.
- The first step to determining what you want to do in or with your woods is to understand what’s growing there. Here’s an excellent freeTree ID Bookletand aSearchable Native Tree Species Guidefrom ODNR
“What should I consider before launching into management?”
Ask yourself a few key questions about your goals and the land to help you get off on the right foot. Should you choose to speak to a natural resource professional about creating a management plan for your property, your answers to these questions will assist in the planning process.
- How much wooded acreage do you have? Are the boundaries marked? This is a good first step. There are some professionals (https://ohiosurveyor.org/) who do this, but if you want to do it yourself, check out your county auditor’s website, or even use Google Earth to help walk your property and mark boundaries:Marking Property Lines
- What is the history of your property, and what was the past land use? How old is the forest? We can’tplan for the futurewithout knowing the past!
- What are the unique features of your property that you treasure?
- What are your existing resources and constraints? This includes the money, time, or physical limitations you have for management activities.
- What are your long-term goals for the woods? What do you want for the forest in the future?
For more, check outMyLandPlan.org, an American Forest Foundation webpage for landowners seeking to get more out of the land they love.
If you are interested in how to take care of individual trees, pleasecheck out our HF&G Tree Care Toolkit
Other Resources
March 14, 2022
Small Woodland Management Manual
Trees
This manual provides a shorthand guide to effectively manage your woodlands.more
September 29, 2021
Pass on or Protect the Woods
Trees
There are many options to consider when you own undeveloped land. Let us help you address some concerns!more
September 29, 2021
Profit from the Woods
Trees
This short guide will help you evaluate opportunities for sustainable income from your woodlands.more
September 29, 2021
Keep the Woods Healthy
Trees
Learn about protecting the health and ecological integrity of your woodlands.more
September 29, 2021
Enjoying the Woods
Trees
Evaluate the benefits your woodlands provide, and plan for the future.more
Here’s more to explore
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