The Woodlot at Chick Farm

Chick Farm has 160 acres (approx) of woods, some of it is what's called "forested wetlands". It's predominantly white pine, red maple, and red oak, but many other species also, including yellow birch, white oak, red spruce, balsam fir, hemlock, and wild cherry. The wildlife includes deer, fox, coyote, moose, wild turkey, porcupine, fisher, snowshoe hare, raccoon, hawks, owls, many kinds of songbirds. Much of the woodlot is still recovering from a forest fire in 1957.

We harvest from it based on a management plan done for us several years ago by a professional forester. The plan is guided by our management objectives:
-- Improve quality of timber growth
-- Maintain and improve wildlife habitat
-- Protect water quality
-- Create trails for recreation

We belong to two "tree" organizations:
-- SWOAM (Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine):
-- American Tree Farm System

Rick does all the woodcutting himself. He has many years professional experience "working in the woods", as the locals call it. The woodlot has several springs and small streams, all part of the Branch Brook watershed. Branch Brook is the public water supply for several of the surrounding towns.

In October 1999 Marilyn attended Yankee Woodlot Forestry Camp, a weeklong adventure in Lincolnville, Maine, sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, SWOAM and the Maine Forest Service.