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n www.ohiosofa.org MAY, 2012

Serving Adams, Brown, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike,

Ross, and Scioto Counties

Founded 1995

A t O u r L a s t M e e t i n g . . .

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Our Mission . . . To encourage through education and demonstration the sound management and appreciation of woodlands, wildlife, soil and water resources. To provide information and technical assistance to members interested in the planning,

APRIL 14th The April meeting consisted of a tour of the Hilger Farm - and wow - it was such a comprehensive set-up it should have been titled “From Soup to Nuts”! On their farm, Sue and John cut down trees, create boards, dry them and then pass them on to other family members – most notably Scott, the fine furniture maker – for the creation of lovely furnishings that anyone would treasure. Sue is the planner - responsible for the business plan that drives the operation, John is the farm’s muscle - felling trees, creating boards, drying lumber, and Scott the head creative genius working in the shop to make amazing creations from the wood. Scott’s dad and Sue’s other sons have various interests in the farm’s many processes, and the overall result is quite impressive. Everyone ate well, enjoyed the Hilgers’ charming home, and left impressed, energized, and (at least in my case) ready for a nap after considering all the hard work that goes into this tree farm’s operation. Respectfully submitted: Betsy Pierson

Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB): Tree removal activities are proceeding in Clermont County. Only infested trees are being removed at the moment (approximately 15000 to date), but USDA-APHIS is working on an environmental assessment to include removal of un-infested host trees. Harvested trees are being ground and mulched and USDA is offering materials at no cost to residents of the township. However, only a portion of that material is being used. If USDA gets approval to remove host trees, a lot more material will be available for disposal. ALB has made a significant impact on the area and eradication will take a lot of work over a long period.

Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) of Walnut. TCD has no been confirmed in Tennessee, Virginia, and Pennsylvania and a number of states have taken action to place quarantines on the movement of walnut products. To date Ohio has not done so, but a number of states have put interior and/or exterior quarantines in place. Because TCD is a "native” pest, it is not under APHIS jurisdiction. States are addressing the problem individually. ODA is now considering quarantine and is working with OFA and the industry to get feedback on what quarantine will mean to walnut product movement in Ohio.

Gypsy Moth. ODA will once again treat Gypsy moth with BT in selected areas, mostly in state parks. Due to the emergence of other invasive species and the relative lack of Gypsy Moth impact in recent years, there has been little action taken and little funding provided for "Slow-The-Spread” efforts. ODA may consider quarantining the entire state for Gypsy depending on what happens with funding.

S.O.F.A. Officers

Wayne Oney, Chair 740 887-2195 oneyw@yahoo.com Barbara Keyes, Co-Chair 513-520-8876 timberlands@yahoo.com Randy Sanders, Program 614-288-0604 rsanders2913@scpwildblue.com Jim Meacham, Treasurer 740-988-2073 jmeach42@gmail.com________ Betsy Pierson, Secretary 740-703-1645 prsn@horizonview.net P.J. Gordy, Chief Advisor 740-634-2470 pjhunny@bright.net Tim Shoemaker, Editor 740-851-9127 tshoe140@horizonview.net

S.O.F.A. Resource Advisors

Lee Crocker, DNR, Pike, Highland

740-774-1596 ext 8 Lee.Crocker@dnr.state.oh.us Mark Rickey, DNR, Vinton, Hocking Ross 740-774-1596 ext 109 Mark.Rickey@dnr.state.oh.us Tim Wilson, DNR, Adams, Brown, Clermont, Scioto 937-378-4920 Tim.Wilson@dnr.state.oh.us Perry Brannan, DNR, Jackson, Lawrence, Galia 740-589-9915 Perry.Brannan@dnr.state.oh.us Brad Wireman, DNR, Pickaway, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Perry 740-774-1596 ext 102 brad.wireman@dnr,state.oh.us Dave Apsley, Nat’l Resource Specialist 740-286-2177 dapsley@postoffice.ag.ohio.state.edu Mike Besonen, West Dist Forester, South Central Ohio 740-772-3681 Michael.besonen@glatfelter.com

VINTON FURNACE: A DAY IN THE WOODS Saturday was a very good program, there were 42 people who showed up out of the 50 plus who had reservations, but that could have been due to the threat of rain. I think we should definitely encourage this series in our newsletter. I have attended twice so far this year, and there were people from all over the State of Ohio. I talked with several folks about SOFA, and there were 3 people from the Vinton, Jackson area interested in our group. There were others from the East/Central Ohio Forestry Assoc. (ECOFA), and SEOWG (Athens). We discussed the possibility of linking up with these groups to share ideas and possible activities. We should put together a visual display to use at this type of event to promote our group. Reported by Barbara Keys

MAY 2012 www.ohiosofa.org Page 2

Trees Bent By American Indians Being Identified and Preserved “If they could talk, the stories they could tell,” Steve Houser, an arborist and founding member of the Dallas Historic Tree Coalition, told the Associated Press. The trees, he said, “were like an early road map” for American Indians. The trees are known as Indian marker trees or trail trees and were bent by Native Americans in their youth to mark trails or other landmarks, like a creek crossing. Groups like Houser’s are popping up across the country to protect and maintain the trees. Mountain Stewards, a nonprofit based in Jasper, Georgia has compiled a database of 1,850 marker trees in 39 states, reported the AP. The group’s process to verify a tree is indeed an Indian marker includes age, it must be at least 150 to 200 years old, and finding marks that show where the tree was tied down. “They are living archeology,” Rick Wilson, the chief ranger at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado, told the AP. Park Ranger Jeff Wolin said the Utes bent the ponderosa pines to mark a trail to Pikes Peak—tava or sun in the Ute language—an area sacred to them about eight miles away. The marker trees they have found likely helped Comanche warriors find water or shelter during battles with the United States military. “A lot of people don’t recognize what they are and they’re a really important part of the history of this country,” Earl Otchingwanigan, Ojibwe, told the AP. The now-retired Bemidji State University professor also said he found a trail marker in the shape of the letter “N” near his Crystal Falls, Michigan home. “When I hear people are interested in it, I think they are starting to understand that there are a lot of messages on this earth that people cannot take for granted anymore.” Source: American Forest Foundation Read more:http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/04/05/trees-bent-by-american-indians-being-identified-and-preserved-106631?utm_source=Week+in+Trees+April+6&utm_campaign=WIT&utm_medium=email http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/04/05/trees-bent-by-american-indians-being-identified-and-preserved-106631#ixzz1s36LfMnW

Bob: Did you know they’re not making toothpicks any longer? Sam: Yea, they’re already long enough.

MAY , 2 0 12 www.ohiosofa.org P a g e 3

F e a t u r e d R e c i p e: “CHEESY HOT DOG SPREAD”

“SOFA members are great Cooks! Try this featured

recipe from PJ GORDY.”

INGREDIENTS 1 pound hot dogs 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (your choice) ½ to 1 cup ground green bell pepper Medium onion, ground up

Grind up all the ingredients and spread on English Muffin halves, put some extra cheese on top if desired, put under the broiler until bubbly.

MEETING AND ACTIVITY SCHEDULE FOR 2012

MAY 10th Enhancing wildlife habitat in the course of managing your forest Chris Smith from the Ohio Dept. of Wildlife

JUNE 14th Ohio Invasive Species SEPT 29TH LASHBROOK FARM TOUR

JULY 12th Outdoor Photography OCT 13th PIERSON FARM TOUR

NOV 8th Member Open Mic Nite AUGUST TBA (WORK DAY)

DECEMBER 13 Member Christmas Dinner

Why do you need Hunt Lease Liability Insurance? Hunt lease liability insurance provides liability coverage to landowners, hunt clubs, members and guests. Hunt insurance protection covers you from occurrences arising out of hunting activities and operations and protects members, guests, invitees, agents or employees.

Hunting Lease Liability Insurance should include: Guest liability coverage Damage to Premises rented to you (fire damage liability) Medical expenses - coverage for accident unrelated to liability (optional) Premises/Operations liability Cross liability

Landowners have a duty to protect there valuable assets from the inherent risks associated with land ownership, such as claims made against them by guests and tresspassers. Hunt clubs need liability coverage to protect members, staff and guests from occurances associated with the hunting activities and operations. Hunters need liability insurance to protect themselves, other members and guests.

MAY, 2 0 12 www.ohiosofa.org P a g e 4

COYOTE & DEER You will get some radically different opinions on the impact of the coyote population on the state’s deer population. “Coyote” is the Native American Indian name that translates “God’s dog”. The Indians respected the coyote’s opportunistic hunting skills. On the other hand, the white man hunted, trapped, poisoned, and killed the coyote with a vengeance. Some say there is no other animal that has survived the extreme persecution that the coyote has. One man actually killed a deer and by the time he found it, coyotes had eaten half of it! The state absolutely denies implanting coyotes into Ohio, but the fact is, animals crossing state lines are heavily documented to control disease. No such documentation exists for coyote migration. The question is, how many deer are taken alive, and how many are already dead? Biologists say the coyote can only take down a small fawn, or take advantage of an injured adult deer. Coyote impact on deer population seems to be immeasurable where a healthy deer herd of 10 per square mile exists. Highway impacts, disease, complications at birth, and other abnormalities take more deer than coyotes do. If you have ever heard a pack of coyotes around a fresh kill, it’s quite an eerier sound. One might say it sounds like a pack on demons just released from hell! ………strange that such a critter could be called “God’s dog”.

Matching Your Harvest to Your

Woods at the Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest-

May 11, 2012 The 12,000 – acre Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest is one of the Ohio’s best-kept secrets. It is Ohio’s newest state forest and one of the premier research and demonstration forests in the United States. Here’s the best part; it’s right in our back yard near McArthur.

10 am to 3:30 PM $10 registration fee per class Lunch and handouts provided

Register by May 7th

Get information to decide if a harvest is right for you Visit sites harvested over the past 60 years

using various methods See how trees regenerate and grow after a

harvest Understand the steps to take to assure that

a harvest is compatible with your goals and considers the future of your woods Discover the basic steps to minimize

damage from a harvest Learn where to get help

For a brochure and more information visit us at http://seohiowoods.wordpress.com. To help us with lunch planning, please RSVP by calling 740-596-5212 (OSU Extension Vinton County) or emailing Dave at apsley.1@osu.edu.

Learning opportunities

Boundary Marking Paint

Your boundaries should be marked with highly visible paint that will clearly mark the boundary lines of your property or stand. Marking paints come in a variety of can sizes, shapes, and colors that are designed for brush application, or sprayed with the proper sprayer and thinning of the paint. Oil based paints will last longer, and the extra effort of clean-up time is worth the trouble Good Fences (boundary markings) make Good Neighbours.

You know things are “getting out of hand” when they hit your toes!! John Hillger

DROUGHT FATALITIES

Initial estimates indicate that as many as a half-billion trees have died across Texas over the past year as a result of a drought. The Texas Forest Service said that number doesn’t include the millions of trees that burned because of drought-induced firestorms, or those lost to heat and bone-dry conditions in urban areas. Many trees in the state have gone dormant to protect themselves from further stress brought on by the drought. Officials won’t be able to determine how many trees have perished until they start to sprout in the spring. and become more visible in satellite images.

To follow up with our goal of increasing membership…………………… Please forward to John King at jfking@earthlink.net any e-mail addresses of friends or people you think may be interested in SOFA. John will then send them an e-mail invitation to a future meeting. If you do not have an e-mail address for the individual include a mailing address (including name) or phone number in your e-mail to John.

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

NAME_______________________________________________PHONE_______________________

ADDRESS_______________________________________CITY__________________STATE______

EMAIL_____________________________________________________________________________

If you own woodland, in which county?______________________Acres Owned___________________ New Member______Renewal______Scholarship Fund Donation $_____________Thank You. Mail application / renewal & check to Jim Meacham, 4332 St Rt 776, Jackson, Oh 45640 Make check payable to Southern Ohio Forestland Association (SOFA). Individual $15. Family $25. Partnership, Association, or Corporation $25.

MAY, 2 0 12 www.ohiosofa.org P a g e 5

PLEASE HELP !! We are looking for the following at low cost or as a donation: PULASKI AXE, McLEOD RAKE, FIRE RAKE, PROHOE, ROGUE HOE The equipment will be used by Friends of Leo Petroglyph and Friends of Buckeye Furnace to maintain trails at Leo Petroglyph State Memorial and Buckeye Furnace State Memorial. I am an officer and director in both organizations. Jim Meacham 740-988-2073 jmeach42@gmail.com________

Hunting wild mushrooms. This is the time of the year many people get interested in hunting mushrooms... Most think of the beloved morel mushroom. Morels are a choice edible. They are a spring mushroom in our part of the world. Actually morels can be found all year around somewhere in the world according to a book I read if you are informed of where and when and have enough money to travel to those places. Mushroom fruit in season according to temperature, adequate moisture, and habitat. True morels are always hollow with no chambers inside. They most generally are associated with trees. Some of the most common trees associated with morels are old apple trees, dying elm trees...the ones the bark is just starting to fall off of, wild cherry trees, and now ash trees. Many of you know the ash trees are almost all dying because of the emerald ash borer and something about that process seems to stimulate the morel production in that area. Black morels are usually the first to fruit in Ohio. They seem to be mainly associated with the tulip poplar tree and grow mostly in the southern part in our state. Next come the gray morels, which are thought to be young yellow morels. If left to grow they will turn into the typical honey colored morel (sponge) mushroom. I know a lady who puts a canning jar over these gray ones and they will grow big in their own little green house. This also helps keep the turkeys and deer from consuming the mushroom as both animals dearly love them. This fruiting happens at the time the apple blossoms open. At this time the half free morel also fruits and is also edible. This one is commonly called the dog pecker and the stem connects up inside the cap of the mushroom instead of the lower edge of the cap connecting directly to the stem as with most morels. There is a later species of morels which are a big tall yellow morel appearing at the end of morel season usually in May in Ohio. There are a few species of false morels, which appear about the same time as the real morels. Cut them in two pieces from top to bottom and you will see chambers with in the mushroom. These mushrooms contain the same toxin as jet fuel and are not recommended for consumption. Boiling does destroy some of the toxin but not all of it. This toxin can build up in your body and thebody cannot get rid of it. Happy morel hunting. Janet Sweigart

S . O . F . A .

1864 Shyville Road Piketon, Ohio 45661

Visit us on the web -

www.OhioSOFA.org

Next S.O.F.A. meeting ……….. Thursday May 10th , 2012

Enhancing wildlife habitat in the course of managing your forest

Chris Smith Ohio Dept. of Wildlife

HAVE YOU PAID YOUR DUES THIS YEAR?

Membership dues run from January through December of each year.

We need your dues to pay for the newsletter you receive as well as pay for all of the projects of the Association throughout the year. Your membership is important for the continued success of the Association. We appreciate your being a member and hope you will continue your support in the future.

THANK YOU!—Jim Meacham, Treasurer

Deadline for newsletter items is the 15th of the month

“LAKE P-J” GORDY TREE FARM

Unless otherwise noted, monthly meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at the OSU South Center, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, OH. Meetings are held in the

Endeavor Center, Room 160.