Like a Phoenix From the Ashes

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion) 05/15/2020 at 07:57 • Filed to: it's good to have LAND

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The rehabilitation has begun.

As I’ve shared here before, we bought some land adjacent to ours. It’s about 6.5 acres, of which about 2.4 was totally obliterated by logging before we bought it. I’m not against responsible logging or even selective clearing - our view depends on my cutting dozens of trees every year; we mostly burn the resulting firewood to heat our house.

But I know what happens when you leave a clearcut to nature. Ol’ Mother Nature is a vindictive bitch and within 5 years it’s practically impenetrable with low brush, thorns, and approximately 1 billion saplings, most of which will grow straight up in an intense competition for light, resulting in a forest like this:

not a hypothetical forest: this is also on our land, and a direct result of clearcutting plus neglect

So we’ve started planting evergreens, because I love an evergreen forest. If I could have it my way, I’d plant 3,000 of these things in a tight grid pattern over the whole clearing. But... that would be a) expensive, b) incredibly time-consuming and c) well... amazing ? But for now I’ll settle for planting as many as I can. My parents have a field that’s being taken over by white pines, so they’re happily transplanting them until they get bored.

These, we actually bought from the state nursery. It’s a variety of white spruce, blue spruce, con-color fir, and one other I can’t think of right now.

It will be fun to watch these grow, if we can manage to keep other growth down . On that note, I’m starting to see some of the conservation mix seed sprouting, which is another win. In any case, i t’s a start!

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 08:07

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Nice progress. How long will that sapling take to grow to a point where it is established?

If you like evergreens, any chance you could turn a chunk of your land into a Christmas Tree farm? I know the initial  outlay would suck, but I imagine there has to be profit in it.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 08:36

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As an Australian that went through last summer...that is not ashes. However, that is, quite frankly, amazing. Go hard!!

Nom De Plume > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 08:45

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My suggestion is  strapping shoes with 6" spikes and sacks of wild grass seed with a small tear in the bottom onto your kids.  Once that natural park takes hold you’ll have no problems instructing saplings to flourish in the damp and protected soil.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 08:50

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Image #1: FoF vindictively blots out the sun usi ng earby rocks for a strapping (sapping?) y oung pine like burning anta with a magnifying glass.

Good work, then

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 09:11

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Could hire one of those drone companies that replants land with seeds using drones to get the replanting done fast? :P

functionoverfashion > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 05/15/2020 at 09:54

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I think the tree will be “established” by the end of the summer - typically if they’re going to die it happens pretty fast. If we have a really dry stretch I’ll water them.... which brings me to... I’d love to have a lot more of these but it’s a ton of work. Realistically, I’d be very happy just to be able to cut our own christmas tree from our land eventually. My parents have been doing it on a small scale for 30 years and they do get their own trees now. 

functionoverfashion > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/15/2020 at 09:56

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Yeah .... can you just go ahead and send that thing my way kthxbye

TheRealBicycleBuck > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 09:59

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W ildflowers & grasses should out- compete the saplings for resources and slow the uncontrolled growth. Look for a bulk seed provider.

T he other options are herbicide, controlled burn, or mowing. There has been some work in Arkansas comparing the options (except mowing) . You might find some insight from their results . Given the slope of the property, I’m not sure mowing is an option anyway . They found herbicide to work better on large growth, fire to work better on small growth, and they are leaning toward a combination of approaches to restore hardwood forest in Arkansas. Your location is different, so their work may not apply.

A friend of mine is a forester and has studied tree shelters . Tree shelters help saplings by providing a mini -greenhouse and preventing animals from eating the leaves. They all work about the same, so the big difference is in initial cost and the labor required to install them. They don’t really impact survival, but by preventing deer from eating the young leaves, sheltered trees grow taller and faster. You might consider using some to improve survival rates for your transplanted trees.

Just some food for thought that might help you out.

functionoverfashion > TheRealBicycleBuck 05/15/2020 at 10:05

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Thanks, all good thoughts. I might look at some shelter for some of the more sensitive seedlings. The white pines we’re transplanting ... my parents have a jillion so we don’t care if they all make it or not.

I have been spreading some bulk seed from 50lb bags, sourced at my local ag supply store. I may get another bag or two while it’s still relatively cool and wet, at least as compared to July here.

Burning would be great, I think. But of course, I’d have to convince the local FD they want to do it on such a steep slope, it’s a challenging location for sure. 

Brickman > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 10:19

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Awesome. I love planting trees. If the front of my house didnt have power lines, you wouldn’t see my house  :)

TheRealBicycleBuck > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 10:39

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Talk to your local ag extension office instead of the fire department . In many states, the ag extension office provides the kinds of services you need. This is from the Arkansas Forestry Commission (part of the state agriculture extension office)

Your state may offer similar services.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 10:56

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No idea how much it would cost to hire one, but you’d finish planting the whole thing in a matter of hours! :P

functionoverfashion > TheRealBicycleBuck 05/15/2020 at 11:13

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Oh that’s interesting. Thanks for all the info! 

Nom De Plume > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/15/2020 at 11:15

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Seems a lot of bother. Rocket propelled seed bombs detonating at around 300' should make even shorter work of it.  Figure 10 minutes after launch for the lot to drift back down to earth.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Nom De Plume 05/15/2020 at 11:20

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Now you’re talkin’ ! :P

Nom De Plume > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 11:33

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More seriously than strapping 6" spikes to the youngin’s.

Send the entire family out with a couple 5 gallon pails apiece and a bounty for filling them with acorns or anything they can find that will grow a desirable plant life. Broadcast them liberally from the back of your truck.

Few years back I hand collected a few sacks worth of seed off live native plants at a nature preserve. Start with as much plant life and grasses as possible to recondition the ground and water table. Don’t underestimate how many bugs and other forms of life are still present in the ground on a years long cycle that can be restarted.

Nom De Plume > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/15/2020 at 11:49

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Talkin’ to the sherriff about what gaddum piece of business we done conducted up in that there piece of land that caused something of a  ruckus.

functionoverfashion > Nom De Plume 05/15/2020 at 12:39

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In fact, we did collect a ton of acorns in the fall, and we’ve since distributed them on the land. I’m sure we could do more. We have quite a few dandelions showing up in our lawn right now, and for once I’m like “ooh I can’t wait until they turn to seed” and we’ll take those over, too. I’m sure in two months I’ll think “holy shit look at all the things growing” 

DipodomysDeserti > functionoverfashion 05/15/2020 at 14:06

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Fun fact: Arizona is home to  the largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest in the the United States.