2023 Women’s Chainsaw Safety Workshops a Grand Success!

Written by Barb Spears, MNWWN President

In September, MNWWN partnered with Dovetail Partners Inc. and UW-Madison Forestry Extension to host three workshops geared towards female woodland owners with little or no experience using a chainsaw. The principal focus was on safety: safe posture, safe practices, safe clothing, and safe habits. These workshops empowered women to be comfortable with running a saw and increase saw knowledge.  The workshops were at Northland College in Ashland, WI; MNWWN member Cheryl Jirik’s property in Webster, MN, and the UMN Hubacheck Wilderness Research Center in Ely, MN providing an opportunity for women from southern and northern Minnesota to attend. Each workshop was at capacity with 15 participants, providing a 1:5 ratio of instructors to participants, ideal for ensuring that each participant had ample opportunity to work with an instructor. 

Seeds, Seedlings, Trees and Lucette Bunyan!

Article by Barb Spears, MNWWN President

I attended the Minnesota Forest Resources Council (MFRC) North Central Landscape Committee (NCLC)  Summer Field Tour on Monday July 31. It was my first tour like this in a very long time and my first opportunity to connect with the North Central Landscape Committee members since moving to Grand Rapids in June.  It was a fun and educational day!  

MFRC Landscape Committees - Get Involved!

Article by Jaimé Thibodeaux, Minnesota Forest Resources Council, Landscape Program Coordinator

The Minnesota Forest Resources Council is inviting interested landowners to participate in regional committees in the West and East Central parts of Minnesota’s forests. The Minnesota Forest Resources Council (MFRC) is a 17-member board created to develop policy recommendations to the Governor and federal, state, and local governments and to encourage the adoption of sustainable forest management policies and practices. 

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

By Misi Stine, Environmental Educator and member of the MN Herpetological Society

There has been a lot in the news about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in recent months, so it seems timely to write an article on the topic and discuss its impacts on Minnesota’s wildlife.  CWD is part of a group of neurological diseases called spongiform encephalopathies (TSE’s) which are believed to cause abnormal proteins to form called prions. Proteins become abnormal and contagious when the protein material folds incorrectly.

Skinks of Minnesota

By Misi Stine, Environmental Educator and member of the MN Herpetological Society

Although there are about 150 native and non-native species of lizards found in North America, only three are hardy enough to survive in the Bold North, also known as Minnesota. In fact, the farther north you go, the conditions become less favorable to reptiles and amphibians because of the harsh climate, and the overall number and diversity of species decline. 

FORAGING FOR MORELS

Minnesota Master Naturalist Submission: Cheryl Batson

Morels are considered a choice edible mushroom with a nutty, earthy flavor. It is a good start for beginners since they can be easy to identify. The Minnesota Mycological Society is a low-cost option for beginners in Minnesota to learn mushroom identification and the club holds forays (mushroom hunting) throughout the harvesting season.  Also essential, is getting a good Minnesota mushroom identification book such as Mushrooms of the Upper Midwest by Teresa Marrone and Kathy Yerich. Being certain of your identification before eating any wild mushroom will help you prevent food poisoning and death. As with any wild food, only a small amount should be eaten to ensure you are not allergic, and check with your doctor before eating any wild foods when you are pregnant (especially mushrooms).

Lichens

By Misi Stine, Environmental Educator and member of the MN Herpetological Society

Lichens are fascinating, complex organisms that seem to be everywhere. They are found worldwide, from deserts to forests to tundra and many more habitat types. There are an estimated 20,000 species worldwide and approximately 3,600 species in North America. Lichens occur as the result of a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungus, and in some lichens, there are cyanobacteria that are part of the relationship.  

Harvesting Willow Bark for Tea

**Do not consume anything from the wild that a professional has not verified or accurately identified. Always be sure of the identification of the plant/fungi before consuming and avoid foraging in potentially contaminated areas. Misidentification can lead to serious illness or even death. Also, be sure to check local regulations and do not take more than you need.

Minnesota Master Naturalist Submission: Cheryl Batson

Willow bark from Salix varieties contains salicin which is a chemical similar to aspirin. In fact, initially, aspirin was derived from willow. Some of the cultivars of willows contain less salicin than the non-Salix varieties. Native Americans used to cut off willow bark and chew the inner bark as a pain reliever and to reduce inflammation. It can be used in the same way today.  Willow bark can also be harvested to make tea. 

Porcupines: What are they good for?

By Misi Stine, Environmental Educator and member of the MN Herpetological Society

The North American Porcupine is the second largest rodent on this continent (the largest being the American beaver). They weigh between 15-35 lbs.,  are 2-4 feet in length, have an average lifespan in the wild of 18 years, and make a wide variety of vocalizations, some of which can be heard for long distances (click here to listen to a sample). They are found in colors from blond to black and have large teeth with reddish-orange colored incisors. The color comes from iron in the tooth enamel that strengthens their teeth, allowing them to chew through lots of fibrous materials. 

New Report on Buckthorn from UMN

MN Invasive Terrestrial Plants & Pests Center (MITPPC)

Summary by Angela Gupta, UMN Extension Forester, agupta@umn.edu

Last June the MITPPC produce a white paper, Managing Invasive Buckthorn, summarizing buckthorn management research that can help woodland owners and land managers. The report includes buckthorn identification, types of removal options including goats, and prevention strategies.

Minnesota’s Family Forests Getting a Boost with AFF’s Family Forest Carbon Program

By Chrissy Shaw, FFCP Senior Forestry Manager for Wisconsin and Minnesota

My family owns a cabin near Backus, Minnesota. Every June, we load the car and head up north for a week of non-stop fishing. The fishing is always good, but the cabin is truly an experience. We are always graced with the sounds of the loon, a swooping bald eagle that lands in a towering white pine hanging over the lake, a beaver that announces we are too close to the den, and if we are lucky, we see some curious fox kits roaming about. It all seems majestic, and the trip is inevitably nothing short of rejuvenating. 

The Elusive Fisher

By Misi Stine, Environmental Educator and member of the MN Herpetological Society

Fishers (Pekania pennanti) are curious critters for many, partly because sightings are considered rare, even though they are thought to be common, with an estimated population of 10,000 in Minnesota. They are found throughout the northern forested areas of Minnesota, with additional documented animals in the prairies to the west and the river valleys in the southeast.

The Women’s Forest Congress: Fun, Females & Forestry!

By Angela Gupta, UMN Extension Forester and MNWWN Board member, agupta@umn.edu

This picture, from the Women’s Forest Congress in Minneapolis this past October says it all! Georgia, my “old” Extension Forestry friend from Michigan; Amanda, an “old” only-over-Zoom friend from Women Owning Woodlands, and I were able to meet, have fun, learn, support each other, and be our whole selves. I love that I’m in heels, a skirt, trapper hat and plaid vest and holding a large oak tree cookie while Georgia expresses her wild side and chainsaw confidence and Amanda, wielding a forestry manual and donning a cruising vest, looks on in horror! MNWWN Board members Ginger Kopp and Barb Spears, arranged to bring a forestry cruising vest, vintage forestry equipment, historical documents, and the large tree cookie to use as photo props. They also kept a close eye on the “toothless” chainsaw (used by tish carr from Maine for her chainsaw workshop at the hotel) that was loaned to MNWWN by Tim’s Small Engine in Lonsdale through MNWWN Board member Cheryl Jirik. Jennifer Teegarden, also a MNWWN Board member, helped provide the historic picture from the MN DNR that served as the backdrop.

Ruffed Grouse

By Misi Stine, Environmental Educator and member of the MN Herpetological Society

Fall is my favorite time of year, with the cooler weather, the beautiful colors, and its hunting season for upland birds. It seems like spending some time talking about the Ruffed Grouse would be a natural fit, as my fiancée and I prepare to go out into the woods for this favorite fall activity.

The Air We Breathe: Community Forests, Air Quality and Environmental Justice

Article by Molly Codding, MPH, Community Environmental Justice Coordinator | DNR – Urban and Community Forestry Program

While air quality in the United States has steadily improved since the Clean Air Act of 1990, air pollution is still a significant public health concern for environmental justice communities in Minnesota. In 2019, air pollution contributed to 4,000 deaths, 500 hospitalizations, and 800 emergency room visits annually (MDH, MPCA, 2020). Poor air quality results in an increased risk of lung cancer, asthma, ischemic heart disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and exacerbates circulatory and respiratory symptoms.