When decisions arise in our lives - such as which car to buy - we often turn to trusted friends and family members to find out their opinion. In particular, friends that have recently made a similar decision can be a great source of information.
Decisions about your land are no different. Whether it is a decision to harvest timber or protect your land, talking to friends, especially those that have faced similar decisions, can be very helpful. Asking a friend to share their information and experience can help you craft a solution to your decision. What resources did they consult? Who did they work with? If they had to do it again, what would they have done differently? Starting with friends is a great way to begin collecting information. Follow it up with a conversation with a local professional to learn all of your options. Find a forester or land trust working in your town.
If you are looking for other peers to talk to about your land, the UMass Forest Conservation program offers a couple of opportunities. We will be hosting several Woods Forums, events that allow landowners to ask their questions and get information from both peers and local professionals. Upcoming Woods Forums include:
2/12 - Tyringham Town Hall 7PM sponsored by BEAT and HCI
3/13 - Huntington, Stanton Hall 7PM sponsored by Keystone Cooperators and HCI
3/27 - Gill Town Hall, 6 PM Dinner provided sponsored by the NQ Landscape Partnership RSVP to Jay Rasku - rasku@mountgrace.org
5/29 - Shutesbury location, 6 pm Dinner provided sponsored by the NQ Landscape Partnership RSVP to Jay Rasku - rasku@mountgrace.org
7/10 - Gardner Location, 6 pm Dinner provided sponsored by the NQ Landscape Partnership RSVP to Jay Rasku - rasku@mountgrace.org
In addition, the Keystone Project trains landowners and community leaders in forest and wildlife management and land protection. These Keystone Cooperators are not professionals, but are local peers that can talk to you about their experiences and help you find local professionals to help with your decisions. Find a Keystone Cooperator working in my area.
Making a good decision about your land takes information. A great first step is to start with trusted friends that have faced similar decisions! Likewise, you too are a resource for your friends. Everyone has information and experience that is helpful. Talking about it can help put all the pieces together.
Resources:
Find a Keystone Cooperator working my area
Find a Foresters working in my town
Find a Land Trust working in my town
Woods Forums
