Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Oh Christmas Tree

We have decorated two Christmas Trees, one at the lodge and one at home.  Last Saturday James, my oldest Grandson, and I hunted but we took time to cut a tree off of our property.  It is now decorated and pointing to Heaven.  Merry Christmas!!! 

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Mulched Road

We have just had a road constructed through our property for easier access and it will give us another access to a public road.  The road was mulched and not dozed so there should not be any erosion.  I marked the location of the road for easiest travel and will start using it for travel soon.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Lots of Small Bucks

This year we are seeing a large number of small bucks.  This is a very positive thing because we only harvest large and more mature bucks.  This is the deer we will be hunting in three to four years.  We are planting more high protein crops and are waiting to see what our results will be.  We have pictures of at least twelve different bucks that are very young and vary in size from spikes to small eight pointers.  Just about every where we place the camera we get at lest one picture of a small buck.

Where are the big ones from last year?  Well we didn't get a picture of a good buck until the middle of December last year.  They are much more experienced in when and where to stay until it gets closer to the rut.





This Weeks Tree News




There was a good news article shared by Kathy Westra that puts together the American Forest Foundation, Friday-Week in Trees- Tree News from Around The World.  The article was taken from the Anniston Star.  The article is about the Longleaf Pine Trail being constructed in Calhoun County.

Here is the link: http://www.annistonstar.com/life/you-ll-never-believe-what-alabama-s-forests-used-to/article_1409d2b0-7f26-11e5-bd39-e37915eae27d.html?utm_source=WIT110615&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=WeekInTrees

Go to this link to see more tree news: https://www.forestfoundation.org/american-forest-foundation-blog

Monday, October 26, 2015

Busy October

October has been a busy month.  The month started with the Annual meeting of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association.  This started on a Thursday night with a board meeting, on Friday Educational seminars with a banquet, and ended on Saturday with a tour on forest management. 
I continued to bush hogging fields and roads and planting fall fields.  Some are really starting to look good.


I had some help inspecting tree stands to make sure they were safe but I have many more to check.

We did take time for camping with the grandchildren.  One did not want to leave when we got all packed up.  She said she wanted to stay another night.

Mattie had to have a leaf for a classroom project so we got out and found her one.  She took extras to class for the other boys and girls that might not have the opportunity to go into the forest and get a leaf. 

Then it was on to Moultrie, Georgia for the Ag Expo.  We get invited back each year because we competed in the Southeastern Farmer of  the Year in 2008.  This is always a good trip attending the banquet, seeing the Expo and learning about new equipment.

Then we were to host 200 fifth grade students on our property for Classroom in the Forest but the rain postponed it till the first of November.  I had been working on the trail and clearing spots to do the forest activities.  Well October is going fast and it has been a busy month.




Monday, September 21, 2015

Stream Crossing and Forest Road Tour

Last week on September the 15th a forestry tour was held on Dewberry Lands.  The purpose of the tour was to see forest roads that had water diversions added and to see a stream crossing designed by NRCS engineers that had been installed.  On the tour other topics about forest management were incorporated.  People attending ranged from as far north as Cherokee County and as far south as Autauga  County.  There were between 50 and 60 people in attendance.  This was a joint project between several groups: Dewberry Lands (Lamar and Felicia Dewberry), Coosa Valley RC&D, Alabama Tree Farm Committee, Alabama Treasure Forest Association, Alabama NRCS, Alabama Soil And Water Conservation Committee, Clay County Forestry Planning Committee, Alabama Forestry Commission, and the U.S. Forestry Service.     
The Project was a great success!

First stop in a 21 year old pine stand that had prescribed fire used in it.  Wildlife management was also discussed.


A map was used to give the visitors a better understanding of the property while speakers spoke.


The weather was delightful for the tour, a beautiful September day.

The main focus of the tour was a recently constructed stream crossing designed by one of the  NRCS's engineers.


Details were given on how the crossing was constructed and about the requirements for soil and water quality in a construction site.

After the outdoor tour participates enjoyed a very good catered meal with good fellowship and discussion.

Dr. William Puckett, the new Director for Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Service and former State Conservationist, spoke about the importance of landowners and conservation efforts.

   
Curt Simon, the acting NRCS State Conservationist, was introduced and gave a presentation about NRCS Programs.

At the conclusion of the program Nick Jordan with the Alabama Forestry Commission, made a presentation to Ron Dewberry of his sign as his forestland having been recently certified as a Treasure Forest. 


Thursday, September 10, 2015

Road Work Continues

The grass has started to germinate here where we have completed installation of water diversions on this stretch of road .  Seed were planted, fertilizer applied and three large round bales of hay were scattered to control erosion and then the rains came.

Happenings Around Our Woods

Muscadine picking, that was one of the things going on on Dewberry Lands yesterday.  These are going to be used in jelly and muscadine syrup. 
Lots of rain, that has been the weather the last several days.  Below are the results from all this rain. 


Eden with a giant puff ball.  She was impressed.
Hiking sticks for James and Selah.  They got out and found some cedar poles and made them hiking sticks with their own design. 
James is all about wolves and he encouraged Selah to have a woodpecker carved on hers. 
Our artist is at work with a wood burning tool decorating their sticks.

Other information added to awards.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Forest Road Maintenance


Forest road maintenance sometimes seems to be a never ending job but it must be done to have access to your property.  I worked on road spraying last week with the use of my four wheeler. 


Sunday, August 2, 2015

Sunflowers And Birds

Our sunflowers really did well this year.  We planted two different times and some have already started dropping seed.  They are mixed with brown-top millet and the song birds are really working them along with the doves and wild turkeys.  We also have corn that will be coming in later.

Friday, July 24, 2015

This-N-That

There was a great article in the New York Times this week about the Longleaf Pine.

Pictured above are some of the young trees we planted this year.

A quote from the article:
“Everybody in the wood business says the longleaf pine tree was the best wood the Lord ever made,”

Also, this rain we received this week really helped our corn and sunflowers we have planted for wildlife.  There are song birds galore and this morning there were four hen turkeys and 4 poults using across the field.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Summer Plots Planted


Last week I finished planting our summer wildlife plots!  This was the last of our plantings and it was a mixture of soybeans and sunn hemp.  You can go to the link at the bottom of the page, privatforestlandowner, and access more information about this new crop I planted.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Water Is Life

Five grandchildren splashing, playing in the branch,  Ages from one to eight.  We have a pool and they enjoy it but nothing compares to playing in the branch.  The only time they are sad is when we have to leave.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

BEARS ARE HERE!


Last week we were at Cave's Cove and the bears were really out.  It is exciting to me that we are beginning to have more and more sightings of bears in our area.  Just today a bear was sighted in Heflin about 20- 25 miles away.

The Alabama Game and Fish website recently had an article about bears and the bear recently seen in Alexandria, about 40 miles away.  Attached is the article: http://www.outdooralabama.com/young-black-bear-makes-appearance-alexandria-ala
The article shows sightings in Alabama since 2010.  In 2014, I sent a video to them of the bear we had on the game camera on our property.  I was not sure it was a bear but I knew it looked like it, for what I could tell.  After seeing the bears this weekend and watching them walk I then decided it was a bear. The Game and Fish division thought it was a bear too after they saw it because they have it marked in Clay County in 2014.  If you look back at my 2014 post in February you can see that video.

SFI Photo Contest


I entered this photo I made in the backyard at our home on Dewberry Lands after a summer shower.  This photo was selected by SFI as the winning photo in the Scenic Forest category. 
I received a nice thank you note from SFI and a $250 gift card from Amazon.
Here is a link to the announcement and pictures from the other winners and runners-up: http://www.sfiprogram.org/photo-contest/photo-contest-winners/

Check out the SFI website for more information on what SFI is all about.
SFI is  responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving the internationally recognized Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) program.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

New Wildflower Pictures

Today, I added two more wildflower pictures to the "Wildflower" tab to make a total of 117 wildflowers I have documented on Dewberry Lands.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Wild Flowers

It is so beautiful in the forest now.  I added three more to the tab"Wildflowers": Wood Betony (Lousewort), Wild Geranium (Purple), and Eastern Bluestar.  I always like seeing the flower in the picture, Jack-in-the-pulpit, each spring growing in the wet areas.  I made this picture Sunday.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Woodland Magazine


Below is the link to an article that will be in the next issue of Woodland magazine published by the American Forest Foundation.  When the article was written back in the fall we had five generations on the Dewberry property but back in February we lost the oldest one and we now are down to four.  There are some good articles in this magazine and you will probable want  to read the others.
Thanks, Kathy Westra, for doing a good job on the article!

https://www.forestfoundation.org/spring-2015?utm_source=SpringWildflowers&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2015MLPUsers

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Bloodroot

This is an interesting little herbaceous plant that is plant number 110 identified on Dewberry Lands.  This plant is Bloodroot.  If you look up information about this plant you will see where the name is derived from.  Native Americans in our area used this plant for a dye to color cane baskets a red color.  If you dissect the root (rhizomes) a blood-like sap comes from the root.  It can be poisonous. 

Friday, March 13, 2015

Tree Planting Issue

Below is an email I received that could effect tree planting in our area.  If you have reforestation work done on your property I would encourage you to click on the link below and send the information they have already prepared for you as a response. 
ACTION ALERT TO AFA MEMBERS!
US Department of Labor Stops Processing H-2B Visa Applications
In response to an adverse judicial decision, on March 5th the US Department of Labor said it would stop accepting or processing H-2B visa applications, effectively shutting down the H-2B guestworker visa program.  Nothing in the judge’s order compelled DOL to take this action, but they apparently felt it was appropriate. 
The forest industry has long depended on this program for a legal supply of labor from Central America and Mexico for planting trees and other labor-intensive forestry tasks.  This decision in mid-season for many employers has precipitated a crisis and WE MUST RESPOND.
Please click on the following link for more information about the issue and how you can do your part to address this important issue.

AFA
555 Alabama St
Montgomery, AL 36104