Announcing Workshops on Caring for Backyard Woods

Do you have woods in your backyard? Penn State research for Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry estimates that nearly half a million Pennsylvanians own a small patch of woodlands -- something less than ten acres in size. In fact, the average small ownership is about two acres. In sum these small patches add up to about a million or so acres, or about 10 percent, of our state’s privately held woodlands.

Anyone interested in improving their land or acreage for the benefit of humans, flora and fauna will not want to miss the Woods in Your Backyard: Learning to Create and Enhance Natural Areas around Your Home series of workshops being offered across the state, see location details below.

The workshops are sponsored by The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: Forests for the Bay Program, Penn State Extension, Pennsylvania Forestry Association, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and ClearWater Conservancy.

The workshops are designed specifically (but not exclusively) for smaller landscapes. These small lots are a big deal. The vast majority of Pennsylvania’s landowners have less than 10 acres. This land, wooded or not, can provide benefits. By enhancing wooded areas or creating natural areas on your property, you can enjoy recreation, aesthetics, wildlife, improved water quality and reduced energy costs. Owners of even the smallest landscapes can make a positive difference in their environment through planning and implementing simple stewardship practices.

The workshops introduce the manual “The Woods in Your Backyard: Learning to Create and Enhance Natural Areas around Your Home.” All participants will receive the full-color, 108-page manual - a $23 value! This self-directed book will guide you through the process of developing and implementing projects to enhance your land’s natural resources.

The workshops will take place at three different locations across the state this spring. At the workshops, participants will remain together in the morning and then choose their afternoon sessions based on interest.

Topics include:

·         Providing wildlife habitat

·         Tree identification

·         Tree planting and native landscaping

·         Woods and water

·         Forest ecology and soils 

·         Woodlot management techniques

·         Invasive plant identification/control

·         Getting youth outdoors

·         Maple syrup, mushrooms, and medicinal plants

·         Creating wildflower meadows

·         Landowner resources

·         …….and more

Cost is $35 per individual to attend (each includes manual, lunch and light morning refreshments). For more information and to register go to: http://extension.psu.edu/backyard-woods or call the number listed for the individual session you are interested in attending.

CENTRAL PA:

Saturday, February 25. 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Wood in Your Backyard Workshop, Penn State University, Forest Resources Building, Room 112, University Park, PA. Cost is $35 per person – includes lunch and a Woods in Your Backyard manual. To register visit: http://extension.psu.edu/backyard-woods  or contact 814-355-4897. Registration required by February 20.

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NORTHEAST PA:

Saturday, April 1. 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wood in Your Backyard Workshop, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Lehman, PA. Cost is $35 per person – includes lunch and a Woods in Your Backyard manual. To register visit: http://extension.psu.edu/backyard-woods. For more information, contact Vinnie Cotrone, vjc1@psu.edu, 570-825-1701.

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SOUTHWEST PA:

Saturday, April 8. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wood in Your Backyard Workshop, Penn State Beaver, SUB Lodge, Monaca, PA. Cost is $35 per person – includes lunch and a Woods in Your Backyard manual. To register visit: http://extension.psu.edu/backyard-woods. For more information, contact Brian Wolyniak, bjw229@psu.edu, 412-263-1000.