From Woods to Home, October 15
Celebrating the connections between woodland management, wildlife habitat and the local economy
Saturday, October 15th
9am-12pm
Free and open to all
Brian Donahue and Faith Rand, co-owners of the conserved Bascom Hollow Farm in Gill, will host a woods walk and a tour of their beautiful farm house
built using lumber harvested from their own woods. Working with local foresters, harvesters and builders, the house is an extension of the “slow
food” or local agricultural product movement. The benefits of local wood ripple outward. Good woodland management can create wildlife habitat,
improve forest health, and also support the local wood economy.
The walk will feature discussion by forestry professionals who made this responsible harvest and hyper-local building project possible. Brian Donahue
is a Mass Woodlands Institute board member and Brandeis University professor who teaches courses on environmental issues, including sustainable
farming and forestry. Lincoln Fish, consulting forester, will share how timber harvesting at Bascom Hollow Farm created habitat for birds and other
wildlife while providing wood products. David Bowman, a local sawyer and builder who has taught many workshops on timber frame construction will
provide insight into the choice and wood selection for creating a timber frame house. Fletcher Clark and Sean Mahoney, service foresters for the
MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, will discuss how the work on this farm fits into broader initiatives in Massachusetts, such as the
Working Forest Initiative of MA DCR.
The walk will be followed by a tour of the Bascom Hollow farm house, as well as refreshments and discussion. To learn more about Bascom Hollow Farm
visit their page on Facebook.
This event is sponsored by the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute, Franklin Land Trust and Bascom Hollow Farm, with support in part by a grant
from the Montague and Gill Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Support
also comes from Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
For the property address and directions, email Melissa Patterson at melissa@masswoodlands.org or call (413)
625-9151.