Woods to Home Event

• Saturday, December 13, 2025
• Bascom Hollow Farm, 71 Bascom Rd, Gill, MA
• 10am – 3pm
• Lunch and Refreshments provided

Good woodland management can create wildlife habitat, improve forest health, support the local wood economy, and help build a house!

Brian Donahue, co-owner of Bascom Hollow Farm in Gill, a conserved farm, will host a woods walk and a tour of their beautiful farm house built with lumber harvested from their own woods. Hosted by MA Woodlands Institute in partnership with Franklin Land Trust and the Smokey Forest Center of Danby, VT. Bringing together partners interested in encouraging the use of local wood and post and beam techniques in rural homes, as a model for providing greater housing availability across the New England region.

Brian Donahue, president of MA Woodlands Institute, is an author and land historian, taught environmental issues including sustainable farming and forestry at Brandeis University. Lincoln Fish is a MA forester who holds his Masters in environmental management, will speak about forestry practices and share how timber harvesting at Bascom Hollow Farm created long term habitat for birds and other wildlife.  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.

The walk will be followed by a tour of the Bascom Hollow farmhouse, as well as provided lunch and discussion of how to use this model of building and outreach to promote local wood homes in New England.

To learn more about Bascom Hollow Farm visit www.bascomhollowfarm.com.

For more information about the event, contact Emily Boss at emily@masswoodlands.org  (413) 625-9151.

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute, Franklin Land Trust, and Smokey House Center, Danby Vermont. Funding provided in part by a grant from the National Border Region Council.