Forestrenew Consulting

10/30/2022

Vibrant in Virginia this year! What is your favorite species for fall color? I love Ginkgo and Japanese maples.

12/17/2021

Feeling in the holiday spirit. Freshly gathered greenery is an inexpensive and biodegradable way to decorate. Plus it's way classier than yard inflatables! 😉

03/28/2021

Springtime in Virginia. Understory trees and bushes start to leaf out first in order to take advantage of the lack of shade from above. Even though many of these species are fairly tolerant of shade, they can get a jump on the growing season before the big trees wake up.

12/21/2020

We as foresters have been slow to embrace the reality of these complex systems if we continue to think of forestland as just a commodity. However, there are ways to supply our paper and wood needs while still increasing elder forests (which sequester massive amounts of soil and vegetative carbon) and promote sustainable use in a way that does not degrade forest communities. Water quality protection, soil protection and protection of strong genetic diversity need to be key parts of forest planning and management. Finding the right professional who will work for your land is important. Expect the best and make your objectives for your land are heard and met.

"A forest is much more than what you see," says ecologist Suzanne Simard. Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery — ...

12/12/2020

Christmas trees... real or artificial? The forester in me can't allow myself an artificial tree. I love that smell and picking the perfect tree at our favorite tree farm.
A live tree can have pros and cons, but I belive the pros outweigh. Tree farms keep the land in trees that grow, clean the air, and sequester carbon. Buying a local tree keeps money in the local economy and trucks full of trees off the roads.
Artificial trees may be able to be used for years, but it's amazing how many fake trees I've seen on the buy nothing pages or even tossed, just this year. People claim you can use a fake tree for many years, but why are there always so many in the stores?
It's our family tradition to go choose our tree each year. Yes, we pay more, but it's worth it. We have a beautiful Canaan fir this year and excited to decorate tomorrow.

10/25/2020

Fall tree planting is great in Virginia. It's important to know how to properly plant a tree of any size to give it the best start possible.

Many of us are planting trees this fall and if you are planting a containerized tree this fall, we have a great step-by-step video on exactly what to do!

youtu.be/W2xjDqbr1U4

10/17/2020

It's autumn in Virginia! I think we love autumn for so many reasons, but one is that it's spectacular and perfect for such a short period of time. We know it is fleeting, so we enjoy our hikes and our pumpkin spice everything, taking pictures and reveling in the cool mornings and warm days before it all becomes colorless and cold.

08/25/2020

It's elderberry time in Virginia. Several years ago, I gave my parents some bare root elderberry and this year they had a bumper crop.

I harvested about 7 gallons of fruit (still on the stems). I am trying several ways of getting the berries off the stems. I've removed a pound or two by just rolling the fruit around in my fingers. I froze some on the stalks to see if they would come off easier. And I will try running some through a food strainer to remove seeds and stems before cooking.
Elderberry syrups are commonly used to ward off colds in the winter and soothe sore throats when you do get sick. It's also pretty tasty on pancakes. Medicinal syrups may also include ginger, cinnamon, cloves in addition to elderberry and honey. Stay tuned for more elderberry adventures.

08/04/2020

Full moon fever, Blue Ridge style.

06/22/2020

"Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Starting the week off with patience.

05/15/2020

Looks like despite our late spring cold snaps, my wild blackberries will produce a nice crop in a few weeks. .

05/04/2020

Our wet spring in Virginia has caused fungal pathogens to be on the rise. Tip dieback or branch decline may be caused by a number of fungus that thrive in cool, damp conditions. Trees that are already stressed tend to be more susceptible to secondary problems.