The Latest News on Wisconsin Co-op Activities

Submitted by Paul Pingrey, Second Quarter 2002

Kickapoo Woods Cooperative

In the past year, KWC has hosted more than nine workshops, with topics including Chainsaw Safety Training, Sugar Bush Management, Timber Stand Improvement and Crop Tree Release, Spring Flora Woods Walk, TSI Results, and Elements of a Forestry Management Plan, and Identifying and Controlling Invasive Species. The KWC has been able to put together such a great selection of workshops by partnering with a wide variety of organizations, including the WI DNR, Brooks & Christie Forestry Consultants, Clark Forestry, the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, CFRC, and other public and private resource professionals. Now moving into the management and marketing phase, KWC is beginning to line up jobs while exploring how the administrative duties of the Co-op can be shared so that it can concentrate more on Land Management; also, finding new ways (other than educational events) to bring members together in a sociable and productive manner. Contact: Paul Bader, KWC, P.O. Box 71, La Farge, WI 54639, tel: 608-625- 2515 E-mail: domehome@mwt.net

Living Forest Cooperative

In June, the LFC teamed up with the Northwest Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association to present a field day demonstrating the use of a portable sawmill, lumber grading, and the value of landowner cooperation. In October, with support from the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College and the CFRC, the Co-op hosted ecologist Gigi La Budde, who shared information about what landowners need to know about invasive exotic species and how they can be controlled on their land. Contact: Charly Ray, Manager, 422 Third St. West Suite 103, Ashland, WI 54806, tel: (715) 682-0007/-8415 (fax) E-mail: info@ livingforestcoop.com Website: www.livingforestcoop. com

Prairie Ridge Forest Stewardship Cooperative

In October the PRFSC offered members a field day and workshop on the identification and control of invasive, exotic species. The workshop was sponsored by the CFRC; the instructor was Gigi La Budde. Contact: Luke Saunders, 606 7-1/2 St., Prairie Farm, WI 54762, 715-455- 1614 E-mail: lukets@chibardun.net

Wisconsin Family Forests

Wisconsin Family Forests (WFF) continues on its mission to bring the alliance model of landowner cooperation to interested communities. The Baraboo Hills Alliance (Sauk and Iowa County) was born on September 21st with a "walk-in-the-woods". It will continue to promote neighbors talking to neighbors at its next educational event, scheduled for December 7th. Landowners in New Hope Township (Portage County) are planning a kick-off event for their alliance on December 4th. Folks in Red River Township (Kewaunee County) are spreading the word about WFF and hope to meet again as a community sometime this fall. Contact WFF for more information and to receive your free copy of the WFF Magazine. Contact: Amy Luebke, P.O. Box 682, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-0682, 715- 213-1618 E-mail: info@wisconsinfamily forests.org Website: www.wisconsinfamilyforests.org