sequatchie valley institute

Johnny Kimmons of Sequatchie Valley Institute will join john johnson and forestry management students from the University of Tennessee for this informative workshop explaining the methods and benefits of sustainable small-scale forest management. Local, sustainable, low-input, positive impact forest management for lumber, firewood, wildlife habitat and fungiculture will be discussed, with hands-on work for participants.

Topics covered at the workshop include:  1) The Art of Directional Felling, which enables loggers to carefully drop trees without harming neighboring trees and shrubs; 2) Use of the Farmi Winch to delicately remove logs from the forest without damaging the soil—it works even on a 45 hp tractor; 3) Effects of the 2001 forest fire on a mature forest; 4) Effects of the Southern Pine Beetle and use of the damaged wood; 5) Demonstration of a portable Wood Mizer bandsaw for utilizing damaged and dead forest trees for lumber; 6) Shiitake mushroom production.

Discussions will begin during the Wildflower Hike on Saturday, April 17. Hands-on Workshop will take place Sunday, April 18.

• Low-impact and positive impact technology and ethics, making forest healthier through sustainable management practices.
• Mindset: waste not – limbs – shiitakes, wildlife, firewood | lumber off ground to dry | sawmill – mulch, slabs, building/siding, sawdust (fire, compost, toilets)
• mindset: anything in forest to encourage wildlife, you encourage fertility — reap profits of encouraging wildlife.
• discussion group – personal and social ethics, goals, outcomes
• STIHL safety and operation video
• chainsaw maintenance – adjustment, sharpening, fule mixture, lube
• chainsaw safety – equipment, protective gear and clothing, starting
• cutting, bucking, felling
• lumber extraction tools, FARMI tractor winch demonstration
• axe, handsaw, pruning tools
• Wood Mizer sawmill, lumber sorting, selection and storage

Low-impact and positive impact technology and ethics, making forest healthier through sustainable management practices.

At SVI, we have a waste not mentality with our wood. We use all parts of the tree, including what is normally considered waste wood.

We harvest mainly deadfall and windfall lumber. When a tree falls, we begin a process:

• Live hardwood limbs are used in our fungiculture grove to grow shiitake mushrooms. Dead limbs are used for firewood.
• Smaller brush is piled to encourage wildlife,  which directly benefits the fertility of the forest ecosystem.
• Large trunks are raised, in situ, off the ground to dry and cure.
• At the sawmill, side slabs are used for siding simple buildings. Sawdust is saved for fire kindling, garden mulch and toilet compost

A sliding-scale fee of $25-50 will be charged for this non-profit educational program. Participants may choose to camp out on Saturday night: please call ahead to arrange a camping spot.

For directions to SVI, which is located in the Cartwright community half-way between Dunlap and Whitwell, 45 minutes from Chattanooga, or for more information, contact us at 423-949-5922, or email officemanager [at] svionline [dot] org