5) Product Utilization and Aesthetics of Eberly Woods

Efforts are made to achieve good utilization through the use of band mills and chainsaw mills.  Logs are end-coated after bucking to prevent cracking.  Logs of all sizes and qualities are milled.  Stumps are also cut into bowl turning stock.  Boards and blanks are then air-dried on covered racks, and finally kiln dried in a fully solar kiln.  Firewood is also dried and utilized for heating fuel and pottery kiln firing.  Slab wood and planing chips are used for path construction while milling sawdust is inoculated with mushroom spawn for food production.  Excess sawdust, planing chips, and brush ash is plowed under in the sapling garden for sapling fertilization.  Saplings have also been sold a local landscaping company.

Carrying capacity and production goals are balanced, yet the forest itself is not in balance.  Tree removal is currently inadequate on the North 14-acres while planting efforts and pruning will need to be continued on the South 10-acres.

Allowances have been made for appearance.  The forest is immaculate in some areas as it appears as a German forest.  To remove fire hazard, entire acres have been cleared of all fallen branches and brush.  The goal is to establish the conditions of a mature forest more rapidly. 

Clearcuts are never used.

Recreation and wildlife trails are free of debris.  Some of these paths are utilized for forestry cruises.  Waterways are left with naturally fallen trees and brush as it provided habitat and shelter for spawning Salmon, Trout, and Walleye.