The American Tree Farm System was instituted in 1941 and is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2016.
By Ronald J. Sheay
As you drive around the hills of Hunterdon County and see Tree Farm signs posted in front of woodlands, have you ever wondered what those signs mean?
A private woodland owner that has at least 10 acres of forestland and has a forest management plan for the woodland prepared by a consultant forester and that owner is implementing the forest management recommendations in a sustainable timely manner, then that landowner is awarded certified Tree Farm status.
The first Tree Farm nationally was dedicated in 1941 in Montesano, Washington, to demonstrate "sustainable forest management" to local landowners.
Thus the American Tree Farm System was instituted and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. It was also established to provide forest products for the war effort as the United States was preparing for WWII.
The forest products industry was behind this movement to insure that wood for the industry use was always available from privately owned woodlands. But the forest had to be managed sustainably.
In August of 1946, the Washington Water Company became New Jersey's first certified Tree Farm and we are celebrating our 70th anniversary this year.
Currently there are 48 certified Tree Farms in Hunterdon County totaling 2,971 acres. The N.J. Tree Farm Committee administers the N.J. Tree Farm Program with the N.J. Forest Service and the N.J. Forestry Association as cosponsors. The N.J. Tree Farm Committee includes foresters, Tree Farmers, the N.J. Forest Service and Rutgers University Extension Forester and in 2001 adopted bylaws, incorporated as the New Jersey Tree Farm Program, Inc. and became a non-profit organization under 501c3 of the internal revenue code.
Certification and de-certification of Tree Farms, the Outstanding Tree Farm contest, Tree Farm field day and the training of inspecting foresters are all under the auspices of the Tree Farm Committee.
Recognizing New Jersey's outstanding Tree Farm started in 1971 and three Hunterdon woodland owners: Robert Housedorf in 1981 (also the oldest Tree Farm in Hunterdon certified in 1969), Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson in 2002, and Glenn and Mary Brownstein in 2010 have been so honored.
I called Robert Housedorf of Bethlehem Township recently and he told me he began managing his woodland in the mid 1950s. He said, "After five timber sales marked by foresters over the years, at 85, he is older than most trees on his property."
First Tree Farm Day was established in 1975
Tree Farm field day was instituted to showcase woodland owners and others how NJ Tree Farmers are sustainably managing their woodlands for the continuous production of its goods and services.
Tree Farm day has proven to be an added highlight to the NJ Tree Farm Program with good attendance at the annual event and the public is welcomed. Hunterdon County has had three Tree Farm field days over the years.
The first Tree Farm day in Hunterdon was at held at Round Valley on the Henry Snyder property in 1977. Tree Farm Day in 1992 was hosted by Housedorf with the theme of "Timber Harvests - More Than a Matter of Money."
The tour showed how Housedorf did forest management on his woodland over the past 30 years. Also highlighted was shitake mushroom culture, his Christmas tree operation and a bandsaw mill demonstration.
The last Tree Farm day in Hunterdon was held in 2004 at the James Johnson Cedar Lake farm in Tewksbury Township. The tour included visiting his many forest management sites and wildlife management areas with an optional tour of his dairy farm. Attendance at Tree Farm Day attracts over 100 participants and is held rain or shine.
Movie and stage screen actress Celeste Holme was a Tree Farmer. Former Governor Christine Whitman and her husband John have a Tree Farm in Oldwick.
All 48 of Hunterdon County Tree Farms are being managed sustainably to provide forest products for our every-day use, wildlife habitat, watershed protection and scenic vistas as you travel the hills of the county.
So when you see a Tree Farm sign along the road, silently thank that landowner for maintaining his woodland in a healthy, well managed forest environment.
Ronald J. Sheay is retired after a long career with the New Jersey Forest Service helping private landowners manage their woodlands. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters, a trustee of the New Jersey Tree Farm program and director of the New Jersey Forestry Association.