Family-Outdoors

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Minnesota landowners have the chance to learn how to manage small or large forests during a March workshop in Grand Rapids, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said. The Up North Woodland Workshop is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Itasca Community College. “This will be a full day of presentations, discussions and questions and answers about Minnesota woods,” said Mimi Barzen, DNR forester. “The event is primarily for Minnesota family woodland owners, although others are also welcome.” The aim is to provide information to help landowners sustainably manage small or large woodlands. Classes will offer information on hardwood forest management, forest resilience, recreational trails, wildlife, owls, geology and more. “Private lands offer a tremendous public value in many ways,” Barzen said. “They provide habitat for wildlife, protect air and water quality, support rural economies and increase recreational opport...

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2012 --  The U.S. Forest Service today announced its  My Neighborhood Forest  photo contest, celebrating America’s urban and community forests. The Grand Prize winner will receive $200 in  outdoor gear  courtesy of the  National Forest Foundation . The  contest , which runs from April 11 – July 22, seeks to highlight the natural beauty that spring and summer bring to U.S. neighborhoods, communities and cities, as well as the crucial role of trees in the places we call home. Those interested in competing should visit  Challenge.gov  for more details on the prizes and contest rules. Urban forests broadly include urban parks, street trees, landscaped boulevards, public gardens, river and coastal promenades, greenways, river corridors, wetlands, nature preserves, natural areas, shelter belts of trees and working trees at industrial brownfield sites. “Urban forests are different from the forests you might normally ...