The Forestry Project Podcast

In Episode 9 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits down to discuss wildlife and management considerations with Drew Metzler. Drew is a Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources Regional Extension Agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. He holds bachelor's in wildlife and a master's in forestry from Auburn University and on-the-ground experience working in both forestry and wildlife fields.Topics discussed in the podcast are habitat considerations for different wildlife species, management needed for different stages of wildlife life cycles, and how to get the most out of your woods regardless of acreage. In the episode, Drew discusses what habitat different wildlife species, such as turkeys, deer, and squirrels, need and how landowners might want to manage for it. Also, Drew and Jace discuss why landowners should meet and get involved with neighbors to get the most out of their property. If you have or manage forestland and want to develop excellent quality wildlife habitat, this episode is for you. 

In Episode 8 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits down to discuss why landowners should consider the management practices they perform in their woods as a form of hands-on meditation. Depending on what you are doing out on your property, management can sometimes seem like a choir more than a fun and relaxing experience. In the episode, Jace talks about recent experiences and ways to think about forest management. If you own or manage forestland and are considering ways to maximize your management experience, this episode is for you. 

In Episode 7 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits back down to discuss why landowners should get involved with landowner organizations or associations. Learning from others and sharing ideas can benefit landowners wanting to learn how to manage their land. By combining experiences, even new landowners can have years of knowledge about managing their land and mitigating problems that might arise during the management process. In the episode, Jace also talks about his experiences attending the Alabama Forest Owner's Association's annual landowner meeting, meeting with landowners and professionals from various backgrounds. 

In Episode 6 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits back down to discuss the time component of forest management with Dr. John Kush. Dr. Kush is a repeat guest from episode 3, a retired research fellow at Auburn University, and has been inducted into the Alabama Foresters Hall of Fame. He teaches several Auburn University classes, such as Restoration Ecology, Plant Ecology, and Forest History. Topics discussed in the podcast are how long trees and forests take to grow and species to consider for impacting those times. Additionally, Jace shares his thoughts on his family's land for wanting to change the species composition but not wanting to take the land back to square one. They talk about how to enjoy the forest management process during the times between the current forest and the next one. Also, in the episode, Dr. Kush and Jace discuss the impacts certain management practices have on the timeline of your forest and other considerations of getting into the big three management activities. If you have or manage forestland and want to develop a realistic timeline for achieving your management goals and ways to speed the process up and whether you should try to speed it up, this episode is for you. 

While you may think you are just managing the trees on your property, much more goes into managing your woods. Developing a better understanding of the ecological interaction between the environment, such as sunlight and moisture, and the trees is critical. In Episode 5 of The Forestry Project Podcast, host Jace McCauley discusses how sunlight and moisture affect our woods and management. Learning more about how the species you have or want on your property are affected by sunlight or moisture can be beneficial when deciding what you need to do on your property. Trees have adapted to grow from flood basins to dry upland sites under the forest canopy or in an old field. Knowing the tolerance of a particular tree will give you clues about how the seed travels to determine whether you want to let it seed in or you need to plant it. Determining what the tree you want will need can help you decide if you can have a guiding hand in land management and guide the process or if you need to truly establish the ecosystem. If you have land that you want to begin managing or are looking for a resource to learn more about the interaction of your management, woods, and environment, this is the episode you need to listen to. 

In Episode 4 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits down to discuss forest management plans with Dr. Adam Maggard. Dr. Maggard is an Associate Professor at the Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. He teaches classes on forest management and specializes in the economic aspect of forest management and planning and optimizing the use of forest resources.  Jace and Dr. Maggard begin the episode by discussing why landowners own land and what common land management goals are. Then discuss important considerations for landowners when deciding the goals that they want to manage toward. They then discuss how management plans can help provide a road map for landowners to achieve those goals. Lastly, Dr. Maggard urges landowners to get to know their property, engage with organizations and the community, and seek professional assistance. If you have forestland that you want to start managing, a management plan is the best tool you can have. If you want to learn more about management plans and how they can help you, listen to this podcast episode. 

In Episode 3 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits down to discuss forest ecology with Dr. John Kush. Dr. Kush is a retired research fellow at Auburn University and has been inducted into the Alabama Foresters Hall of Fame. Dr. Kush teaches several Auburn University classes, such as Restoration Ecology and Forest History. Jace begins the episode by reading an excerpt from Aldo Leopold's book "A Sand County Almanac." Then get Dr. Kush's definition of forest ecology and discusses why it is important for landowners and professionals to understand ecology. Topics discussed in the podcasts are what tree species were historically in the Southeastern United States and how forests have changed today. Dr. Kush then provides landowners with practical ways to understand what species used to be on their landscape, how to get back to them, and how to document their progress. If you have or manage forestland and want a better understanding of determining what species should go where and want to learn more about the importance of location, this episode is for you. 

Are you a landowner interested in learning how to manage your land or breaking the cycle of doing the same management because you heard it might be suitable for your land? This episode of the podcast is for you! In this episode, The Forestry Project's founder, Jace McCauley, discusses what Forest Legacy, Reimagined means and how it can help you achieve the next level of land management. Many landowners are interested in the legacy of their land, we are also at The Forestry Project, but sometimes we get stuck doing the same old thing because that was the way it has always been done, or that is what some told us to do. That may not be wrong, but how can you know it is right? As landowners, the worst mistake may be doing nothing, but what if the worst thing we could do is the wrong management? While we are never right 100% of the time, Jace talks about the four W's to understanding the management that you are doing on your land and how understanding the what, where, when, and why help landowners better understand and be able to explain why they are doing certain activities. Answering these W's fosters a manager dedicated to being a lifelong learner and achieving Forest Legacy, Reimagined. If achieving the next level of land management is something you are interested in, or you are curious about precisely what Forest Legacy, Reimagined is, stay tuned; you will be glad you did. 

Are you a landowner who wants to manage your forestland but needs help figuring out what to do or where to turn to for advice? Jace McCauley, the founder of The Forestry Project, discusses what The Forest Project is and what has led him to start it. In the episode, you will learn the mission and vision of The Forestry Project and how it will benefit landowners. Buckle up because this is only the beginning. Jace lets you know what content The Forestry Project will release, when it will release, and where you can find it. If you have been looking for the resource bringing you the information on how to manage your land better, you just found it! We hope you enjoy the show.