Mother Earth

John Thurgood

Tree planters extraordinaire: (From left) Greg Hornsby, Brian Kamin, Jim Weaver, and Jim Highland, district forester for Tioga State Forest at work.

Shading Trout with 10,000 Trees By Gayle Morrow

Old Chinese Proverb (Seriously, have you ever known a Chinese proverb to be anything but old?): The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago; the second-best time is today.

I’ve been having eclectic conversations with my buddy Jim Weaver for well over thirty years. Three-plus decades! Who’d ‘a thunk it? Jim, an aquatic biologist by training, has been a county planner, a farrier, a volunteer on numerous boards, including the Tioga County Conservation District’s and the Pine Creek Watershed Council’s, and can wax eloquent (and at length) on a diverse range of subjects. Those include, but are in no way been limited to: the importance of good Scotch, laminitis, holistic resource management (that one’s worth looking up), carbon sequestration, the evils of impermeable surfaces, and the inestimable value of shade for brook trout— sometimes called the hemlock trout. So when I knew our next conversation would be about planting 10,000 trees, trees that would eventually provide shade for said trout, I had a couple of pens and a lot of paper at the ready. Pennsylvania’s state tree is the eastern hemlock. It is valuable, environmentally and otherwise, not just because it offers erosion control in dodgy places where other trees don’t thrive, and not just because it provides a cool, dark, and sheltered environment for a variety of plant and animal species (at least 400 species of living things need the hemlock to complete their life cycle, Jim says) but because it is. If you’re a tree lover, a tree hugger, no further explanation needed.

Around 2015, there was an “awareness,” Jim says, of the expansion into the northern counties of an aphid-like, non-native invasive insect known as the woolly adelgid. These little creeps feed on the hemlocks’ sap, sometimes for years, interfering with their abilities to use nutrients. The end result is needle drop, branch die-back, and tree death. The first sitings of the bugs in the lower Pine Creek Valley in Lycoming County had been around 2010; they were clearly on the move north from their Japan-to-Virginia origins in the 1950s, and the Bureau of Forestry subsequently “realized we would lose our hemlocks.” Ergo, the trout? A distinct possibility.

Tree experts theorized initially that our winters would kill the insects. But, in case you haven’t noticed, things aren’t what they used to be in the great outdoors. Our winter weather has been different these past few decades, definitely not colder (attribute that to whatever lets you sleep at night—it’s probably nothing you or anyone you know has done or is doing), and the woolly adelgids have been uncooperative—i.e. they’re not dying. So, the Bureau of Forestry put together a plan, a “decent plan,” actually, that included strategies for managing the insect itself as well as for planting conifers that could act as hemlock surrogates.

Being a bureau, there was, of course, some bureaucracy, the bottom line being that the most appropriate hemlock surrogate, the Norway spruce, a tree native to north, central, and eastern Europe, one that has enjoyed a long and blameless tenure in this country, was deemed inappropriate to plant on Bureau of Forestry land because it is not a species native to Pennsylvania. Not that other conifers wouldn’t be good or helpful, and of course those will be planted, but, with what some considered the best tree out of the running, there was consternation and, perhaps, a few expletives deleted. Then somebody—a fish warden, actually—came up with the idea of planting the Norway spruce on private land, along private stream banks. Yes! With support from the Pine Creek Watershed Council, Trout Unlimited, the Tioga and Potter

Tree continued from page 12 County Conservation Districts, a cadre of fisher-type folk, and private landowners, seeds for the 10,000-tree-planting project, a.k.a. Plant a Tree, Shade a Trout, were sown. The first plantings followed in the spring of 2019. Funding came from a few different sources; the sweat equity came from dedicated volunteers willing to donate a day during a really crucial time of year— fishing season.

“It was great to come down to Tioga County to be with a group of like-minded and committed conservationists,” says volunteer John Thurgood, from Stowe, Vermont. “The deforestation of riparian areas has been devastating to aquatic habitat and wildlife. It was great to have the opportunity to play a small part in bringing it back. Special thanks to the Pine Creek Watershed Council and Tioga County Conservation District for plugging me in.”

“It’s a commitment to give up four or five Saturdays during trout season,” says Jim. To say he’s an avid fly-fisherman is as much of an understatement as saying…oh, I can’t even come up with a comparison. Suffice it to say, Jim lives to fish.

This planting season produced, pardon the analogy, a watershed moment in the project—the planting of the 10,000th tree. That’s a guestimate, but a pretty good one. The volunteers put 1,800 stems in the ground the first year, 3,000 in 2020, 2,400 in 2021, and 3,000 in 2022. An informal assessment of the process leads to the equally informal conclusion that, if the same general areas are replanted for three years in a row, the tree survival rate is 50 percent without any kind of maintenance. That’s not bad.

What about next year? Early in our gab session, Jim was non-committal, made noises about maybe having had enough of it, but, ultimately he kind of talked himself back into it.

“It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve still got money, and we’ve got the equipment…” And they’ve got the support of a couple of key players—Tyler Upham, the Tioga County Conservation District’s watershed specialist, and Jarrod Dickerson, the Potter County Conservation District’s watershed specialist. They’ve been super-helpful, Jim says.

So, why don’t we all have a dram of Laphroaig and go plant some trees.

Jessica Sandstrom

Clays for Kids

Thunder Ridge in Middlebury Center Takes Aim at Substance Abuse

By Don Knaus

Sporting clays is a unique way to shoot clay pigeons. Some shotgunning wags have described the sport as “golf with a shotgun” because a course can present from ten to fifteen different shooting stations laid out over natural terrain. Unlike trap, where the clay target flies from the same spot, sporting clays mimics the random flights and runs of live game. The course offers a mind-numbing number of flights full of differing arcs, curves, and courses. Many shooters chuckle at a miss. The response might be, “Next time I’m at this station, I’ll be ready.” Except, what had been a clay pigeon imitating a high quartering pheasant suddenly becomes a ground-bounding bunny.

Sounds like a blast, right? So, mark your calendar to participate in the fifth annual Clays for Kids fundraiser on September 24 at Thunder Ridge Sporting Clays and Game Farm, 619 Leon Brown Road in Middlebury Center. This fun and challenging event is designed to send dollars to programs that help combat the drug use, addiction, and poverty our local kids can experience. Clays for Kids is a great way to get outdoors, test your aim, and help a variety of youth-oriented organizations, with proceeds going to local non-profit organizations pledging to help nurture young people and to help shape their futures in positive ways.

So how did Clays for Kids get its start here? Several years ago, local citizens and a few public officials attended the beginnings of an initiative to get young people off drugs. A family who had faced the devastating loss of a son to a drug overdose wanted to do something to help keep other young people from the same fate. Pam and (the late) Gary Jenkins founded Recovery Revolution as a memorial to their son, Cody. Tioga County Commissioner Mark Hamilton had attended the meeting and wanted to help in some way. As he was walking out, Mark recalls racking his brain for a way to help. He had heard of the successful Clays for Kids program in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna and Wyoming counties. He mentioned the program to Crystal Smith, then Mansfield’s borough manager. Her enthusiastic reply: “Let’s do it.” And the Tioga County Clays for Kids program was born; the first recipient of proceeds was Recovery Revolution.

That first event didn’t just happen, though—there was a lot of work involved. Organizers initially turned to the Mill Cove board of directors for help. Then others

of a similar mindset—that is, helping steer kids away from drug use—stepped up as organizers began talking about their ideas and proposals. The next hurdle was to find a site for the proposed shoot. An agenda, additional activities, food, raffle items, advertising, and more had to be planned and manned. Organizers ultimately approached Thunder Ridge owners Bill and Irene Appel, who offered their facility at a discounted rate. Their sole charge would be for the thousands of clay targets and thousands of rounds of ammo to be used by the shooters.

The most recent event in 2021 raised more than $25,000 for the YMCA in Mansfield and the Mill Cove Environmental Center outside of Mansfield. This year, funds are earmarked for three groups: This Is My Quest, providing conservation education and outdoor programs for youth; Grandsavers are Lifesavers, supporting grandparents raising their grandchildren; and the Valley Youth Initiative, promoting the physical, emotional, and social well-being of Cowanesque Valley youth. Members of Valley Youth Initiative had heard that drugs were being sold at a decaying band shell, got permission to raze the structure, and raised funds to build a basketball court on site. They have locations where kids can find shoes and clothing and also operate a summer food program.

If you enjoy swinging a shotgun at speeding clay pigeons, sign up to shoot at Clays for Kids. Shoot leaders say they could use more adult participants. Shooters—just bring your scatter gun. Thunder Ridge supplies the clays and the shot shells. Your entry fee covers a barbeque lunch prepared by Family Traditions Catering under the watchful eye of chef Penny Whipple. If you simply want to enjoy the day and add your support, you are welcome to come and watch the shots, enjoy the camaraderie, wolf down a fine lunch, or volunteer. Once on site, be sure to purchase a raffle ticket, and plan to stick around for the auction. Local folks and businesses have donated an assortment of cool stuff for both.

Since the shoot is for the kids, this year the organizers decided to have kids try the course after lunch. Each young shooter will have a mentor for teaching and for safety’s sake. Rose Moore, owner and operator of Moore’s Sports Center in Wellsboro, has helped in the past and has donated crossbows for the auction/ raffle. This year she is lining up a corps of mentors. Since the youth shoot is new, Rose says she really needs more kids. If you would be willing to teach a child, or, if you’re a kid who wants to learn and participate in shooting clays, call Rose at (570) 439-8024.

Over five years, a number of individuals and businesses have helped make it a success, but the backbone of the event is Mark Hamilton. This year’s co-chair is Gary Wilson; Jess Sandstrom is secretary. Contact any of the three to enter. Gary is at (570) 337-8699; Mark’s phone is (570) 772-1299; or jingle Jess at (570) 404-4529. Information and entry forms can be picked up at local sporting goods stores or found online at claysforkidstiogacounty. com. Contact Thunder Ridge at (570) 376-2414 or at thunderridgesporting.com.

As the shoot leaders say, “The best defense is a good offense,” so let’s all help the kids in our communities raise a strong offense against drug abuse.

Lifelong sportsman Don Knaus is an award-winning outdoor writer and author of several books about outdoor sports. He has served as president of the PA Outdoor Writers and has hosted the group’s state conventions.

2021

Dead

Man’s

Created by David Grapes & Todd Olson CellPhoneby Sarah Ruhl Arr by Vince di Mura

Jean is sleepwalking through her life until she answers a dead man’s cell phone.

It turns out to be a wake-up call that helps Jean re-connect to her own spirit and learn that life is for the living.

September 16-17 & 23-24 • 7:30 pm September 18 • 2:30 pm Coolidge Theatre • Cash Bar Available Show Sponsors are UPMC and UPMC Health Plan

Face Covering Required (18 & under)

Order your tickets online and then add a table rental to your cart for floor seating!

2022 Season Sponsor:

Dr. Donna & Ken Mettler and Eugene Seelye See what else is onstage at www.hamiltongibson.org or hgp.booktix.com

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