"Full-Vigor" Forest Management - a common sense, sustainable forest management system developed from the forest owner's point of view.  This system is a process landowners can understand and participate in at their level of interest and ability.  FVM builds  productive, high value timber that restores and maintains natural ecosystems using "Arthroscopic logging" techniques.

"Arthroscopic Logging" Minimal impact harvesting techniques that allow timber removal with little disturbance to the residual forest - protecting the values and future production of the resource, as well as the environment.

Timbergreen Farm Demonstration Forest  Timbergreen Farm at Spring Green has hosted hundreds of forest owners to view FSC certified sustainable forestry, low-impact logging, value-added processing, and direct marketing of wood products to consumers.  Twenty five years of management have produced important examples for forest owners:
1.  Timber is a manageable crop that today is more profitable than all other crops.
2.  Sustainable management produces a much higher income than traditional cuts
3.  Fully stocked forests produce many valuable benefits to the owner.
4.  Solar cycle kilns allow high quality lumber drying at a local level.
5.  Value-added processing easily doubles the net income to the owner.
6.  Woodworkers from around the nation come again and again to buy wood.
7.  Viewing the contrast across the fence lines between Timbergreen Farm and                surrounding properties emphasizes the comparison to traditional harvesting.

Value-added Processing and Direct Marketing to Consumers
Sales of kiln dry lumber at Timbergreen are producing ten times the value of  the tree if it had been sold to a timber buyer.  This added income allows restoration harvesting to rebuild a degraded forest, pays the woods workers well for careful work, and rewards the forest owner with a fair return from their timber.  Many new jobs will be created and sustainable management in the forest will lead to a better future for the entire community. 

The added value also allows harvesting and processing of small amounts of wood.  This makes management of small woodlots feasible and rewarding.  A regular income for small woodlot owners will be a big encouragement to responsible forestry. 

Selling retail products also eliminates all the problems inexperienced forest owners have when selling trees to an expert timber buyer.  Feeling that they have been treated poorly by the timber industry is the biggest discouragement to forest management for private landowners.  This factor is one of the most significant changes of our system.  We offer control and assurance that the forest owner will be treated well and paid fairly.

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