The landowner’s management objectives are consistent with the principles set forth by the Department of Natural Resources Forest Stewardship program. The precepts of the forest stewardship program include maintenance and enhancement of water, soil, air, fish, wildlife, and timber resources. It attempts to provide a guideline for maintaining a healthy, productive forestland that provides for the economic well being of the landowners and the enjoyment of the property for present and future owners.

The overall goal is to improve the forest in all arenas: to restore the ecological integrity and functioning, to increase the quality of timber produced, and to enhance the lives of the humans who come in contact with the forest.

The owners have a particular interest in the following resource objectives:

1. Education and Demonstration: The landowners intend to maintain the property as a community resource demonstrating responsible forest management. This includes the maintenance of accessibility, well-marked trails, in-depth knowledge of the forest history by the landowners, and a diversity of management techniques. This entails the self-education of the landowners about the forests’ processes and species composition.
   
2. Diversity of Flora and Fauna: The overstory is managed for the maximum amount of species practical in the ecological zone. Accommodations are made to protect unique species and individual species harboring unique characteristics. Habitat is intentionally cultivated to attract a variety of wildlife species.
   
3. Aesthetics and Recreation: Because of the farm’s use as a family retreat, the forest is maintained with aesthetics and human enjoyment in mind. Care is taken to devote space to recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, and enjoyment of viewpoints.
   
4. Ecological Functioning: The landowners are attempting to restore the natural processes on the landscape that have been disrupted by human and natural disturbance. This includes soil stability, forest health, and water protection.
   
5. Timber: Timber is managed on a long rotation basis with an emphasis on quality. The present level of timber harvest is selective and is utilized for purposes of self-sufficiency.
   

This forest management plan has been designed to meet these objectives. It is a flexible document based on the premise that the landowners have gone to extraordinary lengths to educate themselves about the forest’s ecological functioning and have their own management objectives that are consistent with, if not exceeding, those stated in the Forest Stewardship program. This plan is open to revision as objectives, ecological processes, and economic circumstances change.