Our Woods
~ by Jim Eagleman
Field Notes
I
’ ve written here before about the many types of trees we are fortunate to have in Brown County. We have a lot of trees. There are many possible uses of Brown County wood for the creative homeowner if they have the time, skills, and patience. It can be used for flooring, siding, and trim to add beauty and value to a home. A portable sawmill owner can be hired to come to your property for logs of oak, walnut, cherry, beech, and maple.
I contacted a sawmill owner recently and we soon became friends. A huge red oak next to our studio had to be removed. I had no intention of using any of the wood and wanted to donate it. His company uses native timber for various local projects, which he calls his hobby. But it may be more than a hobby, I thought, when he arrived with his equipment.
He used a bobcat and dolly to move the heavy oak logs, and a grappling hook lifted them onto a trailer. As he loaded them up, he said,“ Thanks. I’ ll let you know how we use it.” The logs were transported to his sawmill built of native tulip poplar timber.
When people talk about this place, they refer to our vast forestlands. I believe it’ s what brings visitors here year-round. We
residents could take it all for granted as we live, camp, hike, hunt, drive, and ride in the forests. We may not even consider the forests to be much of an asset. But they are if you talk with anyone who doesn’ t live near trees.
A large, full color photograph I used at the park for programs shows the state of Indiana taken from a satellite over 400 miles in space. I really like this photograph. This long, narrow state with a meandering southern border along the Ohio shows colors of brown and tan agricultural lands, the city of Indianapolis, and a greenish tint to the south. The darkest, green color below Indianapolis is an unmistakable square— it’ s Brown County.
Biologists call it a sink when land is used by resident wildlife and migrating birds and animals. Like when a plug is pulled and water drains, things flow into this refuge of natural land. Plant communities have established themselves here, and when
52 Our Brown County • March / April 2024