1000 Tree Program
MNF's 1000 Tree Program seeks to care of at least a 1000 trees. Working with the Milewski Farm, MNF is tagging and inventorying the trees on their farm which make up the "Give back to nature" forest, unique orchards and silvopasture trees.
"Forestry" is the science and art of managing forests.
"Give Back to Nature"
Lenard and Elizabeth Milewski decided to "give back to nature" half of their Wisconsin Farm. Located west of the agricultural fields and across the South Branch of the North Fork of the Eau Claire River, this area is steep and was used as a pasture for over 50 years before the Milewski's decided to "give it back to nature". Lenard felt that it would "be interesting to see what nature would do with the area" hoping that it would plant a forest--which is exactly what it did. With 100 year old Oak tree parents and 40 year old Sugar Maple parents the forest is a wonderful classroom of what nature can do when left alone. The surprise growth was of huge pine trees which were so small no one saw them until they peaked up over the rest of the trees creating their own zone for more of their kind. Other surprises were the forest products which naturally grew like raspberries and elderberries among others. The naturally occurring forest products have proven to be far more resilient than any we have planted.
Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land.
Silvopasture
MNF assists in creating silvopastures on partner farms. The integration of trees into pastures has many added benefits. According to the USDA, "Well-managed silvopastures employ agronomic principals, typically including introduced or native pasture grasses, fertilization and nitrogen-fixing legumes, and rotational grazing systems that employ short grazing periods that maximize vegetative plant growth and harvest." MNF also introduces their concept of "orchards over the farm" which plants apple trees in pastures, buffer zones and other places instead of dedicating specific acres for the orchard. When planting any tree in a pasture it must be well guarded by fencing to keep cattle and other livestock from rubbing against it and/or chewing on the bark. The extra canopy these trees provide soon become favorite places for pastured animals and well-planned placement of trees can assist them in staying out of the direct sun during any time of day
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You can count the seeds in an apple
but you can't count the apples in a seed
Apple a Day Project
MNF has a wonderful project that is part of their 1000 Trees Program and this project plants apple trees within the working farm as part of an orchard that is not in a specific area but all over the property. Come apple harvest time farmers can go around their farms to harvest the apples while also seeing their land from a different vantage point. On a 40 acre farm that is primarily used for row cropping over 50 trees have been planted which do not impinge on the crop fields and add another revenue stream for the farmer.
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"I think the tree is an element of regeneration, which in itself is a concept of time. Joseph Beuys artist of 7000 Oaks
The Milewski Nature Fund (MNF) is a U.S. Code Title 26 Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, registered with the State of Wisconsin.
CONTACT US
For other questions and comments email memorialnaturefund@gmail.com