Jack & Beth Riley - Dix, IL
Promoting good forestry practices can start in your yard. Jack and Beth Riley tap the maple trees in their yard to make maple syrup. For several years, in the bleak month of February, students from the local elementary school, family, friends, and Tree Farmers have gathered in the Riley's front yard to observe the collection, boiling down, and tasting of maple syrup. The Rileys use this opportunity to share information on good forest stewardship. They use just a small number of trees to present information about sound forestry principles they believe in and practice on their Tree Farm.
The Riley Tree Farm is an 80-acre tract in Jefferson County with a one acre old home site and pond. Forty-one acres of the farm have been forested for at least 150 years. They are reforesting old fields and pastures with white pines and hardwood plantings. They are also utilizing natural regeneration in two fields. Their property has both upland and riparian forest. White oak and black oak are the dominant species found on the steeply dissected topography.
The Rileys are very enthusiastic Tree Farmers and have made good choices in the management of their timber. They have sought out the advice of forestry consultant Joe Newcomb to write their forest stewardship management plan. They have worked closely with the IDNR forester to conduct a harvest and hired forestry consultant Jack Kagy to complete their timber stand improvement project following the harvest. They have planted IDNR seedlings to convert their pasture ground to forest.
Jack Riley, a retired postal employee, likes to work with his timber and cuts some timber for woodworking projects as well as for firewood. He encourages groups like the Girl Scouts and church groups to use their Tree Farm. He allows hunting of deer and mushrooms. Beth is proud of their thriving white pine plantation. Thanks to the use of human hair hung from the young seedlings, the trees have not been browsed by deer. Beth, a hairdresser, educates her clients to be good forest stewards. She tells them about her Tree Farm and enlists their help saving nylon hose to put their severed locks in to make the tree protectors.
This family has a true grass roots approach to spreading the Tree Farm philosophy of good forest management. The Rileys present a balanced picture of an outstanding Tree Farm family that believes in forest protection, enjoyment of the forest, reforestation, and harvesting of trees.
