Ways to Love a Forest
Stories of Woodland Stewardship in Northeast Ohio
Forest stewardship is a collective effort.
All around Northeast Ohio, landowners, natural resource professionals, scientists, and educators are engaged in active woodland management. Though their strategies and priorities may vary, they are united by a shared love of land and a goal of increased forest resilience.
Browse the profiles below to discover how some of these land stewards are taking action in their own lives, and how you can join them! The individuals below (and many more!) are featured in a booklet titled Ways to Love a Forest: Stories of Woodland Stewardship in Northeast Ohio.
Help restore urban canopy
Lola Lewis
“Humans, animals, and plants – we all need urban canopy cover. We all depend on one another.”
About me: Great-grandmother, community educator, risk taker, arborist, urban forester. Trumbull and Mahoning Counties.
Get started: Find out if your city has a tree commission and how you can help, or ask local park districts, land conservancies, or watershed groups if you can volunteer in urban canopy restoration efforts!
Read more of Lola’s story on page 23 of Ways to Love a Forest.
Get to know what’s in the forest
Judy Semroc
“I’m trying to get people to understand that we are not the only species on this planet! All the other species in the forest have the right to be there and conduct their lives, too.”
About me: Field biologist, naturalist, and advocate for wild spaces. Passionate about community nature education that inspires action. State of Ohio.
Get started: Grab an ID guide or app and go for a walk in the woods. Pick a single forest trail or loop and try to learn every tree along it. Then, tackle the understory plants and the fungi!
Read more of Judy’s story on page 7 of Ways to Love a Forest.
Explore “goods from the woods”
Bill and Dee Belew
“From the time I first made maple syrup [at] nine years old, I had the itch. It got in my blood.” – Bill
About us: Maple syrup producers, blueberry farmers, people lovers, and stewards of a 200-year-old 40-acre sugarbush. Geauga County.
Get started: Take a woodworking class, learn about mushroom logs, try tapping the sugar maple in your yard, or purchase responsibly harvested timber products from local forests!
Read more of Bill and Dee’s story on page 29 of Ways to Love a Forest.
Consider active management
Nancy Logan and Joan Steidl
“I’m realizing that you have to work the land to save it. Before, we were just letting nature run its course, and that’s okay. But this is more intentional, and I think it’s going to do more good.” – Joan
About us: Community educators, readers, animal lovers, stewards of 107 acres of deciduous forest, wetlands and meadow. Ashtabula County.
Get started: Start learning about forestry in your area! Join the mailing list for park/soil and water districts, land conservancies, public gardens, state divisions of forestry, landowner groups, watershed groups, and university extensions to stay up to date about forest-related workshops, webinars, and classes.
Read more of Nancy and Joan’s story on page 41 of Ways to Love a Forest.
Create a legacy
Awnhee and Mark Hoberecht
“We don’t have kids, so this land is our legacy. This is everything.” – Awnhee
About us: Dreamers, travelers, dog lovers, amateur naturalists, stewards of 43 acres of mixed mesophytic forest. Lorain County.
Get started: Are you a forest owner hoping to conserve your land for generations to come? Consider connecting with a local land conservancy to discuss options. Visit LandTrustAlliance.org to find a conservancy near you.
Read more of Awnhee and Mark’s story on page 37 of Ways to Love a Forest.
