Page 14 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Fourth Quarter 2023

“Hiring a forestry consultant has been invaluable to me. ... These conversations are important for managing the land for the future, including balancing the plan for wildlife, water, the forestry community, family, and future generations.”
passed down to four grandchildren. Before they passed, they had a family meeting
to discuss their decision on how the land would be passed down, with roughly 600 acres shared equally. My encouragement to landowners is that they sit down and have these conversations with their families. In the long run, it makes sense for folks to have estate planning to protect the land and families, and keep forests in forests.
Q: How do you manage your land for future generations?
And what does sustainable forestry mean to you?
A: For me, managing the land has been a process of creating a will and also
educating my child and grandchild. One thing I’m really glad I did was to reach out to the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Director, who sent me a list of forestry consultants to consult with on land management. From that list, Kent Fulbright of GFR Forestry Consultants met the qualifications my farm needed. He has been a great mentor, advisor, and
Jessica Ireland makes friends with one of the many alpacas at Hardly Farm. Top: Kim shows off her felting soap she created and branded for the general store. Below: Emilene leads the way on a tour of the family’s Tree Farm.
12 ncforestry.org / FOURTH QUARTER 2023
Check out the NCFA’s YouTube page to watch “Forestry and Environmental Sustainability with Kim Stewart.”