Page 15 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Fourth Quarter 2023

friend, providing me with the resources and reassurance for forestry sustainability now and in the future. I wish I’d had these conversations with my own dad before he passed away. Hiring a forestry consultant has been invaluable to me. I’ve intentionally included Lauren in that conversation so
we make sure she’s informed on things
I wish I had asked my dad about. 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. The word sustainability means “keep it”
to me. We’re in forestry, so we also replant and keep the land in trees. I made up an acronym for FAMILY I want to share with your readers: Forestry Always Manifests Increasing Loyalty Year-round.
Q: How do you support the local community?
A: Hardly Farm, our new endeavor, is planted right now in an isolated,
rural community. We don’t have a ton of opportunities for cultural activities where the community can come together.
Our farm is a place where folks can come to celebrate life, trees, alpacas, and spend time together. My goal is to build community with art classes, yoga with alpacas, and felting soap classes. We sell several items that I’ve knitted in our store, pumpkins and hats out of alpaca fiber,
as well as books educating children (and their parents) about the forestry industry. I’m passionate about inclusion, especially for people with disabilities. We want our farm to be a place where all people feel welcomed and enjoy the fresh air, beauty, and wonder that this outdoor environment provides. I also will talk to visitors about Tree Farm and the NCFA.
Some other ways I’m involved in the local community include donating knitted hats to a local fire station for their annual fundraiser. I’ve volunteered at my church for 48 years, as a pianist and recently
as the choir director. When COVID happened, I started to volunteer at the senior center for “Crafting with Kim” and I focus on an agriculture craft each month celebrating a commodity.
I’ve partnered with the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) through my work with Farm Bureau on a STEM activity
at Royal Elementary School in Franklin County. The NCFS brings their truck and demonstrates how drones are used in forestry.
G. Clay Creed, R.F.
P.O. Box 159 Laurel Hill, NC 28351
NC Registered Forester No. 1655 NC Certified Prescribe Burner 313 C Registered Forester No. 1794 SC Prescribed Fire Manager 899
Society of American Foresters
Contributing member of NCSU Cooperative Tree Improvement Program
610-5841
ncforestry.org / FOURTH QUARTER 2023 13