The annual field day/meeting of the Illinois Walnut Council will be held on September 12, 2015 starting at 10 AM. The first stop will be at the Roger Briggs property which is located in the northeast corner of Macon County (Section 8, T18N; R4E). Directions (most direct route): take US 51 north of Decatur to Lake Fork Road (County Line Road) about .5 mile north of Maroa, IL; go east about 10.7 miles to Briggs Road; head south on Briggs road for about 1.25 miles. The Briggs’ Property is on the west side of the road. There is a bottomland planting of walnut and mixed oak; and an upland planting of walnut, oaks, and ash. We will discuss and demonstrate crop tree release, pruning, and soils. Lunch will be catered by Mama D’s Smokehouse in Weldon, IL.
The afternoon will be spent at the Waynes James’ property near Mansfield, IL. From Weldon, it is about 10 miles east and 4 miles north (2728 N 1000 E Road; Section 18, T20N;R6E) in Piatt County The James farmstead was established in 1872 and has been in the same family ever since. The history includes osage orange hedge rows (originals are gone but a small example was planted in 2012); a mixed grove including oak, walnut, tulip poplar, and hickory all of various ages; a windbreak of Norway spruce planted in 1941; a ½ acre walnut plantation planted in 1995- grown for lumber and now need thinning. A newer windbreak and a newer walnut patch may also be visited. The workshop will focus on pruning and thinning. The workshop will end with a sawmill demonstration and a tour of a small woodshop allowing the owner to go from growing trees to manufacturing wooden objects. For those interested in staying overnight, camping, a wiener roast and campfire will follow in the evening and a pancake breakfast the next morning.
This is a good meeting for people with trees from 4- to 10-inches in diameter!
Registration is $15 per person to cover lunch, beverages, snacks, etc.
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REGISTRATION FORM
Name _______________________________________
Number attending _____
Address: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Send registration form with payment made to Illinois Walnut Council to:
Steve Felt, 522 Roberts Lane, Sherrard, IL 61281
Phone: 309-373-0506 (cell)
Or you can send an e-mail to feltfam3@mchsi.com to let him know you are planning to attend.
