Our Quarterly Meeting of SW Ohio Woodland Association will be on

Sunday, April 27, 2025 @ 2 pm

Location: Bluestem Reserve, 1734 East Boat Run Road, New Richmond, Ohio

Hosted by: Jim Lockey and Grace LeMasters (Property Owners)

Event Flyer & Property Map (links)

Location Info from the owners:

 The original 86 acres were purchased in 1994 and over time has expanded to 250 contiguous acres and is named Bluestem Reserve, LLC. Bluestem was part of the prairie grass we planted. Historically, the old growth forest was cut down and the land used for growing tobacco and grazing animals. Over time secondary regrowth consisted mainly of sugar maple, American beech, ash , black locust, basswood, pawpaw and Ohio buckeye trees. Along the forest edge and in areas with open canopy, invasive species such as bush honeysuckle, privet, Russian olive, multiflora rose, and oriental bittersweet have proliferated.

Over the past 20 years forest restoration efforts have included invasive species control and planting thousands of hardwood seedlings including black walnuts, hickory and several types of red and white oaks particularly in open field areas. More recently with the loss of mature tree canopy due to the Emerald Ash bore, there was an explosive growth of forest floor invasive species. A more intensive focus was initiated within the existing forest to repopulate these parts of the forest with hardwoods. This process includes fogging activities with foliar herbicides such as glyphosate in the late fall after a significant frost and hardwood seedling plantings that are staked and protected with deer tube guards.

Recently we have partnered with Trout Lily, a Montessori nature school in Cincinnati. The school children visit the reserve twice in the fall and spring and are involved with manual invasive species removal and tree planting. They follow the evolution of the reforestation in parcels where they have worked particularly with growth of the hardwood seedlings. Josh Shanklin, director of the school, will provide his perspective on how to partner with a local school and how as tree farmers you can contribute to this type of learning partnership.

The long-term goal is to restore, over multiple generations, the 250 acres to more of an old growth oak, hickory and walnut forest with open savannah areas. Native understory trees and bushes are being introduced including American plum, persimmon, dogwood, red bud and winter berry. In the long term, selective tree harvesting may be introduced. A legal infrastructure has been established for our children for the reforestation effort to be continued over future generations. Any individual who has a potential problem with walking should park at the main house.

Our address is 1734 E. Boat Run Road which is a single lane road off Franklin Willis Memorial Road which is a left turn heading East off of Rte 52 and just past the town of New Richmond Ohio. When on East Boat Run Road turn right at the green mailbox. Drive to the red barn and park diagonally so more cars will fit. Then continue a short walk up to the main house where the meeting will be held and the tour initiates. Any individual who has a potential problem with walking should park at the main house.

Hope to see you there!

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Our First Quarterly Meeting of SW Ohio Woodland Association will be on

Sunday, January 19, 2025 @ 2 pm

Location: Middletown River Center, 120 South Carmody Blvd., Middletown, Ohio 45044

Hosted by: MetroParks of Butler County 

Keynote Speakers:



Dakotah Zimmer (Butler Soil & Water Conservation District Arborist ) will be presenting "Winter Tree Care: How to care for your trees (old and new) and ensure their survival throughout winter". 

We will learn about inspecting trees for winter and insect damage, evergreen care, pruning, and deer/wind protection.

Michael Saylor (Wildlife Management Consultant, ODNR, Division of Wildlife) will be presenting information on a new statewide Wildlife Habitat Initiative, a new conservation program that provides incentive payments for qualifying landowners/tenants that install conservation practices which improves/expands wildlife habitat.  

SOWA Logo Apparel Update 

The SW Ohio Woodland Association Advisory Committee has been working with a Toledo, Ohio company to design some SOWA Logo shirts and sweatshirts. 

This would be an online sale shipped directly to your address (mock-up examples below). 

We would like to have the store site open for orders in late February but we would like to gauge your interest first. Let us know if you might be interested in one of these items by emailing us at: director@3vct.org

Tee: Next Level 6210 $27.65

Hoodie: Independent Hooded Sweatshirt - SS4500 $40.30

Zip Up: Independent Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt - SS4500Z $43.90