Dutch Creek Woods
Athens, OH
Location:
Athens, OH
Total Acres:
97
Agroforestry Acres:
2
Year Established:
2021
Introduction
This mixed hardwood forest was originally purchased with intent of timber and wildlife management. I was absentee owner for about 10 yrs, and in the meantime NNIS have gotten a foothold. Much of my time is spent combatting them. The forest could generally be described at nearly mature, with some younger pole-size stands and some very mature trees (a 26" white oak was windthrown last week). I wrote a LMP for it when first purchased in 2013, and am having it updated currently. It was originally enrolled in OFTL but is now enrolled in CAUV tax abatement program. I have had/have multiple Eqip contracts, and currently in CSP program, including creation of .5 ac pollinator plot.
I enrolled the property in the Family Forest Carbon Program in 2024 which is partnership between AFF and TNC. I receive annual payments for the forest mgt that sequesters/stores carbon they sell as credit.
Main Agroforestry Species
black cohosh, goldenseal, ramps, blood root, ginseng, morels, and cultivated log mushrooms
Contact Information
Main Contact:
Carleen Yocum, owner/manager
Phone
7405904852
Email:
Website:
Social Link
Social Link
Site Visitors
Yes
Nursery or Planting Stock Provider Information
Agroforestry System Design
Stands range from 20 - 100 yrs old. Mixed upland, mesic and bottomland hardwoods: red, chestnut, white and black oak; hickories, red and sugar maple, tulip poplar, buckeye, sycamore. Lots of paw paw in understory. Regen mostly ash and maple. Have planted bald cypress in bottom and black walnut.
Personal or Collective Experiences
I knew very little about forest farming practically until retiring in 2021 and I started my "agroforestry" journey on my own property. The invasive plants have been the created challenge and expense, especially stilt grass. I am fortunate to have resource groups here in SE Ohio, such as Rural Action and United PLant Savers, from whom I have learned volumes regarding growing medicinals and forest botanicals and mushrooms. The CAGP helped me put tht learning into practice and was my first launch.
The property is also a certified "Tree Farm".
April 7, 2026 at 2:26:48 PM