Author Archives: JohnMatel

Food through my ages

Posted on November 13, 2019 by JohnMatel

What food did you like and how has it changed? – My story worth for this week. I grew up in the days of Wonder Bread and Oscar Meyer wieners and simple foods in general. Milwaukee in the 1960s was … Continue reading →

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Using forests to reduce CO2 works IF we harvest wood to build with wood

Posted on November 12, 2019 by JohnMatel

There is important nuance here. Mature forests store carbon, but they do not, on balance, capture much from the air. This is because decay balances growth in a mature forest. Forests may be the “lungs of the world” but mature … Continue reading →

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Finding the little longleaf

Posted on November 10, 2019 by JohnMatel

Thank you Marisa Williams, Brendan Williams, Alex Matel, Colin Crimmins, Espen Matel, Andrea & Chrissy for planting longleaf for me last winter. I went looking for them with my cutter today on the farm, i.e. I cut around some of … Continue reading →

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Save forests, cut trees

Posted on November 6, 2019 by JohnMatel

I know that I harp on this, but I think it so important. MOST people got it wrong when they think about forests, harvests & markets. Far from harming forest health, strong markets mean healthy forests and lack of harvests … Continue reading →

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What is your best advice when it comes to work?

Posted on November 5, 2019 by JohnMatel

MY story worth for this week – What is your best advice when it comes to work? The simple short advice is not to do what you love rather to learn to love what you do. Don’t follow your passion, … Continue reading →

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Short trip to the forest 2nd day

Posted on November 4, 2019 by JohnMatel

Early on a frosty morning. It was prettier than my pictures capture. I spent the day cutting around the little longleaf, as you see in the picture. I cut a path along the SMZ after that. We are planning to … Continue reading →

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Short trip to the forests

Posted on November 3, 2019 by JohnMatel

Down on the farms today for a beautiful cool fall day. I was greeted by a fallen log blocking the road. It would have taken me a hour with my hand saw, but I happy to see Larry & Dale … Continue reading →

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Chrissy’s birthday

Posted on November 2, 2019 by JohnMatel

Have not been posting as many pictures of Chrissy and me drinking beer, since most are repeats, as we go to many of the same places. We went to Ellicott Mills Brewing Company. I have been there with Marisa Williams … Continue reading →

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Canadian politics

Posted on October 29, 2019 by JohnMatel

he program was organized by Chris Sands, Johns Hopkins, and featured University of Calgary Professor Ian Brodie, former Chief of Staff to Canadian PM Stephen Harper talking about post-election politics in Ottawa.  The event seemed mostly for Hopkins’ students, who … Continue reading →

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The whole forest life cycle

Posted on October 28, 2019 by JohnMatel

My contribution to Virginia Forests Magazine The whole forest life cycle Most of our mid-rise and almost all our tall buildings are made mostly from concrete and steel. Production and transport of concrete and steel buildings is extremely energy intensive … Continue reading →

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