Jo Pierce: It’s called the Pierce Place. It’s been in the family for over 200 years, since 1785, when my great-great-great grandfather came up here from Massachusetts and built the house there.

Jo Pierce and his family own a 2,000 acre forest in Maine.

Jo Pierce: I’m very connected with the land, and I’m out there, and I’m making sure that I’ve got wildlife habitat, and I’ve got trees growing so that I can harvest next year, and I can harvest in 20 years. And actually, my land is managed thinking about my grandchildren, and what they are going to cut.

The tree farm is how the Pierces make their living. But to the family, the forest is much more.

Jo Pierce: I know for me, when I go walking in the woods, and I say, my father and I climbed on that rock 50 years ago, my mother and I went snow shoeing here. It’s all these family memories that we have that mean so much, and we try to pass on.

He said he works to cultivate the next generation of landowners – his children.

Jo Pierce: They really value the woods. They’ve learned to respect the land, and they’ve learned it’s a responsibility to own land.

Pierce added that even though his forest is private, he’s glad to share it.

Jo Pierce: It’s sort of a tradition here in Maine to have one’s land open for friends and neighbors to enjoy.

Our thanks today to the American Forest Foundation, leading the way in conservation and education.

Our thanks to:
Jo Pierce
Baldwin, ME