The US Forest Service, Hubbard Brook Research Foundation, National Science Foundation, and West Virginia University partnered to develop and publish A Field Guide to the Fernow: An Artistic Representation of Life on the Fernow Experimental Forest. The guide, which is available to view as a PDF on the Fernow LTREB website (www.as.wvu.edu/fernow/contest.html) as well as in hard copy at the Timber and Watershed Laboratory in Parsons, WV, showcases more than 50 pieces of visual and written art. Each photograph, painting, poem, and prose piece depicts a species of plant or animal found within the boundaries of the Fernow Experimental Forest in Parsons, WV. The guide’s purpose is to both celebrate life on the Fernow and to help the public get to know its forest.
Purchased by the federal government in 1915 and established as a research forest in 1934, the Fernow lies within the 900,000-acre Monongahela National Forest in eastern West Virginia. Studies include long-term research on silviculture practices, erosion, soil and water acidification, and much more. The forest is also open to day-use hikers, hunters, bird watchers, wildflower seekers, and any interested members of the public.
In addition to developing and publishing the guide, the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation sponsored a contest. Judges David Smaldone and Erin Smaldone (visual arts), and Rebecca Doverspike and Jesse Kalvitis (written arts), selected the best pieces in each category. Winners were: Kathleen Mahony, “Redback Salamander” (winner, visual art); Donna Weems, “Eastern Tent Caterpillar” (winner, written art); Jessica Graham, “Common Blackberry” (2nd place, written art); Nick Dilks, “Fisher” (2nd place, visual art); Cheryl Smith, “Ground Pine” (3rd place, visual art); Jon Weems, “Cucumbertree” (3rd place, written art); Brenden McNeil, “Northern Red Oak” (honorable mention, visual art); Kathleen Mahony, “Northern Red Salamander” (honorable mention, visual art); and Donna Weems, “Black Oak” (honorable mention, written art).
For more information on the guide, including future editions and details about this year’s contest, contact coordinator Katie Fallon: Katie.Fallon@mail.wvu.edu.