We teamed up with a Forester to consider the best way to reclaim up to 20 acres of land for agricultural use (we have 100 acres total.) Unlike most people who want to sell their most valuable hardwood trees and cash them in for money, we wanted to do the opposite but at no cost to us. We had the land inspected by both the forester and logger and entered into an agreement to have all of the pine, hemlock, ect cut and leave the large stately hardwood trees.
Our property consist of Maple, Poplar, Birch, Beech, Pine, Hemlock, Cedar and Oak among others. We have some very prominent areas of mostly hardwood vs softwood.
Once the area we designated was cleared it opened up a large view of the surround town hill-scape. The clearing also opened up due east exposure so this hill will do best for our early season crops and warming up the various huts for our livestock. Plus it provides a gorgeous view.