Harold Fink Locksmith and Forester

Paulownia Plantation at 124 Price Station Rd. in Church Hill MD 21623

Many people slow down and stop along Price Station Rd. to admire the beautiful purple flowers of our Paulownia trees in May. A few people drive in to ask what they are. They are Paulownia Tomentosa, one of nine varieties of Paulownia growing here in North America. Paulownia Tomentosa does best in our zone here in Maryland.

We now have well over 1000 Paulownia Tomentosa trees growing at our farm in Church Hill Maryland. About 460 of these trees are between 12 and 14 years old and the largest is about 16" in diameter at breast height. The wood is in excellent condition and is free of any insect damage. We have fourteen more rows of three year old trees, just over 500, that have been coppiced twice. The largest growth of these trees since coppicing in early May 2009 was over 16 ft in one season! The diameter of that tree is already about 3". Those trees are growing from roots that have developed for three years and we were very proactive in avoiding deer damage this last fall and winter, so it appears we will have no need to coppice again. We also use Growth Products' Essential Plus micro nutrients with Miracle Gro. We injected fertilizer into the ground around each tree and the roots are loving it. In areas where we have wetter locations we build up the ground and plant the tree higher, or take steps to allow for better drainage away from the roots. Paulownia trees don't like wet feet. Even if you had a tree live a few years in a wet location, it will not grow as well and may die as the roots begin to grow farther from the base and deeper into the earth. We drill with a 3ft auger prior to planting the trees from our pots to determine how well drained the location will be.

We continue to grow new trees every year. Last year, we started over 500 trees from root cuttings and they will be planted in the ground next fall. We also have an additional 300 or so that we will start with root cuttings this year, and look forward to witnessing the incredible rapid growth of these beautiful trees. We have given many trees to neighbors and hope to have our plantation completed soon, when we will be able to provide both root cuttings and seedlings in pots for sale.

Part of our being able to provide these beautiful ornamental trees for their beauty and for their timber value was the adoption of a forestry plan. Without a forestry plan, the State of Maryland would not recognize that our land is indeed being used for an agricultural purpose. Interestingly, Paulownia trees grow so rapidly that I thought it would be interesting to calculate what the carbon offset value of the trees would be, in terms of how well they absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. I have included our forestry plan here for anyone to verify and perhaps use as a reference for their own someday. I would highly recommend Mr. Warren Spencer as being both an accomplished forester and a good neighbor as well.

Forestry Plan for Paulownia Plantation

Forest Stewardship Plan
for
Harold E. & Gina Fink
124 Price Station Rd.
Church Hill, MD 21623
Telephone: 410-556-6250
Location
On the west side of Rt. 405 approximately .25 mile
from the intersection of Rt. 405 and
Rt. 19 (Roberts Station Road)
Tax Map #23, Parcel 212
Maryland Grid: 1088-473
in
Queen Annes County
on
BREAKDOWN:
Total Ownership: 10.526 acres
Homesite: 1.78 acres
Open Ground: 1.60 acres
Woodland: 4.846 acres
Paulownia plantations: 2.30
Total Wooded Acres: 7.146
Prepared by
Warren G. Spencer
Licensed Professional Forester
December 7, 2009

Harold E. & Gina Fink - page 2

STAND DESCRIPTION AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES
OVERVIEW: Purchased by Mr. Harold Fink, a Locksmith, in 2004, this property included a one-acre planting of paulownia trees. (A valuable tree species). Mr. Fink is very interested in paulownia culture and has increased his paulownia acreage. He also desires to plant the remaining clear ground (approximately 1.50 acres, Stand 2A), within the next few years.
The property does not contain any sensitive species as per the Queen Annes County Planning and Zoning maps. It does contain a blue line stream, and non-tidal wetlands. (See attached map)
OWNER=S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Forest Products, specifically, the culture and growing of paulownia (also called princess tree) for both the foreign and potential domestic market.).
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Wildlife Habitat.
STAND #1 A
AREA: 1.00 acre
DOMINANT OVERSTORY SPECIES: Paulownia (plantation)
DOMINANT UNDERSTORY SPECIES: None (plantation is kept mowed)
AGE: 13 years
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Average tree size is 10"-12" at Diameter breast height with total heights of 35+/- feet.
STOCKING/BASED AREA: High, 140 square feet/acre.
SITE GROWTH POTENTIAL: Good
SOIL TYPE: Ingleside sandy loan, 5-10% slope, a very deep well-drained soil, good for paulownia production
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STAND #1 B
AREA: 1.30 Acres
DOMINANT OVERSTORY TREES: Paulownia (plantation)
DOMINANT UNDERSTORY TREES: N/A (area mowed)
AGE: 3 years
Harold E. & Gina Fink - page 3
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Sapling size with average stem size at D.B.H. (diameter breast high) of two inches with stem heights of seven to twelve feet.
STOCKING/BASAL AREA: High, B.A. N/A, (seedlings planted on a 10' x 10' spacing (435 trees/acre).
SITE GROWTH POTENTIAL: Good
SOIL TYPE: Ingleside Sandy Loan 5-10% slope, a very deep well-drained soil, good for paulownia production.
RECOMMENDATIONS/PRACTICES
STANDS 1A and 1B
The primary market for paulownia has been the Japanese. This market requires wood with tight growth rings (slow growth). Consequently, the planting of trees at a high density (10' x 10') is warranted. My observation of wild grown trees is that they seem to be able to survive and grow with very small live crowns under severe competition from other forest trees. However, in plantations, it is probable that thinning will be necessary, as trees compete for growing space. Ideally, trees marked for thinning would be inferior trees of poor form or bole quality or suppression. Guidance regarding thinning can be obtained from available publications devoted to growing paulownia.
Although a strong, viable domestic market does not exist at this time, it is reasonable to believe that with adequate supply and more research into paulownia usage, a firm domestic market will develop. Domestic markets may not require dense wood, and stand spacings could be adjusted with rotation time shortened.
Paulownia culture is unique. The species is site selective, and successful propagation and culture is often a learning process. The owner is managing his plantings very well with pruning, mowing, deer damage control, etc. He has sought management guidance from literature and a consultant.
STAND #2A - 1.25 acres. This is clear ground adjacent to Stand #1B. It is scheduled to be planted to paulownia on a staggered basis over the next several years.
STAND #2B -
AREA: .35 acres. This is a small open area located adjacent to Rt. 405 and Stand #4 at the entrance way to the county transfer site. Presently, the owner desires to leave the area fallow.
RECOMMENDATIONS/PRACTICES
STAND #2A - As trees are established for one year, amend the plan accordingly, and provide information annually to the Queen Anne=s County Department of Assessments & Taxation.
STAND #2B - None at this time.
Harold E. & Gina Fink - page 4
STAND #3
AREA: 4.146
DOMINANT OVERSTORY TREES: Red oak, pin oak, tulip poplar, white oak, ash, hickory, red maple, cherry, walnut and sycamore.
DOMINANT UNDERSTORY SPECIES: beech, ironwood, black gum, with cherry, sassafras, green briar and honeysuckle along the woodland edge where more sunlight is available.
AGE: Uneven
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Primarily pole and small sawtimber size with a component of mature trees with breast high diameters in the 20" to 46" range.
STOCKING/BASAL AREA: 75 square feet per acre, adequately stocked.
SITE GROWTH POTENTIAL: Very good
SOIL TYPE: Longmarsh and Zekiah 0-2% slope, these flood plain soils serve as a valuable storage medium for nutrient retention and sediment. Ingleside sandy loam 5-10% slope, well drained, well suited for the production of quality timber.
RECOMMENDATIONS/PRACTICES
This Stand #3 is located in the northwestern section of the property on both sides of a tributary stream of Southeast Creek. The stand contains a small component of very large mature trees, a number of which have defects due to declining vigor.
Mature trees are important producers of food, in the form of seeds, nuts and acorns, for birds, squirrels and deer. In addition, mature trees provide nesting habitat in hollows and cavities.
As natural nesting habitat is often limited, a number of nesting boxes should be erected to support several species of wildlife. These include wood ducks and squirrels in the forest interior, and bluebirds along the woodland edge. The small screech owl will also nest in squirrel nesting boxes.
Although there is a number of large trees in this woodland, it would be difficult to sell them for timber products due to their small number, the environmentally sensitive site with stream and wetlands, (disturbance activities are restricted within the 50' stream buffer) and overall access.
Boundary lines should be located and marked with paint or equivalent, especially where forest meets adjoining forest.
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STAND #4
AREA: .70 acre
Harold E. & Gina Fink - page 5
DOMINANT OVERSTORY SPECIES: Tulip poplar, beech, pin oak, ash, sweet gum and black
gum.
DOMINANT UNDERSTORY SPECIES: Sweet gum, sassafras, red cedar, cherry, ironwood and black gum.
AGE: Uneven
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Sapling to pole size with a scattering of small sawtimber size trees.
STOCKING/BASAL AREA: 75 square feet, adequately stocked.
SITE GROWTH POTENTIAL: Good
SOIL TYPE: Ingleside sandy loan 5-10% slope, a deep, well-drained soil.
RECOMMENDATIONS/PRACTICES
This is a relatively narrow stand that lies adjacent to Rt. 405 and extends northward ending adjacent to the Queen Annes County transfer site. The stand varies in width from 25' at its southernmost point to about 100' at its northern boundary.
Trees in the southern part of the stand occupy ground that was once clear and allowed to revert to woodland. Being adjacent to Rt. 405 the trees largely function as a screen and barrier to road noise. The value of the balance of the stand is largely one of wildlife habitat, leave as is.
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MANAGEMENT PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Completion Date Practice Stand Acres
June 2010 Erect 2 wood duck nesting boxes 3, 4 4.84
Along the stream; 2 squirrel boxes
In the woodland interior, and 2
Bluebird boxes along the woodland edge.
Clean annually by 2/15.
Information regarding wildlife management
may be obtained by contacting Josh Homyack
State Wildlife biologist at 410-928-3650.
June 2012 Plant fallow ground to paulownia 2A up to 1.25
Ongoing Plantation maintenance 1A, 1B 2.30
Mowing, deer protection, pruning,
Etc.
Ongoing Clearly mark and maintain boundary 3 7.14 +/-
Lines every five years
June 2015 Re-examine All Stands 7.14 +/-
Harold E. & Gina Fink - page 6
Note: Your Stewardship Plan will be given to Queen Annes County Assessment and Taxation Office by June 30, 2010, it is important to note that they will require that your property be inspected once every three (3) years by a Licensed Professional Forester verifying written plan compliance in order to continue to receive the assessed woodland rate of $187.50 per acre on forested acres covered under the plan.
If the State of Maryland DNR-Forest Service performs the inspection, there is a minimum $100 per inspection fee. The plan requires that you continue to follow the Management Practice Schedule to receive favorable inspections every three (3) years to satisfy Queen Annes County Assessment& Taxation program requirements.
At any time, you can choose the other more formal option referred to as the F.C.M.A. if so desired. The difference between the two (2) relates primarily to 1) formalized signed notarized paperwork recorded in the Courthouse; 2) 100% Assessments of $126 vs. $187.50 per acre and; 3) inspections every three (3) years, every five (5) years; both at $100 cost each; and; 4) entrance fees (min. $50 entrance & $40 recordation fee), vs. no entrance fee.
If landowners wish to choose the FCMA option, signed and approved paperwork should be processed and on file in Queen Annes Assessments and Taxation prior to June 30 of the year in question. Contact State Forestry to receive copies of these formal documents for processing if desired at some future time.
It is the landowners= responsibility to keep up-to-date with the management schedule included in the Forest Stewardship Plan. Before any changes (INCLUDING SELLING/SUBDIVIDING OR NAME/DEED CHANGES OR TREE REMOVAL/ADDITION CHANGES) are made by the landowner as it pertains to the Woodland Forest Stewardship Plan. THE LANDOWNER should notify the local forester ONE MONTH PRIOR TO CHANGE for advice and necessary actions needed.
To provide further assistance and advice in carrying out the recommended practices, please contact WARREN SPENCER or M. TERESA ATeri@ BATCHELOR, Upper Shore Project Manager/Forester, Maryland, Maryland DNR/Forest Service, 120 Broadway Ave. #14, Centreville, Maryland 21617. Telephone (410-778-4439 or (410-819-4120).
Fax: 410-819-4110
Email: @dnr.state.md.us

I would highly recommend any of the parties mentioned in this forestry plan as they made this entire process much easier than I thought it would be. I am encouraged that the State of Maryland recognizes our efforts in growing a tree that is both highly desirable for its ornamental qualities as it is for its timber. We simply would not be able to continue to grow these trees if the State of Maryland were not to recognize properly the agricultural use of our property. We hope to provide valuable carbon study information on these trees in the future. - Harold Fink Locksmith and Forester