I’m not a woodsman.

I’m not a gardener, and I’ll admit I don’t even mow my own lawn. I’m a semi-retired physician who hasn’t been in a real forest in years.

But in 2013, I inherited a 33 acre woods in southern Illinois. The woods had been owned by my Dad, who passed away earlier that year. The land has been in the family for generations, and I didn’t feel like letting it go, although I had no serious vision of what I would do with it. My initial thought was to just leave it alone, as my father had.

In time, that plan had to change.

And that’s when I became the Reluctant Forester. Despite being unprepared for the job, I had to get prepared. With some effort and some help, I am learning.

I’ve decided to write about my experiences with the forest, so that others can share my joys, frustrations, and unexpected adventures that come from an amateur (that’s me) engaging with this stand of trees and brush. I like to believe I’m a good physician, but as you’ll soon see, that has nothing to do with being a good forest manager.

Unlike a novel, which isn’t released until it’s completely written, I’m writing this as I go along…I don’t really know how it will turn out, and I don’t have an “ending” in mind. I’ll share my successes (if any) and failures (probably more than a few). You’ll read about my good decisions, and my big mistakes. I’ll share pictures and videos. But in the end, I hope this story proves to be entertaining for those who want to join me.

The Reluctant Forester
AKA The Gray Haired OBGYN
May 15, 2014