05/29/2026
While the weather keeps you indoors, there are still plenty of ways landowners can improve the health, productivity, and future of their woodlands from home. Here are 5 things to do the next time you're stuck inside to benefit your forest!
1. Create or Update a Forest Management Plan
Review your property goals and outline priorities such as wildlife habitat, timber production, recreation, invasive species control, or wildfire prevention. Mapping out short- and long-term goals helps guide future management decisions.
2. Study Aerial Maps and Property Boundaries
Use online mapping tools or printed maps to identify woodland types, stream corridors, erosion-prone areas, access roads, and potential planting sites. Rainy days are great for organizing GIS files, trail maps, and boundary records.
3. Research Tree and Invasive Species Identification
Spend time learning to identify native trees, shrubs, insects, diseases, and invasive plants common to your area. Better identification skills make fieldwork more effective once the weather clears.
4. Organize Forestry Records and Photos
Sort receipts, planting records, burn plans, timber sale documents, wildlife observations, and seasonal photos. Keeping organized records helps track forest health changes over time and can assist with cost-share or tax programs.
5. Plan Future Projects and Order Supplies
Use the downtime to schedule tree planting projects, thinning work, prescribed burns, or habitat improvements. You can also compare equipment, order seedlings, sharpen chainsaw chains indoors, or prepare educational materials for family members or volunteers.
A rainy day can be one of the best opportunities to improve the long-term health and productivity of your woodland—just from the comfort of indoors.
