A forest owner can hike deep into the woods and leave all worries behind. Sometimes their adventure begins on a groomed trail or bushwhacking through a thicket, or better yet, sitting quietly and watching the wildlife.

For forest owners, anytime spent in the woods is time well spent. So it is no surprise to me when a forest owner asks how he or she can learn more about their woodlot.

Fortunately, New York forest owners have access to advice from experts and stories from other forest owners about New York trees and forests. At Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Master Forest Owner volunteer program has trained volunteers who provide private forest owners in the state with the information and encouragement necessary to manage their forest wisely. Cornell Cooperative Extension also provides information regarding woodlots through educators and factsheets.

In addition, New York forest owners are able to learn from experts and other forest owners in a new way-through podcast. Podcasts are audio files that you listen to on your personal computer or download onto your portable music player. They are free, fun and convenient to listen to and a great way to get information you can use in managing your forest.

For example, the Agro Forestry program has guest speaker Bob Beyfuss, a Cornell Cooperative Extension educator, discussing native plants found in a forest.

Take a walk through your woods in spring or summer to see what grows there naturally. Bob Beyfuss, an educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County says you might find a patch of flowering native plants such as trillium or lady slipper orchid. Their presence in your woods suggests that with a little know how you may be able to grow more of them.

There are 12 programs in the new ForestConnect podcast series: How Management Improves Forests. Programs in the series include:

• Recognizing Tree Stress - How do we know when to step in and give our trees a helping hand? With guest: Jerry Carlson, chief of Forest Health and Protection, NYS DEC

• Controlling Invasive Species - How plants and insects can become invasive and tips to control them. With guest: Robert Preston, NYFOA Niagara Frontier Chapter

• Developing a Stewardship Plan - The why and how of getting a stewardship plan in place.

• Managing Your Forest for Wildlife, Shelter & Space - Tips for improving wildlife habitat. With guest: Mark Kurtis, private consulting forester

• Agro forestry - Adding value to your forest by growing native plants, including ginseng. With guest Bob Beyfuss, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Greene County

The podcast program continues to mention many different wild plants including wild mushrooms, leeks and ginseng that can be enjoyed by many.

Other podcast programs are just as intriguing and educational. New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA) produced these podcasts in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension with support from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the USDA Forest Service - State and Private Forestry Division. Podcasts can be downloaded from www.nyfoa.org.

Renee Jensen is a community educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.