Sheep and Eastern White Pine Tree - help us plant living fences

A living fence is the deliberate planting of trees at the edge of livestock pasture. These fences are intensively managed for both forest products and forage, providing both short- and long-term income sources. They also provide much needed wind mitigation,  wildlife habitat and natural corridors for other living creatures. Hedgerow species can be similar, if not the same as many silvopasture species making our future hedgerows a nursery for future silvopastures. Species chosen will be native to Ontario and beneficial to people, animals, and the ecosystem.

An original, black and white open edition created and hand-pulled print by Jennifer. Mounted on an 8x10 backing board.

Some songbirds, squirrels, and small mammals feed on White Pine seeds. Bark and foliage are consumed by beaver, snowshoe hares, rabbits, porcupines, red and gray squirrels, mice, and white-tailed deer. Bears use large White Pines as escape cover for their cubs and they use young dense stands for shelter during inclement weather. They provide habitat, particularly for eagles and osprey who use them for nesting and also as perches to scan for prey, since they tend to tower above other surrounding trees. Also used by pileated woodpeckers, lynx, a myriad of insects and fungi.

Of the pines, Eastern white is the softest and lightest, with white sapwood and straw brown to light red brown heartwood that weathers to light gray. Straight grained, uniform textured and homogeneous, it works easily with hand and machine tools and accepts fasteners, glue, and paint well. It is used extensively for windows, sashes, frames, doors, cabinetry, interior trims of boats, caskets, toys, carvings, and other woodenware.