On Saturday June 8, 2013, the Kickapoo Woods Cooperative invites the public to the property of co-op members Don and Donna Justin to see their approach to land management, including goat grazing, selective use of fire, and mechanical controls to manage invasive vegetation and encourage natural tree regeneration in the forest. The Kickapoo Woods Cooperative’s mission is to provide forestry education, management and marketing services to residents of the Kickapoo valley and neighboring watersheds that will improve the forestry resource for the region.
Twice a year the Justin’s bring in goats, and use girdling and burning to reduce unwanted brush. The goats will be on-site on the day of the hike, June 8, and their owner, Ben Robel of Vegetation Management, will be on hand to talk about the goat grazing services he offers.
Don & Donna are re-establishing oak savannah, goat prairie, and woodland habitat with the help of a forestry mower partially funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service. LIP (Landowner Incentive Program) and WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program) help support their burning regime, and an EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program) grant helped them plant their steepest and most erosion-prone fields to non-warm season grasses and pollinator strips.
The Justin’s have used cost sharing grants from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service. They have also worked with Cindy and Charles Ranseyer of Nature’s Keepers Services LLC, who will lead the tour and discussions along with the landowners. The group will also see areas where woodland burning has led to a resurgence of native understory plants.
Coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be available before and after the hike. For more information, contact Lila Marmel at 608-624-5269; sunmoon@mwt.net. For help with directions, go to justintrails.com or call Don and Donna at 608-269-4521 or 800-488-4521.
Forestry Hike at Justin Trails near Sparta June 8
Hunt for Spring Ephemerals
Birds of Spring 
Happy Sweetest Day!
March 30, 2013 by innkeeper
Don & I invite You to Enjoy an Extra Special Sweetest Day at Justin Trails Resort!
Sweetest Day February 14, 2012 is approaching quickly and we can help you plan a special getaway for your sweetie. We have romantic, soothing whirlpools, fireplaces and cozy cabins available for celebrating love this weekend. Tuesday, February 14. Temperatures in the teens this week have preserved the snow on the tubing hill. Tubers are twirling long rides to the flat. Call 608-269-4522 now for a reservation.
Don and I feel deep gratitude and appreciation for the thousands of people who have chosen
to visit with us over the past 25 years of innkeeping. You have helped us fulfill our dream of
living on the land we love as we transitioned to an easier style of earning a living than dairy
farming. We look forward to another 5 years of innkeeping when our property will be a
century farm in the Justin family.
Upcoming Events:
Feb. 12-15 Charles has his portable saw mill set up in the shed to cut oak, butternut, hickory,
cherry and birch for plank flooring for the hayloft. This is an opportunity for sawyer wanna
beʼs to watch Charles using a Wood Miser ban saw.
Ice Bowl Disc Golf Fun Saturday, March 3 at 2 and 6 PM. Bring canned food for the
Food Pantry for admission. Enjoy chili and goodies and start glow round at 6. New this
year will be bon fires near holes 2, 4, 7, 12, 14 & 17.
Cindy, Charles, Don and I appreciate the many compliments we are receiving from guests
noticing improvements on the disc golf courses and the appearance of the woods as we tidy
the woodland, open oak savannas and the goat prairie.
Handy Person Special 2 people work 4 hours/day in exchange for lodging @ $50/night in
available lodging. Lunch and dinner provided for workers. We always have projects so give
us a call when you have an opportunity to getaway for a volunteer vacation.
We also have specific dates with projects:
March 19-25 prepare for control/prescribed burn and burn on weather appropriate days
March 26-April 1 rain date if weather not cooperative previous week
April 8-9 prescribed burn April 14-15 rain date
May girdle poplar trees
June cut sumac & honeysuckle
Justin Trails/Evergreen Disc Sports Disc Golf Tournament Saturday and Sunday,
September 15 & 16, 2012. PDGA sanctioned B Tournament on Wisconsin Tour.
Amateur/Recreation play only on Saturday. Professional and Advanced play on Saturday
and Sunday.
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