TUG HILL RESOURCES INVESTMENT FOR TOMORROW
Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and Oswego Counties
This website is maintained with assistance from Morrisville State College's School of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information about the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and their programs, click on the Morrisville State College logo.
UPDATED, April 16th, 2008: THRIFT AND OTHER CURRENT EVENTS ON OR NEAR TUG HILL,
THRIFT exists to promote the sustainable use of Tug Hill's many resources, to provide a forum for the people of the Tug Hill region to share their experiences and to discuss issues that concern them, and to present educational and recreational programs for members and the public. THRIFT offers scholarships for college textbooks (THRIFT sponsors a modest scholarship each year to help a small number of graduating high school seniors defray the cost of college textbooks. Scholarship application guidelines are available from area high school teachers and guidance counselors, or may be found here at the THRIFT Scholarships for College Textbooks's webpage.
If you’re wondering what THRIFT is all about, there’s a simple explanation. THRIFT is a group of people who have a stake in Tug Hill’s past, present, and future. Some are woodland owners, some farmers, some snow lovers or scenery lovers. Our membership includes professional foresters, housewives, teachers, sawmill operators, a retired high school principal, an attorney, a lumberjack champion, a bed-and-breakfast owner, a veterinarian, a well-driller, an airplane pilot, a college professor, an antique dealer, a sea captain, a retired diplomat, woodworkers, contractors, artists, collectors, historians and a host of others in between. What we have in common is a love of the Tug Hill Region. THRIFT members, for over 25 years, have been promoting sustained use and wise management of the Tug Hill Region’s natural resources.
THRIFT Online News
LINKS
THRIFT exists to promote the sustainable use of Tug Hill's many resources, to provide a forum for the people of the Tug Hill region to share their experiences and to discuss issues that concern them, and to present educational and recreational programs for members and the public. To make this
happen, THRIFT has set these goals:
Respond to member requests for information regarding management of their resources.
Stimulate awareness of Tug Hill's resources and their value to landholders and to the community.
Develop programming attractive to members and the public.
Assist members in understanding legislation which may affect their property rights and privileges, including the right to practice forestry.
Work with other groups of common interest for a free exchange of information and co-sponsorship of events.
TUG HILL REGION
The area of these 4 counties is 4,805 square miles, which is more than twice
the size of the state of Delaware. In this four county region are an estimated
1,862,000 acres of commercial grade forest land, four-fifths of which are in
private non-industrial ownership. Much of the remainder is industrial land.
State land is only a small percentage.
Resources include timber, parks, wildlife management areas, livestock, field crops, dairy products, fruits, maple syrup, honey, wild game, fish, wind, clean air and water, snow, ski trails, Christmas trees, scenery, and a rural way of life.
Typical THRIFT Activities
- Recognize and award individuals whose efforts have greatly helped THRIFT.
- Tackled the timber theft, and raised legislators' awareness of the serious problem.
- Raised funds for scholarship and other educational activities.
- Provided book scholarships to students entering college with a natural resources focus.
- Learned how to identify and enjoy many wild edibles.
- Helped disabled member with woodland maintenance projects.
- Learned how to start tree growth measurement plot in our woodlots.
- Co-sponsored events with other resource-related groups.
- Learned about green energy.
- Toured facilities and nature areas of interest to members.
- Setup educational exhibits at fairs and field days.
- Enjoyed social gatherings sharing experiences and ideas.
- Co-sponsored events with other resource-related groups.
- Alerted members about invasive species of plants and insects that may have a detrimental effect on property.
- Presented occasional programs on oral history of Tug Hill and its people.
- Provided a forum for discussion of local controversial issues.
- Held canoe trips, woods walks, etc.
ENJOY MEMBER BENEFITS
As a member of THRIFT you will:
- receive THRIFT's informative newsletter Hilltalk, be invited to to each THRIFT meeting;
- get first-hand information on new land management techniques, from logging to log markets, tax tips and timber theft protection;
- learn more about the many resources of Tug Hill and how to benefit from them without destroying them;
- gain an opportunity to impact the legislative process by interacting with your representatives and helping educate them on landowner issues;
- enjoy the beauties of nature and the sharing of questions and ideas with other THRIFT members;
- become involved in the leadership opportunities THRIFT offers;
- discover ways to use your own unique talents and skills to improve your woodlands and wildlife habitats;
- increase your vision of possibilities for your land and its resources;
- have the satisfaction of belonging to a citizen group working for a healthy future;
- receive the quality full color magazine, Northern Woodlands, published four times a year by the Center for Woodlands Education;
THRIFT works closely with landowners, citizens,
local government, and forestry organizations to share good ideas, and to make
others aware of the uniqueness of Tug Hill and its land resources. Join today
and get involved.
THRIFT can be your link to the people and organizations
involved in the future of Tug Hill lands.
Interested in Becoming a Member? This webpage is the membership application.
Questions? E-Mail us and be sure to put "THRIFT" in the subject line.
Page Last Updated: April 16th, 2008
