Managing a forest for tree health, species diversity and wildlife habitat in rural NW Montana

Montana
Managing a forest for tree health, species diversity and wildlife habitat in rural NW Montana
Managing a forest for tree health, species diversity and wildlife habitat in rural NW Montana Managing a forest for tree health, species diversity and wildlife habitat in rural NW Montana
1 review • Updated 5 months ago
Jim and I retired to NW Montana in 2017 after 35 years in PA. We purchased a 206 acres of forested land, 2 + cabins, 36 miles up a dirt road where we live off the grid using solar for all our power. We have a tight community up here full of people from all different backgrounds all here to protect and enjoy the beauty of this wild landscape. We live on the edge of Glacier National Park just outside of Polebridge at the entrance to the Park with our Airedale dog, Winston. The land is in Conservation Easement but the forest and cabins were neglected. The forest was in poor health overstocked and very susceptible to disease and fire. We have a forest management plan to open up the forest, increase tree diversity, and improve the wildlife habitat by encourage the growth of a mosaic for different habitats. Groceries are along way away and so we try to grow our own vegetables organically. We are currently restoring an old historic cabin on the property Specifically would love some help if you have carpenter type skills mid Aug through September to work on an historic cabin in addition to some forestry and garden help. The activities very much depend on the time of year, but might include watering, weeding the gardens and new trees, removing diseased and unwanted trees from the forest and cutting and stacking fire wood. Clearing trails and removing unwanted saplings, tree planting, and mowing. For those interested we can teach forest management, how to become a Firewise and bear safe community and what we know about the local wildlife which includes bears, wolves, mountain lions, migrating birds and plants . Jim is an astronomer and we live in a dark sky protected area, he teaches astronomy to local communities and organizations We have 2 cabins and depending on the time of year and who is staying, we will either offer bedrooms in our house or the cabin next door. We will usually cook and eat dinner together and fill the fridge with food for breakfast and lunch so we all have food for 3 meals a day We hike, fly fish, kayak, raft, ebike and observe the skies using telescopes. We live on the edge of Glacier National Park and the 2 million acre Flathead National Forest so the opportunities to explore are unlimited.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Forestry
Wild foraging
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Renewable energy production
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Holistic management
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
83.4 Hectares | 206 Acres
Accommodation
2 WWOOFers
Bedroom
Cabin / Mobile-home
Children not accepted
Pets not accepted
Meals
Omnivore
Vegetarian
Vegan
Length of stay
1 day (local)
Weekend
Less than a week
1-2 weeks
3-4 weeks
Lorna
Lorna
Member since 2024
Languages spoken: English Response rate: 22% Response time: typically within 5 days
December 2025
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Open
Planned visit
Closed
MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap
Montana
West Glacier/ Whitefish/ Kalispell
Reviews
Jules
Jules
France • July 2025
A truly wonderful experience. Jim, Lorna, and Wilson were incredibly welcoming. Everything about our stay was enriching – the beautiful surroundings, the stunning landscapes, and the sense of community we shared with them and others. Thank you for all the great memories. Hopefully, we’ll meet again someday
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