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Love and Bananas,
Greyman

Seriously, this is a huge loss. Other trees will eventually take the space vacated by the ash trees, but a lot of fully mature trees have simply been ‘lost’. Here in Michigan, I don’t see much evidence that they are being cut for their lumber, which is both strong and attractive. If you have one die on your property, look into getting a portable sawmill operator to come over and plank out the tree for you.

Thank you so much for weighing in! I’ve been looking all over for information about the diameter question – it’s one of those “I think I read this somewhere but need a source to be sure” things. I’m sad to hear that such small trees are affected, but that’s a lot of promising news for control measures.

And don’t be surprised to hear me going off the topic of food. I’m a big fan of most things that grow. (Except ornamental stuff bores me.) And after all, what good is food if we don’t have fuel to cook it? *grin*

Interesting post! I have worked with the dreaded EAB for many years in IN. First, eradication (tree removal) is no longer practiced in most states (although I can’t speak for all as they are continuing the practice in Maryland for one), mainly due to cost. Many of us biologists working on the program said the very same about natural resistance and it is believed by some to eventually reach a peak and the trees left standing (so-to-speak) will start to pass those resisitant traits along to their offspring. As an aside, ash trees in China are resistant. Scientists planted American ash trees over there and the insect attacked the trees readily, killing them 100%.

I love the idea of coppicing ash trees. Ash trees are prolific at sending up epicormic shoots. It is a very good firewood (one of the best and it does burn green easily). Unfortunately, EAB does indeed attack young trees (generally above 1-2″ inches in diameter or the size of an adult thumb); I’ve seen very small trees infested with EAB larvae (the life stage that does the damage). However, in areas of heavy infestation (like MI, OH, or IN), this may be an excellent way of preserving the tree (as you said) until preventative measures catch-up. They have imported a parasitic wasp and are doing experiments in MI and a new chemical is going to be on the market soon (reported to be 99% effective against EAB; however I have no idea how environmentally friendly it is).

Sadly, black ash (one of the major species in the Great Lake region) is used by the Potawatomi’s for making baskets. It is a tradition that is already endangered and now their material source is severely threatened. Your coppicing idea may be good for them as well!!!

I’ve been reading your blog for some time now as an advocate of “eating close to home” and was so surprised to see your mention of the problem of EAB (and other invasives).

http://www.wvagriculture.org/news_releases/2007/10-19-07.html

I’m sad i didn’t send off our last batch of seeds to the seed bank, too. I remember sweeping the walk and wondering if someone would want them…and found out later there is a place that’s taking seed to bank genetic diversity for later.

Love the post on coppicing! My hope is to see millions of acres of non-arable land put into soft wood coppice for cellulose ethanol production in our generation. A guy can hope right?

The current Ash Borer treatment has me in fits. Currently they cut down ANY Ash within 30 miles of an infected tree. This has only slowed, but will never stop, the spread of the bug. My concern is that in those thousands of trees cut down there may very well be one sample that is naturally resistant to the buggers. And we cut it down and poured round up on it. Ugh.
-Rob