2023 Forest Council

For an in-depth, comprehensive look into this year's event, with links to speakers, issues, attractions, etc., click here for our official event post on Facebook. And please share if you can.

Heartwood is offering a new vision for our region's publicly owned forests and we are featuring a program to inspire, energize, and empower those working to defend them.

This year's Heartwood Forest Council program will focus on

• stopping a new wave of destructive Forest Service proposals like the Buffalo Springs wholesale logging and widespread repeated burning project on the Hoosier National Forest that threaten forests throughout the Heartwood region
• offering alternatives to those proposals that protect forests for air and water quality, biodiversity, and public enjoyment while moderating climate and sequestering carbon
• creating the Shawnee National Park and Climate Preserve as a pilot project in the creation of a multi-state, bioregional, biodiversity and climate preserve system of protected public forests

We have put together a dynamic and focused program of keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and strategy sessions, but the most important component of the weekend's gathering will be the interactions and connections forged by the participants as we share the challenges we are facing and work together to come up with coordinated efforts to bring about real and lasting forest protection.

We are offering free time for participants to mingle and explore, with a variety of options for field trips on Sunday, highlighting the remarkable history, biological diversity, and great beauty of the surrounding area. This family-friendly event will also feature a slate of activities for kids as well!

This year's Heartwood Forest Council will also highlight a fantastic farm-to-table menu featuring fresh, local and organic food, with gluten free and vegan options at every meal, deliciously and lovingly prepared by our hardworking kitchen crew led by the fabulous Shane McElwee! This will all be topped off with lively musical offerings throughout the weekend, including Forest Gras, a great dance band Friday night; the legendary Bob Lucas; Danny Dolinger's tribute to the extraordinary music of the late great Robert Hoyt on Saturday night with campfire music late into the night; and the Heartwood Talent Show on Sunday, following the always lively Heartwood Auction!

Though times have changed dramatically over the past three decades of Heartwood's existence, the Heartwood circle remains strong, connecting us through friendship and commitment like the long, tangled skeins of mycelia that hold our forests together.

On Memorial Day weekend, join us to celebrate Heartwood and to envision the powerful possibilities that the future holds.