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Heartwood: The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit
Can cutting down a tree be good for the environment?
Why do we assume trees can only be grown for EITHER conservation OR profit, but never both?
What if there was a way that landholders could profit from harvesting timber from the trees they plant for stock shelter, biodiversity, soil erosion control and beautification – whilst also helping control climate change?
Rowan Reid is a forest scientist with over 30 years’ experience as a researcher, lecturer, extension agent and tree farmer. In his latest book, Heartwood: The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit, Rowan proposes a radical new approach to forestry and Landcare that challenges the idea that harvesting trees for timber is always bad for the environment. In fact, using real examples from his own farm and others around Australia and overseas, he proves that cutting down trees for firewood, furniture and building timbers can not only be good for the environment, it can also help pay the cost of large-scale landscape restoration. This book offers landholders, governments and the conservation movement a practical commercial solution to their environmental problems.
Signed copies available from the author (Australian only): www.agroforestry.net.au
Why do we assume trees can only be grown for EITHER conservation OR profit, but never both?
What if there was a way that landholders could profit from harvesting timber from the trees they plant for stock shelter, biodiversity, soil erosion control and beautification – whilst also helping control climate change?
Rowan Reid is a forest scientist with over 30 years’ experience as a researcher, lecturer, extension agent and tree farmer. In his latest book, Heartwood: The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit, Rowan proposes a radical new approach to forestry and Landcare that challenges the idea that harvesting trees for timber is always bad for the environment. In fact, using real examples from his own farm and others around Australia and overseas, he proves that cutting down trees for firewood, furniture and building timbers can not only be good for the environment, it can also help pay the cost of large-scale landscape restoration. This book offers landholders, governments and the conservation movement a practical commercial solution to their environmental problems.
Signed copies available from the author (Australian only): www.agroforestry.net.au
304 pages, Hardcover
Published August 20, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2019
A great book - I wish Rowan would write more. He describes his fascination with the "third way", and how in this age of superficial sound bites and overload, complex issues can get over simplified. Like you're either a greenie (plant lots of trees and leave them alone) or a redneck farmer (harvest everything and profit).
But Rowan's "third way" is a considered approach to managing a resource (be it timber, a farm, or any kind of natural resource) in a sustainable way, and then finding a market. By creating timber that can be sold at a premium, we can lock up a vast amount of carbon while at the same time regenerating more trees to sequester even more carbon.
My favourite part of this book was around time scales. The idea of planting a tree that might not reach maturity during your life but for your children is both a daunting and rewarding concept.
My only criticisms are on a few points around erosion, salinity and in particular Willows. The work of Peter Andrews and also the Mulloon Creek projects take a different approach which (to me) makes more sense.
I'm hoping that like people such as Joel Salatin, Rowan gets his inner author groove on and becomes a more prolific writer.
But Rowan's "third way" is a considered approach to managing a resource (be it timber, a farm, or any kind of natural resource) in a sustainable way, and then finding a market. By creating timber that can be sold at a premium, we can lock up a vast amount of carbon while at the same time regenerating more trees to sequester even more carbon.
My favourite part of this book was around time scales. The idea of planting a tree that might not reach maturity during your life but for your children is both a daunting and rewarding concept.
My only criticisms are on a few points around erosion, salinity and in particular Willows. The work of Peter Andrews and also the Mulloon Creek projects take a different approach which (to me) makes more sense.
I'm hoping that like people such as Joel Salatin, Rowan gets his inner author groove on and becomes a more prolific writer.
December 22, 2020
What a truly marvellous book. I am so impressed by what has been achieved here. Heartwood is both an agroforestry manual, overflowing with really interesting science and knowledge and a social commentary. There is a strong message being put forward here and that is the message that growing trees is not incompatible with harvesting trees. I studied agricultural science many years ago and that included a semester of forestry. But, alas, things have changed, and what I learned as Cedrela Australis (Australian red cedar) is now known as Toona ciliata, var. australis and Eucalyptus maculata has become corymbia maculata......not even Eucalyptus any longer!
I might just say in passing that the book is beautifully written and edited. I found no errors or even typos nor problems of logic caused by earlier editing. Rowan Reid's prose style is, above all, crystal clear and concise and easily understood. He also manages to explain extremely clearly concepts such as geotropic and phototropic which I had long forgotten from my botany studies.
The basic chapter design is built around various species of trees and Rowan's experience with growing and milling them; his learning experiences along the way. But interwoven into this narrative he manages to bring in theories of pruning, planting densities, intercropping, formulas for calculating volumes of timber, milling techniques and so on.
Not is it all just technical. There is a human touch to every chapter; neighbours, students, visitors, family, experiences overseas are all swept up into the narrative to make it into a fascinating biography. You feel that you get to know Rowan Reid.
Clearly there is a debate happening in the community about the preservation of forests and trees and the professional foresters have found themselves somewhat on the back foot. (Not helped by the spectacular collapse of groups like Great Southern Group plantations). And Reid is a powerful voice for the farmer forester saying that it is possible to grow forests, to really care about trees, yet harvest them and mill them into valuable timber. In some ways there is a philosophical theme running though the book like the following view expressed by Noel Passalaqua..." You know, improving the landscape value gives you a better feeling about where you live. It's not something that you can value with money, it's just a feeling. It's where you live, and if it improves your quality of life, it's a great thing". In fact, my impression is that the straight economics of planting out forests seemed to be a fairly marginal thing if just considered on the return on investment just of the timber. But the various groups who have taken up the cause expounded by Rowan Reid seem to have accepted that there are externalities such as the "quality of life" mentioned above or, the beauty of the landscape, or the control of erosion and improvement in conditions for livestock.
I must also mention the design of the book. It is first rate. From the beautiful cover, to the great photographs and clear, interesting and useful diagrams. Each chapter ends with a technical summary section about some aspect of forestry such as; Harwood sawing patterns, tree foliage for stock fodder......must say that I'd never considered silky oak as a potential stock fodder.
My initial interest in this book was piqued by the section on the red cedar. Somehow, my own dad's enthusiasm for red cedar had spilled over to me. He once came home with some pieces of red cedar that he had salvaged as they were being ripped out of what is now known as..the old mint building...and is now a museum. He was working in the courts there and the building was being renovated. Whole panels of red cedar were being loaded into the dump trucks. and once, he was given a huge piece of red cedar...about 10 cm thick from a friend in the Walcha area who...presumably had salvaged it from a tree on his own property. Anyway, I became a bit interested in red cedar and wondered it was not being grown in plantations. But then learned about the Asian cedar tip moth...but also learned that it might be possible to grow the cedar tree in isolation. In my dad's declining years I bought a red cedar seedling and gave it to him. Alas there was no spark of interest...so I took to growing one in a pot on the balcony of my apartment in the inner west of Sydney. It grew remarkably well. So much so That pretty soon I had to transplant it out into the bush around Sydney...where I hope it is growing fast and straight and has escaped the predations of the tip moth.
But it was fascinating to me to find that Rowan Reid had much the same sort of fascination with red cedar ...but was doing something more about it. He was growing real trees. I must say that I rather loved his line...which has obviously been repeated many times by tree planters that they were "planting for their grandchildren". Frankly, I was amazed at the size of many of the trees that he had grown within a 30 year time frame. The spotted gum on p260 being an example.
All in all, a lovely book, that I have enjoyed so much and from which I have learned so much. An easy five stars from me.
I might just say in passing that the book is beautifully written and edited. I found no errors or even typos nor problems of logic caused by earlier editing. Rowan Reid's prose style is, above all, crystal clear and concise and easily understood. He also manages to explain extremely clearly concepts such as geotropic and phototropic which I had long forgotten from my botany studies.
The basic chapter design is built around various species of trees and Rowan's experience with growing and milling them; his learning experiences along the way. But interwoven into this narrative he manages to bring in theories of pruning, planting densities, intercropping, formulas for calculating volumes of timber, milling techniques and so on.
Not is it all just technical. There is a human touch to every chapter; neighbours, students, visitors, family, experiences overseas are all swept up into the narrative to make it into a fascinating biography. You feel that you get to know Rowan Reid.
Clearly there is a debate happening in the community about the preservation of forests and trees and the professional foresters have found themselves somewhat on the back foot. (Not helped by the spectacular collapse of groups like Great Southern Group plantations). And Reid is a powerful voice for the farmer forester saying that it is possible to grow forests, to really care about trees, yet harvest them and mill them into valuable timber. In some ways there is a philosophical theme running though the book like the following view expressed by Noel Passalaqua..." You know, improving the landscape value gives you a better feeling about where you live. It's not something that you can value with money, it's just a feeling. It's where you live, and if it improves your quality of life, it's a great thing". In fact, my impression is that the straight economics of planting out forests seemed to be a fairly marginal thing if just considered on the return on investment just of the timber. But the various groups who have taken up the cause expounded by Rowan Reid seem to have accepted that there are externalities such as the "quality of life" mentioned above or, the beauty of the landscape, or the control of erosion and improvement in conditions for livestock.
I must also mention the design of the book. It is first rate. From the beautiful cover, to the great photographs and clear, interesting and useful diagrams. Each chapter ends with a technical summary section about some aspect of forestry such as; Harwood sawing patterns, tree foliage for stock fodder......must say that I'd never considered silky oak as a potential stock fodder.
My initial interest in this book was piqued by the section on the red cedar. Somehow, my own dad's enthusiasm for red cedar had spilled over to me. He once came home with some pieces of red cedar that he had salvaged as they were being ripped out of what is now known as..the old mint building...and is now a museum. He was working in the courts there and the building was being renovated. Whole panels of red cedar were being loaded into the dump trucks. and once, he was given a huge piece of red cedar...about 10 cm thick from a friend in the Walcha area who...presumably had salvaged it from a tree on his own property. Anyway, I became a bit interested in red cedar and wondered it was not being grown in plantations. But then learned about the Asian cedar tip moth...but also learned that it might be possible to grow the cedar tree in isolation. In my dad's declining years I bought a red cedar seedling and gave it to him. Alas there was no spark of interest...so I took to growing one in a pot on the balcony of my apartment in the inner west of Sydney. It grew remarkably well. So much so That pretty soon I had to transplant it out into the bush around Sydney...where I hope it is growing fast and straight and has escaped the predations of the tip moth.
But it was fascinating to me to find that Rowan Reid had much the same sort of fascination with red cedar ...but was doing something more about it. He was growing real trees. I must say that I rather loved his line...which has obviously been repeated many times by tree planters that they were "planting for their grandchildren". Frankly, I was amazed at the size of many of the trees that he had grown within a 30 year time frame. The spotted gum on p260 being an example.
All in all, a lovely book, that I have enjoyed so much and from which I have learned so much. An easy five stars from me.
November 12, 2017
What a read. Rowan takes 30+ years of experience in growing trees on farms and writes a beautiful story about people, nature and, of course, trees. The book is divided into about 15 chapters, in each of which a specific species of tree - native and non-native to Australia, from mountain ash to English oak - forms the centrepoint for discussion and rumination. The book is as much about the science of growing trees as it is about Rowan’s life and journey - an important point, because choosing to grow trees is as much a rational decision as it is an personal, emotional one. At the end of each chapter, there is a brief section on “science and practice”, which provides answers on specific questions - how to prune a tree, how to design a shelterbelt, how to grow shiitake mushrooms. Full disclosure - I am a forest scientist who already likes trees so my reading of this book may be a little biased. But honestly, probably one of my favourite books of the year. Great stuff.
October 5, 2017
Heartwood is a combination of practical tree growing knowledge and a treatise challenging the dichotomy of growing trees for either profit, or for conservation alone. This is interwoven with personal narratives as well as fascinating insights and detective stories into the ways of natural systems. It works as both a cover-to-cover engaging read, and a reference book, so I'll be holding on to this one. (I received a review copy for work at a radio station.)
September 28, 2018
This is an great book, I finished it feeling like I'd got to sit down with Rowan in his lounge and hear his life story. But it's not just lovely stories, it's also a great introduction to forestry.
I'm sure there's a lot more to know than what is covered in this book, but I now feel like I have a rough idea of how to start experimenting in my backyard.
I'm sure there's a lot more to know than what is covered in this book, but I now feel like I have a rough idea of how to start experimenting in my backyard.
July 8, 2021
A beautiful book. Full of useful knowledge about growing and harvesting trees for timber, how forestry complements agriculture, but written in a compelling style using real life experience and interesting stories.
June 9, 2022
I originally borrowed this book from the library upon my sister's recommendation. I read the book cover to cover and loved it so much I decided to buy a copy to share with my Dad.
This is a beautiful book by one of the pioneers of agroforestry. Rowan Reid covers a handful of different species of tree, focusing on one in each chapter over fifteen chapters. However it’s not so much a focus on the botanical details of the species in each chapter as a loose framework that he uses to relate his stories and his experiences with certain aspects of the species, and to explore the ideas and practice of agroforestry generally.
Throughout the book he discusses the history and implementation of agroforestry in Australia, with plenty of examples from his own agroforestry farm in Bambra, Victoria, as well as from his friends, neighbours and other instigators. An important theme in the book, as alluded to in the title, is that forestry doesn’t have to be just for conservation, or just for profit/production, but can be both.
With an academic background, Reid includes some useful research that he’s aware of (much of which he’s been part of). There’s plenty of beautiful photos throughout as well. And for a few pages at the end of each chapter, he discusses a technical aspect which I also found useful. In an effort to better remember the most important information in the book, I actually wrote up my own summary of each chapter afterwards.
I found the book very inspiring, and it got me motivated and thinking about how I can implement the ideas myself. My family and I are living on a farm, and my Dad also lives on and manages a farm, so we have some opportunities to put agroforestry into practice. Beyond the benefits to individual farmers engaging in agroforestry, the practice has huge potential globally as a means of sequestering carbon and slowing climate change, while improving biodiversity and soil health and the flow-on benefits in the process, and that’s good for everyone.
This is a beautiful book by one of the pioneers of agroforestry. Rowan Reid covers a handful of different species of tree, focusing on one in each chapter over fifteen chapters. However it’s not so much a focus on the botanical details of the species in each chapter as a loose framework that he uses to relate his stories and his experiences with certain aspects of the species, and to explore the ideas and practice of agroforestry generally.
Throughout the book he discusses the history and implementation of agroforestry in Australia, with plenty of examples from his own agroforestry farm in Bambra, Victoria, as well as from his friends, neighbours and other instigators. An important theme in the book, as alluded to in the title, is that forestry doesn’t have to be just for conservation, or just for profit/production, but can be both.
With an academic background, Reid includes some useful research that he’s aware of (much of which he’s been part of). There’s plenty of beautiful photos throughout as well. And for a few pages at the end of each chapter, he discusses a technical aspect which I also found useful. In an effort to better remember the most important information in the book, I actually wrote up my own summary of each chapter afterwards.
I found the book very inspiring, and it got me motivated and thinking about how I can implement the ideas myself. My family and I are living on a farm, and my Dad also lives on and manages a farm, so we have some opportunities to put agroforestry into practice. Beyond the benefits to individual farmers engaging in agroforestry, the practice has huge potential globally as a means of sequestering carbon and slowing climate change, while improving biodiversity and soil health and the flow-on benefits in the process, and that’s good for everyone.
April 29, 2025
A beatiful book. I'll re-read it regularly
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews