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Students describe 5–7 year mycosilviculture (chaga) research on RSU 73 forest land
Summary
Students and teachers told the RSU 73 board they inoculated 60 birch trees with chaga spawn and established a 60-tree control group to study growth, yield and species differences; the program includes curricular ties and a $3,000 grant for equipment.
Students in RSU 73 described a multi‑year mycosilviculture research project on forest land behind the high school that is intended to combine hands‑on science, math and forest management instruction.
Rob Taylor introduced the Envirothon and Early College environmental‑science students who said the project inoculated 60 birch trees with five birch dowels each and established a matched control group of 60 non‑inoculated white birches. Students measured diameter at breast height, took GPS coordinates and logged dowel placement by compass bearing so they can compare growth rates and tree health over time and determine whether chaga behaves as a parasite, commensal organism or mutualist. Students said they expect the project to run five to seven years and described plans for annual measurement and eventual sustainable harvests of chaga conks.
The presentation noted that Sappi Paper employee Austin Gilbo secured a $3,000 "Ideas that Matter" grant to buy measuring equipment and support the Envirothon program; project leaders also cited technical support from a company handling inoculations across New England. Students described classroom connections — statistics, experimental design and field measurement — and said project work already informs lessons shared with middle‑school teachers.
Presenters described the economic model used in their classroom example: untreated birch wood has modest value, but inoculated trees could produce chaga conks with market value; students and advisors stressed that harvests would be managed for sustainability and that monitoring is designed to detect any negative health effects on trees.
Board members asked clarifying questions about tree diameter preferences (students said 5–15 inches, 10 inches ideal), the harvest timeline and safety/forest‑health safeguards; presenters said arborist paste and other measures are used to limit infection risk from dowel insertion. The board praised the student engagement and curriculum integration.
