Jock Irons

For Jock Irons, caring for his 41-acre woodland in Woodford is a family tradition. The land originally belonged to friends of his grandparents, who willed it to whichever Irons boy stayed in Bennington. That turned out to be Jock’s father, John, who later expanded the property by purchasing an additional 20 acres.

Jock grew up in Bennington, but after college, he moved to Alaska, where he stayed for decades before returning to Vermont in 2014. Now, he shares the land with his 93-year-old mother, tending to the woods that have been in his family for generations.

Building a Homegrown Life

Before moving back, Jock told his father he wanted to build his retirement home on the property. Together, they built Stonehenge, as they call it—a house made from the land itself.

• Locally sourced materials - The spruce for the framing and siding was milled and dried on-site.

• Family craftsmanship - The kitchen cabinets came from black cherry trees on the property.

• A lifetime of gathering - The exterior stonework was collected by John over 40 years.

• Skilled hands at work - Jock’s brother, a carpenter, joined in to help complete the project.

Shifting Priorities in Forest Management

Jock’s father enrolled the property in the Tree Farm program in 1987, but the certification lapsed. After Jock took ownership, he was encouraged to rejoin, leading to his involvement with Vermont Woodlands Association (VWA).

The land is also enrolled in Vermont’s Current Use program, but Jock’s approach to management has shifted from his father’s. While John focused on harvesting saw timber, Jock has reversed those priorities—placing wildlife management first, with timber as a secondary consideration.

Stewardship in Action

Jock actively manages his woods to support forest health and wildlife:

• Thinning overcrowded Norway spruce stands - Some of these trees were planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

• Practicing crop tree release - Selecting and giving space to the best-growing trees for future timber and habitat.

• Controlling invasives—he has identified 17 invasive species on his land, focusing efforts to control buckthorn, Japanese knotweed, and garlic mustard.

His forestry work also has an aesthetic element. "I love beautiful, straight trees that would make great sawlogs—but I have no plans to cut them. I just like knowing they’re there."

Looking Ahead

For Jock, invasive species are the most pressing issue in Vermont’s forests.

"Most landowners probably don’t even know they have an invasive problem—but they do."

He tracks new growth carefully, marking spots to revisit and working year after year to keep invasives under control. His guiding philosophy is simple:

“Every forest in Vermont is different. I learn more every time I walk a new property.”