Wayne W. Jenkins: Great Mountain Forest Work in the Working Forest Oral History Podcast

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is an over 6,000-acre working forest straddling Norfolk and Falls Village, CT. Its roots date back to the early 1900s on land where trees were clear-cut to produce charcoal for the iron ore industry in the 1800s. The Forest has a long history of work—both on the part of humans and the natural processes of the plant, animal, and insect species that occupy it.

This GMF-centered oral history project documents the fascinating history of the working forest through the lens of the foresters who manage it. Together, the foresters in this series have spent almost 150 years laboring in GMF, training generations of foresters and wildlife managers, and creating a diverse forest that will be there long after they leave.

This episode features Wayne W. Jenkins. Wayne started his career as a gardener for the Childs family, the original owners of Great Mountain Forest. Late fall through early spring, he assisted with the work of the forest, from Christmas tree production and sales to being integral to maple syrup production. After 41 years at GMF, he retired and now interacts with wildlife and the natural world in a different way, through his painting. 

Oral historian Mary B. O’Neill, Ph.D, hosted this podcast. To learn more and listen to the other oral history interview podcasts with current and past GMF forestry staff, visit www.greatmountainforest.org. You’ll also find links to the Connecticut Digital Archive, which stores this collection's complete oral history interviews and transcripts.

Great Mountain Forest’s Work in the Working Forest Oral History Project is made possible through a generous grant and technical support from the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College.

GMF is also grateful to Main Street Moxie podcast for the use of its audio recording equipment.

Podcast music: La Citadelle by Komiku