Note from Jen Pennington: If you have property in Washington, learning from our local foresters is a great way to really understand your land and how to manage trees, wildlife, and even take advantage of tax incentives. Having taken the course a few years ago, (see the article,”Becoming a forest steward“) this was the best, most inexpensive class with knowledge that will last you a lifetime. The classes don’t come to Whidbey that often, so take advantage of it now.

Wind Damage Workshop

November is here. This means it’s time for our annual parade of late fall storms, some of which can pack some powerful and destructive winds. We are offering a workshop for woodland owners on how to reduce the risk of wind damage to trees and properly clean-up tree damage after a storm to prevent further problems.

The workshop will be held from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Wednesday, November 16th at the Pacific Rim Institute near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Topics covered will include trees and power lines, management techniques for wind-firm forests, forest health issues with wind, and how to properly care for trees both before and after the storm. The workshop will be taught by experts from WSU Extension, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and Puget Sound Energy.

Cost is $20 per person or $25 per couple. Registration information is available at http://snohomish.wsu.edu/forestry/wind11.htm or by calling 425-357-6017. Space is limited, and pre-registration is requested.

Forest Stewardship Coached Planning

The flagship, popular and powerful program is coming to Whidbey Island in January. This 10-session practical, hands-on course will guide you through the development of your own stewardship plan with “coaching” from the top natural resource professionals in the state. In the process of creating a forest plan unique to your property and objectives, you’ll go in depth with us both in the classroom and in the field covering a wide range of forestry topics. Things we’ll cover in detail include ecology, silvics, soils, wildlife, forest health, fire, applied silviculture, water resources, aesthetics, regulations, special forest products, working with contractors, and more. The class includes nine evening classroom sessions, a Saturday field trip, a personal site visit to your property from a professional forester and/or wildlife biologist, and a forest stewardship notebook packed with information.

Your completed forest stewardship plan may qualify you for significant property tax reductions, as well as qualify you for a whole range of cost share and other assistance programs. It will also provide you with a road map for maximizing your enjoyment of your land and minimizing the costs of ownership. The class is open to all, regardless of how many acres you own or what your ownership objectives are. Space is limited, and registration is open for both classes:

The class will be on Wednesday evenings starting January 18th at the Pacific Rim Institute near Coupeville. Registration is open and the class is already beginning to fill. Details and registration information are available at http://snohomish.wsu.edu/forestry/CP12Coupeville.htm or by calling 425-357-6017. This class is made possible in part by a grant from the Whidbey Island Conservation District.

2012 Native Plant Sales

Whidbey Island:
March 2 and 3, 2012
Pre-Order 11/15/2011 – 1/30/2012
http://whidbeycd.org/plantsale.aspx
360-678-4708

Photos by Robert J. Pennington

When we purchased our property, I always knew I wanted to get it certified as a stewardship forest. I loved seeing those cool little green and brown signs along someone’s private drive. How do you get one of those things? I had heard about some elusive short course class but could never find it. Then one day I finally stumbled across it and signed up. When we realized the initial location of the class was going to be at the top of Whidbey Island, this would be a challenge. It can take two and a half to three hours to get to class when you live in Seattle.

But we were determined to do our part as stewards of the environment even if it meant driving for two months every Thursday night 100 miles to get there. The irony of knowing how much gas we would use to take the class is not lost on us. I was also amazed at the mass of paperwork you receive during class. It’s as if each student receives a full tree by the end of the term. That said, I still have every piece of literature in my bookcase.

Chick with chainsaw

When I first went to class my goal was to preserve all the trees on our land in any way shape or form. My mantra was “no wood leaves the property.” Cutting a tree down was something we would do only if we had to. I was determined to only use the firewood from naturally, downed trees. Little did I know the forestry class I would take would change that mindset entirely and make me feel like such a wuss.

In my altruistic ignorance (and I was not the only one), the class taught us how to manage our lots and make our forests healthier. We created plans and learned how to more accurately identify the health of the trees and plants on our lands. We learned how to selectively thin to allow others to grow stronger. I no longer have a sense of horror when we have to take down trees and each of us has our own set of his and her chainsaws. I can sincerely say, I am no longer a forest wuss.

Clearing the trees with a friend for our house site put everything we learned to the test. Twenty-two large Red Alders were felled and trimmed up along with a few hemlocks and some fir. Friends helped us chip the limbs and branches, and we hired a great guy to stack all our logs. We have since purchased a small portable sawmill and this year will finally mill the alder for trim wood and cabinetry for inside the house we are building.

Out of the class came more than just lessons on trees. We got a sense of empowerment that comes with getting to know our land so intimately. We participated as part of a community and made some wonderful new friends. The stewardship plan we developed has given us a great sense of accomplishment. That cool little green and brown sign…we got us one.
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We took our Forest Stewardship Coached Planning class through the extension at Washington State University.

A whole lot of clean up on the house site