Taken from the Puget Sound Forest Stewardship E-Newsletter Nov. 2011
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
