Category Archives: events

Getting Computer Savvy – December 2nd

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The OSU Women Owning Woodlands Network presents a workshop: “Getting Computer Savvy: Google Earth and other Forestry Resources” on Friday, December 2nd, 9 am – noon at Clackamas Community College (the location of Tree School).

In this hands-on computer session, learn how to use Google Earth, Oregon Explorer, and Web Soil Survey to explore your property from your desktop. You will create and take home property maps with aerial photography, soil data, topography, fish and wildlife information, and more. Time willing, we will tap into a couple of social media opportunities that enable us to keep in touch and learn from home.

Participants should be comfortable navigating the Internet, but no specific experience with these programs is necessary.

RSVP to (541) 766-6750 or chrissy.lucas@oregonstate.edu.

To learn more about the Women Owning Woodlands Network, click here.

Conifer thinning field tour – October 20th

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If you are considering a thinning project, join us for an informal, educational field tour just outside St. Helens on Thursday, October 20th, 2:00 – 4:30 pm. Landowner and OSU Master Woodland Manager Vince Cooney finished up a thinning project on his property last month and has offered to host a tour for anyone that would like to learn more about it. We’ll discuss thinning principles, equipment, financial considerations, and follow-up management.

Please RSVP to the Extension office, 503-397-3462 for planning purposes. Directions: From Hwy 30 in St. Helens, turn onto Sykes Rd. (at the Burgerville). Follow about 2.5 miles and at the bottom of a large dip in the road, turn right on to a rocked road marked by a Tree Farm sign.

Rural Living Field Day – Sat. Oct. 1st

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Join the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and your neighbors at Rural Living Field Day, Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Malinowski Farm, 13450 NW Springville Road, Portland.

Experts from a wide variety of non-profit and government agencies will be on hand to teach and answer questions about issues on your land, including forestry, pastures, livestock, wildlife, invasive weeds, marketing your farm, water and soil quality and conservation planning.

This is also a wonderful opportunity for you to talk with your neighbors about the issues they face on their properties, learn about the types of conservation projects that have been completed in your neighborhood and discover what might be possible for you and your woods, farm, garden or natural area. You can also learn about the variety of funding sources available for the projects you have in mind.

Cost is only $10 per person or $15 per family. Lunch will be provided. Lots of information, brochures and guides will be available free of charge. Registration is required. Just click “Events” at http://www.wmswcd.org/ and select the Rural Living Field Day. Please fill out the form and send it in with your check to WMSWCD, 2701 NW Vaughn Street, Ste. 450,Portland, OR, 97210. Call Forest Conservationist Michael Ahr (503/238-4775, ext. 109) or Rural Conservationist Scott Gall (503/238-4775, ext. 105) for more information.

Attendees will choose which classes they wish to attend during each of three sessions during the day. Each session will be led by local resource managers and professionals. Partners for this comprehensive educational event include the Tualatin, Clackamas and Columbia Soil & Water Conservation Districts; OSU Extension; Oregon Forest Resources Institute, Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Small Woodlands Association.

Mentored Management Planning class this fall

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There are lots of reasons to have a written forest management plan. You need one to be a member of the Tree Farm system. You need one to obtain cost-share funding. You can use it to plan and keep track of future management activities.

There are also lots of reasons why most landowners don’t have a management plan. The fun of woodland ownership is in the doing, not in the writing down what you have done or are going to do! Writing a plan takes time and a certain level of knowledge, and having a professional write one for you takes money. 

If you’ve been putting off writing or updating your forest management plan, this fall is the opportunity to git-‘er-done. OSU Extension will be conducting a four-session Mentored Management Planning workshop in St. Helens. You’ll be guided through the writing process and will be paired with an experienced mentor who can provide one-on-one assistance. Work on your plan for “homework” between sessions, and by Thanksgiving you’ll have finished the writing and can get back to the doing!

Dates: Wednesday evenings, Sept. 14, Sept. 28, Oct. 12, Nov. 9

Location: OSU Extension Service, St. Helens

Cost: $40 per family/ownership

Download a flyer for the rest of the details…

Creek School Forestry Class

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Scappoose Bay Watershed Council is sponsoring the following event. Maybe I will see some of you there!

Creek School Forestry Class – August 15, 2011, 6:30 -8:30 pm

Come see what’s in Today’s Forests 
The Oregon Forestry Plan 
Oregon wood products
Prescribed burns and wildfire threat
Forestry management in the face of:
              Changing markets                         
              Endangered species
              Global climate change          
              Population expansion (urban sprawl)
See how you fit into the BIG picture

Speakers will include:             
» Amy Grotta OSU Extension Forester 
» Dave Powers Regional Manager for Forests and Rangelands US EPA Region 10

 JOIN US:                        
 August 15, 2011 6:30 -8:30 pm        ($15) Pre-registration requested
OSU Extension Office               
505 N. Columbia River Hwy St. Helens, OR 97051
To register contact the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council
503-397-7904  or rita@scappoosebay-wc.org

A jam-packed day

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If you are looking to get outdoors, meet fellow woodland owners, and learn something new, then Saturday, July 23 is the day for you. That day there’s not one, not two, but THREE awesome woodland events to choose from. The hard part may be deciding which one to attend! Here is the rundown:

  • In Vernonia, there’s the Columbia County Small Woodlands Association/OSU Extension Service Summer Woodland Tour & Lunch at the Keasey Tree Farm. Highlights include walking tour and discussion of streamside & upland management, a small scale equipment demo, historic logging exhibit, and a BBQ lunch. Tour begins at 9:00 am. To RSVP, call Bill or Lydia at (503) 556-2014.
  • In Forest Grove, there’s the Washington County Small Woodlands Association summer tour at the Howell Tree Farm, 9 am – 3 pm.  Activities include portable sawmill, firewood processing & pruning demonstrations, stream restoration, walking tour, and a free BBQ lunch courtesy of the Tualatin Soil & Water Conservation District, OSWA and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. 51075 NW Cox Rd, Forest Grove. For details, contact WCSWA.
  • Further south, in Lafayette is an event from 2-6 pm sponsored by the Build Local Alliance at the Trappist Abbey. Tour topics will include silviculture, invasive species, FSC wood products and markets, and working forest conservation easements. RSVP to info@buildlocalalliance.org.

Women Owning Woodlands Network Tour and Potluck

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Thursday, July 7th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Forest Grove
“Keeping Your Little Trees Growing”

This gathering will be an opportunity to talk about reforestation challenges and strategies to keep your planted seedlings growing strong. What’s worked (and not worked) for you? Come ready to share your experiences with weed control, animal damage, insects and diseases, and other concerns. We will look at some young trees of several species planted by host Robin Lindsley on her small property, and talk about her efforts to get them “free to grow”.

Whether you are new to managing your land or a seasoned pro, all are welcome and encouraged to come. WOWnet events are designed for participants to learn from one another. And who doesn’t like a potluck in the summer!

For details and directions, view the flyer.

 

April events

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A whole bunch of happenings of interest in our areas in the upcoming weeks. Here’s the rundown:
Sat. April 16th, 9 am – 2 pm: Oregon Woodland Cooperative Annual Meeting. Kinton Grange. Members expected, visitors are welcome. Lots of updates on Co-op activities and a potluck lunch.

Tues. April 19th, 6 – 8 pm: Build Local Alliance Spring Showcase. Portland. The event is free and open to the public who are interested in sourcing and utilizing local wood products.

Tues. April 26th, 6:30 pm: Washington County Small Woodlands Association meeting. OSU Extension office in Beaverton. Charlie LeFevere, well-known Oregon truffle expert, is the guest speaker.

Sat. April 30th, 5:30 pm: Columbia County Small Woodlands Association meeting. Beaver Homes Grange. Bruce Alber will speak on herbicide applications for forestry. Dinner beforehand; call 503-556-2014 to RSVP.

Tree and Plant Sales this Saturday!

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This is the big weekend for tree sales. Here’s the rundown for three sales, all happening Saturday, March 12th.

Columbia County Small Woodlands Association tree sale: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at Lawrence Oil in St. Helens. Bareroot seedlings including Douglas-fir, western redcedar, grand fir, ponderosa pine,coastal redwood, port orford cedar, noble fir,  Oregon ash, and a variety of ornamental species. First come, first serve – arrive early for best selection!

Washington County Small Woodlands Association native plant sale: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Bales Thriftway in Aloha. A wide variety of container size trees, shrubs, and forbs. See the full list and details by clicking this link.

Weyerhaueser Public Seedling Sale: 8:00 am – noon, Aurora Forest Nursery. About a dozen conifer species of various stock types on sale as well as some hardwoods. Major forest species sold by the bag or in small quantities. All the details are here.

Happy planting!