Here is a wonderful article on Oregon’s Small Woodland Association’s Tree Farmer of the Year 2018!
December 6, 2019
Written by: Bennett Hall
Published in Corvallis Gazette-Times
Guest Speaker: Peter Hayes Washington County Chapter/OSWA
Peter will join us to share the story and opportunities of the Build Local Alliance.
Since 2005 this non-profit has served as a community catalyst helping forest owners, millers, distributors, designers, makers, and users to work in partnerships that connect good, local wood with inspiring, local projects. In addition to supporting the Build Local Alliance, Peter and his family own and care for Hyla Woods’ experimental forests and milling operation near Forest Grove. With six generations of sawdust in his veins, Peter’s perspectives have been shaped by his service on Oregon’s Board of Forestry, ODF’s Committee for Family Forestlands, a variety of non-profit boards, and by the Forests of Home.
Maureen Puettmann: WoodLife Environmental Consultants
Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials Director of Operations
Elaine Oneil: Executive Director of the Washington Farm Forestry Association
CORRIM Director of Science & Sustainability
Join Elaine and Maureen, both Small Woodlands Owners, as they discuss the science, policy, and practice of Forest Carbon in Oregon. Learn to view your woodlands through the lens of Life Cycle Assessment, which measures the environmental impacts of production, use, and disposal of forest products. Explore management options to optimize Carbon Sequestration on your property.
Educate yourself, so you can educate others. It’s Good in the Woods.
Hi, everyone.
Fern Hill Land Clearing is currently working on a recently logged site, mulching approximately 140 slash piles. During this time, they will be setting up demonstrations. If you are interested in seeing the Forestry Mulcher in action please contact Brian at Fern Hill Land Clearing to set something up. His phone number is 503-556-2897.
Mark Dreyer, CCSWA President
The Plant Nutrition in Forestry tour on Saturday, September 15, 2018 raised more questions than answers but managed to make a group of approximately 25 interested tree farmers have a lot to think about. Mark Gourley is an expert on nutritional balancing for the production of healthy Douglas fir trees in our coastal range. Mark shared his many years’ experience in planting and establishing trees in the coast range at multiple plots, focusing on nutrition and supplements for improved tree survival and growth. Mark shared his different test methods, supplements, plant spacing, and types of spray as well as spraying methods. The attendees were given hands-on opportunities to compare tree growth, needles, and tree health in the small test plots which led to discussions on the impact of soil compositions especially as related to phosphorus, nitrogen, sodium, and potassium, among other minerals. Being thoughtful of the relational effect of balanced nutrition was a key part of the talk. Mark was encouraged to give a follow up next year with a Plant Nutrition 2.0 tour as it was felt beneficial to all who attended to have the shared knowledge of his expertise.
Columbia County Small Woodlands Association will have their Annual Meeting and Elections at the Quincy Grange on Nov 3, 2018. The popular chicken dinner will be served by the Grange at 5:30 PM. Folks gather at 5 PM for cider, coffee and visiting. Price is $12 for adults and ½ price for children under 12. Cash or check, only, at the door.
This event is open to the public and to CCSWA members but please RSVP by Oct 30 to Mark Dreyer at 503-369-9592 or mdreyer51@msn.com. Give your name, how many reservations for dinner and how many are children. Also, tell us how many vegan meals, if any.
A program will be presented by Oregon State Park Ranger Dane Osis who is well known for his expertise about local mushrooms. He will bring fresh specimens and present a hands-on program where you can examine the samples and ask questions.
Quincy Grange is located about 4 miles northeast of Clatskanie town center at: 78314 Rutters Road, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016.
By Jeremy Felty
On July 21st, 115 participants arrived at the Gaebel Tree Farm in North Plains for a Neighbor to Neighbor Woods Tour. In 2017, the Gaebel’s were the Washington County Tree Farmers of the Year. The tour was sponsored by the Gaebels and the Washington County Small Woodlands Chapter. It was funded by a grant to OSWA from Oregon Forest Resource Institute. The topics covered at the tour included, an overview of pond maintenance, food plots, portable sawmilling by family friend Clint Michael; the topic of commercial thinning was covered by Steve Cafferata; road design and culvert installation was covered by local ODF stewardship forester Nate Agalzoff and Tualatin Watershed Council representative, April Olbrich; and Big Horn Logging’s, Mark Stanley covered the active logging on the property.
In 1979, Rich and Connie Gaebel purchased this property as a rural place to live, a get-a-way and a place to hunt. It is the southern 40 acres of an original 160-acre parcel. Access required building a 60-foot clear span bridge. The 160 acres had been logged at the turn of the century and again in the 1950’s but never replanted. It was mostly brush, hardwoods and scattered young conifers. It was also used as a horse trail riding area with access to the coast range. Old logging skid trails abound and evidence of an old rail road grade running parallel to the creek was also evident. There is an old saw mill location close to the old rail road grade.
By 1981, Rich with help from friends and family built a road, bridge, cleared and planted 3 acres. By 1985 they had cleared and planted an additional 14 acres. Rich and Connie tried raising cattle and Christmas trees. In 1994 they converted the Christmas trees to forestry. Rich installed culverts where the road crossed three small creeks. One was recently replaced with a 36” fish passage culvert.
In the late 90’s, they installed a wildlife pond with water right’s and wildlife food plots primarily for deer, elk occasionally visit the site. In 2003, he logged and cleared three small areas, totaling 1.6 acres, and planted Cedar trees in groves. They were thinning in 2016 and are now thriving. Rich and Connie became very active in the Washington County Small Woodlands chapter in 1980.
By Jeremy Felty
On June 30th in conjunction with OSWA’s Annual Meeting, 150 participants visited the 79-acre Cafferata Family Forest located in Lane County, hosted by the Cafferata family, OSWA’s Lane County Chapter, and Oregon Tree Farm System. It was funded by a grant to OSWA from Oregon Forest Resource Institute. Steve and Wylda Cafferata have owned this property since 2009. The tour focused on topics that the Cafferatas deal with on a daily basis, including thinning on the property, the presence of wildlife on the property, the controlling of unwanted vegetation, various reforestation strategies, and the importance of keeping the family involved.
The Cafferatas have a deep back ground in forestry. In 2009, Steve and Wylda, after raising four children and working for 35 years in their professions, realized one of their dreams by purchasing 79 acres of forestland. The land had been logged, replanted haphazardly, and then neglected for decades, so they set to work to bring the land under management. Using their skills, the Cafferatas put together an exemplary forest management plan that was certified to the American Tree Farm System in 2010. The results are great attention to wood, water, recreation, and wildlife and all the other attributes found in a working forest. The entire family, including the third generation, is involved in the management and enjoyment of the property.
Every speaker on the woods tour was a member of the family, the goal for the tour was to discuss the topics provided by the certification guidelines provided by the American Tree Farm System. Mike Cafferata spoke about thinning and vegetation management; Fran Cafferata Coe spoke about wildlife on the property; Joe Cafferata spoke about road maintenance and maintaining water quality; Wylda Cafferata spoke about aesthetics, fire protection, and security and access; Steve Cafferata spoke about soils, brush field rehabilitation, and planting; and Sam Cafferata spoke about recreation on their property.
By Jeremy Felty
On June 2nd, 90 participants visited the 190-acre Collin’s tree farm located in Jackson County, hosted by Bill and Marion Collins, the Jackson/Josephine OSWA Chapter, and OSU Forestry Extension. It was funded by a grant to OSWA from Oregon Forest Resource Institute. Bill and Marion Collins purchased their 160 acres in 1969. As hobby farmers, they soon found that they needed an additional 30 acres for pasturing cows and horses. This was the beginning of the 190-acre Double Diamond ranch. However, after 13 years, they decided to switch their focus to their forest land. The dense, vertically challenged forest was transformed over the next 35 years to not only to a healthier environment for wildlife and birds, but also one that is sustainable and less prone to severe wildfires. The key factor was the development of a road system that enabled all age, all species management by selective harvest.
The tour discussed the history of the property, the types of forest management performed by the Collins family, living with the risk of wildfire, and dealing with fire challenges. Speakers included Bill Collins, Alan Campbell, Bill Potterf, Marty Main, OSU Extension agent Max Bennett, and Oregon Department of Forestry employees John O’Conner and Paris Drake. Eleven non-OSWA participants joined OSWA at the conclusion of the tour.
Please join us for the Annual Oregon Tree Farm System (OTFS) Meeting at The Oregon Garden
Date: Saturday, October 27, 2018
Time: 9:00-12:00 noon
More information to follow.