News and Updates for LCSWA Members

Feb 1 2020 is the date for the silver anniversary Linn County Small Woodlands Association seedling sale. As usual the scholarship fundraiser will be at the Santiam Building of the Linn County Expo.  Setup for the sale will be Friday Jan. 31. 

Linn County and a local woodlands group may team up to build a demonstration forest at Sunnyside Park near Sweet Home. The Linn County Parks Commission approved a motion March 14 directing parks Director Brian Carroll to move forward with discussions on the project. A week earlier, Linn County Small Woodlands Association directors voted to open talks with the county after members met with Carroll at Sunnyside. LCSWA is proposing a demonstration forest featuring a Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine grove with walking paths, other native trees, possibly picnic tables and a memorial kiosk with educational information. The project would require approval from Linn County commissioners. Funding would come from a trust created in 1998 by Robert H. Mealey. Mealey was an ardent advocate for the Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine. His homesite was where Foster Lake now exists. LCSWA President Lee Peterman said his group is excited to be working with the county. “I believe this inter...

A new family moved onto the tree farm this week. They will be living in one of those “tiny houses” and their stay will be temporary. The Mason family — we are talking about Mason bees — are pollinators. Their numbers have been on the decline for various reasons. Todd and Kari Stutzman rolled up in their big van with the housing and the bees. Todd set up with a few posts and the boxes along a fence line under an old crab apple tree. The task was completed in a half hour. The Stutzmans earn a living by taking the bees south to pollinate almonds and other fruit trees in California. In Oregon they have Mason bee ranches that basically grow more bees.  Masons collect pollen, are extremely gentle and are active in the spring months. They do not make honey but are crucial to produce heavier fruit yields. The addition of the bees fits in nicely with our Oregon Tree Farm System forest management plan. Wildlife habitat is one of our management system goals. Kerri Stutzman said t...

The Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. is an active organization. This blog is intended to help members in their woodlands efforts. Look for updates and news about the organization. Stay in touch.