News and Updates for LCSWA Members

By Larry Mauter LCSWA director The season for Mason bees on our tree farm near Waterloo is over. Todd and Kari Stutzman have come and gone twice from our foothill farm. They will be back in late winter 2021 to set up more hives in the two bee condos they’ve installed. The Masons are pollinators. They are eventually moved to California’s Sacramento Valley where they are crucial to fruit and nut crops. The Stutzmans used to make the trips south with their bees but now sell their bees through a broker. That is  allowing them begin expanding their mason bee operations in the Willamette Valley and foothills. Masons are solitary bees and their sole purpose is to reproduce, explained Kari Stutzman. They collect pollen and nectar to provide food for their offspring. In the process they provide pollination, she said. Mason bees are natives and have a one-year life cycle. They are not aggressive. Food sources include early spring flowers, maple trees, fruit trees and e

Saturday February 1 brought out the customers to pick up plants and check out information booths. OSWA member Dan Thackaberry of Lebanon packs seedlings in moist sawdust on prep day during the 2020 seedling sale. Buoyed by continued success of the Linn County Small Woodlands Association Seedling Sale, board members have increased scholarship and educational funding commitments for the year.  March 5th, directors heard financial results of the February 1st seedling sale.  Treasurer Shirley Holmberg reported that profits from the 25 th annual event, after scholarships, totaled about $9,500. “It was a resounding success, thanks to all the hard-working volunteers and amazing people that make it happen,” Bonnie Marshall, seedling sale chairwoman, told directors. Roughly 500 hours of volunteer time was put in over the weekend of the sale, according to Fay Sallee, LCSWA education committee chairwoman. Seventy - five people, she said, staffed the event— including 4-Hers and the

The Benton County Small Woodlands Assoc. has postponed the March 4 Woodlands Information Night because of the Corona virus. Dave Ehlers from the Benton group notified Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. that the Benton board made the decision. “We have decided to postpone the Woodland Information Night, Wednesday March 4, until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience, but want to avoid a public meeting at this time due to the uncertainty of the coronavirus situation.” Ehlers said in an e-mail. The Benton and Linn County forestry groups share sponsorship of the annual Woodlands Information Night.

Forest education issues and scholarships will be front and center at this week’s Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. quarterly board meeting. Directors will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in Sublimity at the home of Director Bonnie Marshall. Marshall will deliver her report on the Linn County Small Woodlands seedling sale results. Proceeds from the sale fund the LCSWA Oregon State University and 4-H forestry scholarships. Board President Lee Peterman and OSWA President Mike Barsotti will lead discussion about ONREF — another scholarship program that would be operated with other OSWA chapters. Barsotti is hoping the chapter will make a financial commitment to the program. Also relating to education, directors Jim Cota and Larry Mauter will update the board on the RHM Pine Fund project at Sunnyside Park near Sweet Home. The Bob Mealey-funded project includes planting a grove of Willamette Valley ponderosa pines at Sunnyside, along with educational interpretive sign aimed at campers an

Benton County's small woodlands association will host this year's Woodlands Information Night. The event is free and will be held at the Benton County Library meeting room. Hear from knowledgeable speakers and visit with other land owners at this annual event. Topics this year include  GIS Tools Available to Woodland owners by county services, Doug Sackinger-Benton County Public Services; Species Selection in a Changing Climate, Glenn Ahrens -OSU Extension, Clackamas County; Drones in Forestry- uses, types, regulations and more, Cory G. Garms, OSU College of Forestry, Aerial Information Systems Lab; Log Report, Van Decker, Timber owner and Key Man at B & G Logging.  Linn County Small Woodlands Association and Benton County co-host the event every other year. Date:  Wednesday, March 4th Time:  6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Location:  Benton County Library, meeting room Questions contact  Pat Boren    

The Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine Conservation Association  is working to quantify how many acres, the ages, and the location of ponderosa pine plantations in the Willamette Valley. Mike Barsotti, executive director of the group, said this information is valuable for two reasons; it will help answer the questions: 1.) What is the future log supply? and 2.) Growth and yield tables need to be developed for ponderosa pine in the Willamette Valley and the location of stands of various ages on different soil types are needed to be measured to establish growth tables. This information will complement the work of an Oregon State University grad student who used imagery and GIS technology to locate and quantify pine plantations in the Willamette Valley. If you have or know of pine plantations in Willamette Valley, it would be very helpful if you would complete this online  form  (click the form link) or send by email the location, acres, and approx. age of the pine stand to  barsotti@wvi.c

Joe Holmberg has combed his records — adding to list of past outstanding tree farmers in Linn County. Holmberg, who heads up the annual TFOY selection for the Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc., is now taking nominations for the 2020 outstanding tree farmer. The topic will be among the agenda items expected to come up Thursday, March 5 at the board of directors next regularly scheduled meeting. Here is the list supplied by Holmberg. Linn County Outstanding Tree Farmer 2019 Kathy and Tim Otis 2018 Sherm Weld 2017 Ivan and Rebecca Wolthius 2016 Joe and Shirley Holmberg 2015 Dave and Karen Bateman 2014 Linda Butts 2013 Rod and Ann Bardell 2012 Ed and Jim Merzenich and Karen Wilson 2011 Henry and Mollie Wolthius 2010 Dale and Shirley Crocker 2009 Fun Forest (Cota and Melcher families) 2008 — 2007     Neal Bell  2006    Don and Carol Cree  2005    Lon and Laura Rankin  2004   Aaron and Shawna White 2003   Alvin Sorseth 2002   J

Success has followed the LCSWA seedling sale into 2020, with pre-orders being filled Friday afternoon with volunteers from 4-H and the membership. “It went well. Not too many surprises,” said Bonnie Marshall, chair of the seedling sale. Pre-orders reached 201, up from 142 last year.  Already, a number of species have been sold out. Coast redwood, Nordmann fir, ocean spray, quaking aspen, red alder red-flowering currant and sugar maples. Patrons will be refunded money when orders are picked up Saturday, said Marshall. Look for more updates on the sale during the weekend. The local Woods Fair on Saturday morning will feature about 20 information booths. Products from the forest are available for purchase. The sale is located in the Santiam Building at the Linn County Fair. Doors open Saturday at 8 a.m. The sale will continue until noon or until  products are sold out. The LCSWA  raises money through the sale for scholarships to both 4-H students involved in forestry and

Jonathan Leever, 17, of Lebanon has been active in the seedling sale for nearly a decade. He recounts some of the highlights as he cast his eyes forward toward his future goals. "This is my ninth year doing the seedling sale. It is always loads of fun; friends, dirty hands and the smell of trees is quite enjoyable. It has been my favorite part of 4-H, to come and volunteer. "Sadly this is probably my last year doing the sale, as I am going to college next year. My hope is to go to Moody Aviation in Spokane, Washington and study Mission Aviation to be a pilot/mechanic on the mission field. 4-H has been a vital part of my education, and has taught me to love the outdoors and to lead and serve well."

Elizabeth Kinkade, 14, a 4-Her from Albany counted seedlings and packed orders in saw dust Friday afternoon. Here is her comments about the sale and  Friday afternoon. "I really enjoy helping out at the sale. Filling orders, counting seedlings and wrapping them is a lot of fun. One of the best parts of it to me is meeting and helping new people and also seeing people I saw last year that I had enjoyed working with. It also helps me in 4-H by being able to identify some of the plants as seedlings. I have been helping out at the seedling sale for 4 or 5 years now and would like keep doing it for years to come."

Andrew Leever, 14, of Lebanon, is a 10-year veteran of the seedling sale. Here is his take on the day before the sale. Volunteers are filling pre-orders all afternoon.  "The amount trees are staggering! Over thousands, upon thousands of young saplings! I have been a part of the tree seedling sale since 2010. It’s been fun, exiting, breathtaking and a great learning experience! Not only the amount of trees but the organization is incredible! I have learned so much from participating in the tree seedling sale. I love all the jobs and the conversation with good friends!"

The following is a comment from Gabriel Bradford, 15, one of the 4-Hers at work at the 25th annual seedling sale. "I learned about the tree seedling sale from the Clever Clovers forestry club and have been coming ever since I was 7. I love doing all the different jobs such as counting and filling. I think that the tree seedling is fun and think that every one should try it at least once."     

The 25th annual Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. seedling sale is under way at the Linn County Expo.  About 50 volunteers from the membership and 4-Hers are packaging the 200 pre-orders on Friday afternoon in preparation for pickups Saturday morning. Pre-sale orders are up from 140 last year. Because of the growth in the sale, several plant species including Nordman fir and red alder  are already sold out. Those with pre-orders that can’t be filled will receive a refund check. Look for more updates on the sale during the weekend. The local Woods Fair will feature information booths and products from the forest available for purchase. The sale is located in the Santiam Building at the Linn County Fair. Doors open Saturday at 8 a.m. The sale will continue until noon or until  products are sold out. The LCSWA  raises money through the sale for scholarships to both 4-H students involved in forestry and to Oregon State University forestry students from Linn County.

The Linn County Small Woodlands Association has agreed to spend up to $10,000 this year on a Ponderosa pine education project. The approval came on a voice vote of the membership at its Jan. 18 annual meeting. Board President Lee Peterman introduced the ballot measure. Board member Larry Mauter outlined the project for members.  The proposal involves a partnership with Linn County and possibly forestry class students from Sweet Home High School. Money for the proposed demonstration pine grove and interpretive sign comes from the Robert H. Mealey Pine fund. That fund is administered by the LCSWA board. Roughly 75 people attended the annual meeting. LCSWA directors have been in talks with Linn County parks about the project that will require Linn County commissioners’ approval. The proposal includes planting 50 or so Willamette Valley ponderosa pines over a one-acre plot along Quartzville Road near Foster Lake. A covered two-sided interpretive sign would be adjacent to the

Deputy State Forester Lena Tucker will be the guest speaker at the Linn County Small Woodlands Association annual meeting. LCSWA membership will meet Sat. Jan. 18 at the Z Hall is Scio. A potluck dinner precedes the business portion of the meeting. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in forest management from Northern Arizona University. She started working for the Oregon Department of Forestry as a forestry intern when she was 19. She started with ODF permanently as a natural resource specialist in Astoria in 1994. Since then, Tucker has worked for ODF in a variety of positions, including serving as a forester in Astoria, the unit forester in Grants Pass, the Assistant Area Director in Eastern Oregon, the District Forester for the South Cascade District, and both the Deputy and Division Chief of the Private Forests Division. These positions provided her with a breadth of experience that spans all three geographic areas and all of the department’s m

Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. members Tim and Kathy Otis are featured in the current Growing, the OSU Extension Service publication. The Otis family were the Linn County Tree Farmers of the year for 2019. Tim Otis is vice president of the LCSWA directors. He is also a master woodlands manager and past president of the Calapooia Watershed Council. “In it for the long haul” focuses on the Otis family forest management practices and the balancing act between financial realities and improving wildlife habitat. The Jan.-Feb. issue lead story includes photos and some nice quotes from Tim and Kathy that help explain tree-farming ways. “We are like pretty much all small woodland owners in that we all have other jobs, so it tends to be this part-time thing where you do some things on weekends and vacations,” Tim Otis said in the story. Kathy Otis referred to visiting other family tree farms and commented: “We learned that there is not a specific way to do things. It kind of depe

Deadline nearing for seedling sale pre-orders Jan. 18 is the cutoff for time-saving pre-orders for the Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. 25th annual seedling sale. Scholarships for OSU forestry students and 4-Hers are the beneficiaries of the sale, set for Feb. 1 at the Linn County Fair and Expo Santiam Building. Order forms were printed in the Quarterly Bark and can be found on this web site under activities. By pre-ordering, customers can drop by anytime Saturday  between 8 and noon and find their bundled order ready. They are packaged in sawdust the previous day by 4-H volunteers and LCSWA members. A local woods fair is also on tap at the Santiam Building Saturday morning. Artisans will be selling wooden wares and various organizations will be setting up booths to provide information to woodlands owners. For more information, contact Bonnie Marshall at 503-769-6510.

Should Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. spend up to $10,000 during 2020 on a Willamette Valley ponderosa pine educational grove at Sunnyside Park using RHM Pine Fund money? That question is now before the general membership. Directors at their Dec. 5 meeting unanimously agreed to move forward with a plan to work with Linn County using money from an endowment from Robert H. Mealey. The question will be decided at the annual membership meeting Jan. 18. LCSWA directors have been in talks with Linn County parks about the project that will require Linn County commissioners’ approval. The proposal includes planting 50 or so Willamette Valley ponderosa pines over a one-acre plot along Quartzville Road near Foster Lake. A covered two-sided interpretive sign would be adjacent to the grove, explaining the history and uses of the valley pine. Sweet Home High School forestry students may also be involved with the project. Tree planting could occur in December 2020. The ballot