News and Updates for LCSWA Members

LCSWA President's column by Tim Otis The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Since Robert Frost penned these words in the summer of 1915, people have argued about what they mean.  No doubt we all wonder whether the decision we are making now is the best one.  When it

  Linn County Outstanding Tree Farmer 2021     Mike and Jo Barsotti 2020     Lee Peterman and Shirley Jolliff 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 Jim and Mary MacPherson 2001 Bentz Family The Bentz family were National Tree Farmers of the Year in 2002. Clint has remained active in OSWA Robert Wolfenbarger was the Linn County TFOTY back in the ’90s

  Individual small ownerships don’t have a big impact on the sustainability of Oregon’s forests, but this year’s Linn County outstanding tree farmers feel every acre helps. Mike and Jo Barsotti also believe there is always something new to learn on how to blend your forestry objectives with what makes a sustainable forests. And it is fun to manage a forest in their back yard, they say. The couple bought and moved to their 19-acre tree farm just south of Lyons in 2001. The ridgetop property is at 1,700 feet. It is part of both the North and South Santiam watersheds. It was fully stocked with 14, 30, and 60 year-old Douglas-fir and a house that was built in 1994. The Barsotti harvested the oldest stand, half in 2004 and half in 2018. These areas were replanted with Douglas-fir and some western red cedar. They built and rocked a road with the proceeds from these operations to allow year-round management. The remaining forested areas have been commercially thinned. “Mike and Jo exe

The following minutes were prepared by board Secretary Jonathan Christie.  Minutes Meeting of 06-02-2021 Cota forest dwelling Present: Jonathan Christie, Tim Otis, Lee Peterman, Larry Mauter, Jim Cota, Shirley Holmberg, Jim Merzenich, Brad Withrow-Robinson ( ex officio ) Board policy restated:  Any new member gets free membership for the remainder of the year upon joining LCSWA.  Dues kick in the 2 nd year.  This is to encourage attendance for tours and events.   Minutes: Minutes not reviewed.  Will review next meeting.   Treasurer Report: (Shirley) Report submitted.  ~$42k balance in checking (operations, seedling, Mealey). MM & investment accounts = over ~$100k Report approved by voice vote.  Approved.   Budget item (Shirley) Shirley handed out a budget document.   Items of discussion: Shirley will get information about not having to pay an additional $50.00 to the state of Oregon for some non-profit registration.  Can we avoid this by refiling under OSWA?

  Welcome summer with a solstice morning hike up “Hill 71”.  Jim and Ed Merzenich invite you to join them for a casual discussion about reforestation, invasive weed control, and both oak and prairie restoration. We will walk two miles on uneven ground with an 800 foot elevation gain. The stunning view of the valley from the top is worth the effort. Monday June 21 Time 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Location. Oak Basin Tree Farm, 35200 Northernwood Dr., south of Brownsville Please come dressed for the weather of the day with sturdy boots, sunscreen, water and personal snacks and masks in case needed. Drinks will be provided for a sack lunch on the top. Please RSVP to  jim@oakbasin.com Directions: In Brownsville turn south on Washburn street (Gap road) at the Union 76 station. Travel ~5 miles and turn left (east) on Northernwood. After the road turns to gravel go through the left gate which climbs to our parking area. Agenda: 1)  09:15 Regeneration Harvest Unit:  Prior to treatment this area contai

 Sherm’s Memorial Service Update Here are  the details for Sherm’ Salee's Memorial Service, Saturday, June 26 at Happy Valley Tree Farm. Fay provided this information. The service will start at 11am followed by a potluck lunch and activities about 12:30pm to 3pm . We have picnic tables and benches available for seating.  You are welcome to bring your own folding chair for your comfort and/or additional social distancing. If you are able to stay for lunch, please bring something to share. We’ll furnish drinks. If you are worried about the COVID 19 virus bring you own lunch. After lunch, you are welcome to stay and visit with friends sharing Sherm memories.  A Happy Valley Disc golf course has been set up for you to try. Please bring your own discs. We will also have a Memory Lane Walk with photos and memories of Sherm’s life for those that like to take a stroll after lunch or you can view it as a slideshow on a VCR in the nonagon. If you have a favorite memory/story/photo(s) that y

Seven Linn County forestry 4-Hers have been awarded scholarship money through the Linn County Small Woodlands Association. The students shared a total of $1,600 in scholarship money that is raised through the annual Linn County Small Woodlands seedling sale. The money is used to purchase 4-H activity tools and supplies and other academic uses. Judging was done Tuesday, March 23. 4-H advisor Fay Sallee hosted the event. Students receiving money are Andrew Bradford, Gabriel Bradford, Elizabeth Kincade, Emily Kincade, Ryan Henry, Conner Tye and Haley Tye.  Judging was based on the students’ award application, annual record books and an interview. Covid precautions were in place for the day. Judging this year’s event were Steve and Katie Kohl, Bob and Mary Brendle and Larry and Nancy Mauter. 4-H forestry students and their families are among the volunteers who work at the annual seedling sale.

  Linn County Small Woodlands Association Board of Directors meeting Wednesday March 3, 2021 Location: Cota-Melcher barn off Berlin Ridge Road Attendance: Tim Otis, Jim Cota, Katie Kohl, Bonnie Marshall, Lee Peterman, Larry Mauter, Shirley Holmberg, Jonathan Christie (via zoom) Mike Barsotti (3 p.m.) Meeting called to order at 2:30 p.m. by board President Tim Otis Minutes of Dec. 2, 2020 — Lee Peterman move, Tim Otis 2nd, approval of minutes from 12-2-2020 with correction of day of meeting to Wednesday, not Thursday; unanimous approval. Old Business  Annual meeting results — Tim Otis and board members agreed COVID-driven post card annual meeting was “well organized” and success. About 60 ballot returned with total membership about 110. Shirley Holberg and Jim Cota elected to thee-year terms ending in 2024.  Discussion followed. Tim Otis said Jim Merzenich has asked to vacate board seat. Motion suggested that board refuse resignation and vote to keep Merzenich on board

By Tim Otis LCSWA President Carpe Diem (Latin: Seize the day , phrase used by the Roman poet Horace to express the idea that one should enjoy life while one can.) A few years ago I read the book “The Wild Trees,” by Richard Preston.  In it, he tells the almost unbelievable story of Steve Sillett (and a few other botanist’s) exploration of the largest and tallest trees in the world.  These are the coast Redwoods of Northern California.  They explored and measured the height of these trees by climbing them.  Many memories and emotions washed past as I read this book.  I was repeatedly amazed that these young explorers did not think “there is nothing new to learn,”did not believe that there was no new place to explore.  They went where others refused to go.  They invented new ways to climb these massive trees with ropes.  On May 11, 1998 Steve Sillett and Michael Taylor pushed, crawled and fell through a part of the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, in search of large redwood trees, or

By Bonnie Marshall LCSWA Director The 26 th Annual Linn County Small Woodlands Association Seedling Sale is one for the books — with record sales and Covid challenges. Almost 250 pre-orders were delivered via curbside pickup within 5 hours by our dedicated and masked volunteers.  As one satisfied customer told us after the sale, “We hit it out of the park” with our well-planned and executed Covid-safe delivery of seedlings.     Fay Sallee, volunteer coordinator, was as diligent as ever rounding up Linn County Small Woodland members, 4-H members and their families, and scholarship recipients.  Despite fewer volunteers, social distancing requirements and expanded work areas, our volunteers rose to the challenge with long hours (a 13-hour day for some) and staggered shifts.  Early Friday morning Don and Carol Cree, Jack Lowers, Jim Cota, and Lance Marshall picked up seedlings at the various nurseries while some of Friday’s 33 volunteers helped set up tables in preparation for the see

By Larry Mauter LCSWA director Long before the term “influencer” became common lexicon, Sherm Sallee was one. Sallee, long-time Linn County Small Woodlands Association member and first editor of The Quarterly Bark, died March 4, 2021. He was 78. Sallee was born Dec. 17, 1942 in Enterprise, Oregon. He was a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force. He served in Vietnam. Among his many woodlands-related passions — Sallee and wife of 54 years Fay — supported the Linn County Extension 4-H forestry program. He was a 4-H leader for more than 35 years. Sallee and Fay also started and for two decades coordinated the annual Linn County Small Woodlands Association seedling sale. “Among the many legacies that Sherm left behind, one was the seedling sale, now in its 26 th year,” said Bonnie Marshall.  “When my husband and I took over the helm five years ago, we were fortunate to experience first-hand Sherm’s organizational skills, encouragement, and mentoring,” Marshall said. “He e

  Long-time Linn County Small Woodlands Association member Sherm Sallee died Thursday March 4. A 20-year veteran of the US Air Force, Sallee was born Dec. 17, 1942 in Enterprise, Oregon. A remembrance service at the Happy Valley Tree Farm is planned for Saturday, June 26. Details to follow. Sallee and wife Fay started the annual seedling sale to raise scholarship money for Linn County forestry students and 4-Hers. The 26th annual sale was held last month. Sallee was active in forestry education issues, 4-H, and the Linn County Fire Protection Agency. He started the Quarterly Bark newsletter and is an editor emeritus of the publication.  

 The board of directors for the Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. will meet this week for its quarterly meeting. Board members will gather Wednesday March 3 at the Fun Forest open-air barn off Berlin Ridge Road. The meeting is to start at 2:30p.m. Among agenda items will be updates and financial results on the annual seedling sale. The 26th annual sale was operated under COVID rules this year. Another agenda item will be an update on the Bob Mealey Sunnyside Park project. Ponderosa pines are expected to be planted later this week at the park. The board is also expected to discuss operation of the chapter website. The group is looking for a person to become webmaster as well as updating the existing HTML site. All members of the association are welcome to attend the board meetings. Contact any director for directions if needed.

Shirley Holmberg and Jim Cota have been re-elected to the Linn County Small Woodlands Association board of directors.  Some 60 ballots were returned to board Secretary Jonathan Christie. Membership overwhelmingly supported the board recommendation to re-elect Holmberg and Cota for three-year terms. Holmberg is the association treasurer. There were also write-in votes in support of Mike Barsotti. He is a past board member and has recently stepped away from the state-wide OSWA presidency.  Long-time board member and past president Jim Merzenich is leaving the board. Most recently Merzenich has been membership chairman. Current membership is about 110 families, with another 40 or so associate memberships on the books. 

  Linn County Tree Farmers of the Year Transform the Forest Linn County Tree Farmers of the Year Transform the Forest Cat Bailey Ten years ago, the 80-acre property near Scio, Ore., affectionately named “Bogwood” by current owners Lee Peterman and Shirley Jolliff, looked very different. What was then an overstocked mix of conifers and hardwoods has been transformed into a substantially less-dense property, allowing room for native trees and plants to thrive, as well as local wildlife to move in and get comfortable. Lee Peterman and Shirley Jolliff own and operate Bogwood in Linn County, OR The transformation isn’t limited to the landscape; it extends to the property owners themselves.  In less than eight years, Lee and Shirley have gone from academics with little woodland experience to 2020 Tree Farmers of the Year in Linn County, Oregon.  A Bog to Call Home When Lee and Shirley first set foot on the property in 2013, they knew it was home.  All they needed to see were the grand maples