Oregon Natural Forestry

"Conservation is here defined as that set of ideas, practices and politics which seek to bring human activities into greater harmony with physical nature.” Robert Dorman A Word for Nature “for the greatest good for the greatest number in the long run”  Gifford Pinchot Breaking New Ground Conservation exists on a continuum.  There is the Progressive Era’s enlightened utilitarianism “scientifically and intensively managed resource use for continued productivity for many generations to come” (Breaking New Ground) or the Deep Ecology idea that all living things have equal value.  Indigenous people practiced conservation and had to manage natural resources intensively enough to provide food, clothing and shelter. It is interesting to me to take on the challenge of discussing conservation in a Blog post vacuum. The next goal would have been to develop some practical applications.  Amazing, to consider when these ideas should come from those who know the land that...

Water from forests, natural, sweet, cool and clean. Water for salmon and agriculture and the joy of drinking.  What part does the forest really play? The security thought came indirectly from Julian at a Bay City Arts Center breakfast as a outcome of the question, why move from the Mediterranean climate of Santa Barbara to the North Oregon Coast rainforest?  It turns out it was all about the water.   Julian said the aquifer which Santa Barbara depends on is 425’ down and dropping as much more is extracted than replenished. Talk about an extractive industry. One of Julian’s interests/ profession is internet security. Water security.  Is this a new way of thinking about the water resource?  What does it take to have water security?  Bull Run, where Portland gets its water, was the first forest reserve, did they get something right in the late 1800’s?  Who was thinking about water then?  I don’t really know, but the best water I have ever...

My story with Sitka spruce begins when I was in school and employed weekends as a tree planter. I definitely connected with spruce. At University of Washington’ Pack Forest we were planting lots of different types of trees and one was Sitka spruce. I loaded up my bag with spruce and lined up with the others who were planting other species and off we went hoe dads in hand.  Two steps and a swing, maybe two or three swings it was old glacial outwash covered with sludge from Seattle’s METRO and the ground was hard.  Primary qualifications for the work were a strong back and up to date tetanus shot. My connection with spruce was on my arms and side after completing a run, not aching, but red.  The sharp points of the spruce needles had been poking and rubbing my arm and torso side and they were red from the irritation.  I made several runs with spruce and the following day looked first for another tree species to plant, but it wasn’t as memorable as that day plant...

The commercial Dungeness Crab season opening has been postponed because they are not ready for harvest.  No Christmas crab for dinner this year (2017). What if the same was said about trees?  Trees that enrich our living rooms and also create many of our living rooms.  What if there were no trees growing to replace last years Christmas tree or to build homes?  What if there were no trees to shade a stream or rest under on a sunny day?  Would a plastic, aluminium or steel Christmas tree work just as well?  Likewise would a steel, glass and concrete home be as warm as resilient to an earthquake? The reason you do not (and I hope never will) hear the same thing about trees is that they are planted and growing and will be there when you need them.  There are laws and “best management practices” that require replanting when a portion of a forest is harvested.  When you look at a forest it is much more than a static picture, the trees are growing. ...

"Find something you love doing and do it” Mildred Davey Assuming you have asked and evaluated and want to do something, the next is do.  My best suggestion is find someone else who is experienced to do it.  These are real stories, the office manager who retired after 40 years of employment, decided to re-roof the house and fell to death.  The A-type personality who bought his dream forest and died from a heart attack planting trees and clearing brush, it is hard work.  He was found several days later. Work in the woods is dangerous and can easily result in death.  A small tree weighs has much as a full grown bull, larger ones the largest whales, a stick is a baseball bat, and if they don’t fall they can roll.  Working in the woods, for someone who knows what they are doing can also be rewarding as recounted by William G. Robbins in his story, My Summer with Ernie and Mo (Citadel of the Spirit, edited by Matt Love) “It has never ceased to impress me t...