Throughout this book, I certainly don’t hide my opinion that owning or managing a forest is one of the greatest expressions of earth stewardship. I wholeheartedly encourage you to go out and acquire your own tract of forestland and put your conservation ethic into practice. As my mom always says, “Land is a good investment […]
Outreach
Into the Woods – Restoration Planning and Funding with Kirk Hanson
This article is part of the Hanson Family Forest series. Introduction When I helped my parents acquire our family’s Bucoda forest in 2018 we did what good farmer’s do, we bought good soil. The silty clay loam that this land is built from is nutrient-rich and, coupled with the mild maritime climate of the Pacific Northwest, capable […]
Engaging with Citizen Science
At heart, we are all scientists taking in the world around us with curiosity and questions. You can likely tell us when your hummingbirds return each year, when the wildflowers will bloom, or how the snowfall this February differs from the norm. Now imagine if all that knowledge could be shared for everyone to learn […]
Mapping Tools for Forest Landowners
When NNRG foresters prepare for a site visit with a forest owner or begin drafting a forest management plan, one of the first steps they’ll take is to prepare a suite of maps that provide critical information about the characteristics of a forest. Although our forestry team includes professional cartographers familiar with Geographic Information Systems […]
Stossel Creek and Assisted Plant Migration: How’s It Growing?
Article by Shay Steeves. Shay completed her University of Washington Environmental Studies Capstone Project with Northwest Natural Resource Group in Winter/Spring 2023. Three years ago marked the start of the Stossel Creek adaptive restoration case study. Located in Carnation, WA, Stossel Creek is now home to over 14,000 growing seedlings, including 900 that are set […]
Forest Recipes for the Adventurous
You’ve probably heard of stinging nettle tea — how about stinging nettle pesto? Japanese knotweed hummus? These six recipes draw from the bounty found in Pacific Northwest forests – both wild and urban lands.
Two Methods to Contribute to Research About the Dieback of Western Redcedar
Forest owners can help accelerate research and understanding about the factors affecting the health of western redcedar through two methods: sharing observations online or collecting soil samples
NNRG JUNE FIRESIDE CHAT: Introduction to Forest Practices Applications
Fireside chats are monthly community events where forest owners can talk directly with NNRG staff and other forestry professionals, and connect with other forest owners in western Washington and Oregon.
2022 NNRG Staff Book Recommendations
We asked the NNRG staff and board — notorious for thinking about forests as much off-the-clock as on — for the best forestry, nature, PNW, and environment-related books they read this year. The result is a list as varied as it is long! Scroll down to read the whole list. Deep River Author: Karl MarlantesPick […]
Forest Tour: Stand Release Techniques for Small Woodlands
This twilight tour will showcase a range of techniques for releasing young trees from competition. When attempting to establish a new generation of trees, forest owners face two fundamental tasks that can become increasingly tricky: seedling release and pre-commercial thinning. Seedlings planted after harvest face steep competition for light, nutrients, water, and native and nonnative […]
ARE WE OLD GROWTH YET? NNRG TURNS 30!
Since its founding in 1992, NNRG has been led and staffed by a small, rotating band of idealists and innovators. 30 years later, though the team remains small, the impact of our work has spread as swiftly as a field of salmonberry that’s found a gap in the canopy. When NNRG sprouted 30 years ago […]
Forest Tour: Intro to Ecologically-Based Timber Harvesting
Stewarding a beautiful, healthy forest doesn’t have to mean locking the gate and throwing out the key. In fact, careful stewardship can help you to perpetually manage your forest in a way that improves wildlife habitat, sustains forest health, and provides long-term income opportunities through high-quality timber products. Forest owners in Western Washington are increasingly […]
Ode to Pa Hanson
I’ve participated in multiple surveys of small woodland owners over the years, and each time we ask the question “why do you own forestland,” the value of “legacy” is almost invariably in the top four reasons expressed. Woodland owners want to know their efforts as good stewards will endure and be passed on to future […]
Hands-On Forest Health Strategies for Western Washington Forest Owners
Learn hands-on strategies for managing healthy forests in Western Washington. Many forest owners across Western Washington are interested in taking a hands-on approach to improving the health, resilience and productivity of their forests, but may lack the information, skills and resources to do so. At this workshop, local and regional experts will introduce forest owners […]
How The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Built a Nursery that Supports Land and Community
This article originally appeared in the December 2021 newsletter of Treeline, the regional forest adaptation network. It is reprinted here with permission. You can find the complete newsletter here. A conversation with Jeremy Ojua, Lindsay McClary and Kayla Seaforth The Natural Resources Department at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (CTGR) has been operating the […]
2020 Reforestation Project: Year 2 Report
This article is part of the Hanson Family Forest series. In January 2020 we planted 18 acres on our family’s land near Bucoda, WA in an effort to restore several degraded sites that had been logged by a previous landowner, but not replanted. These were challenging sites to recover as they were comprised of either […]
2022 Winter/Spring Native Plant Sales
The winter wet season in the Pacific Northwest is an ideal time to plant young trees and native shrubs! Planting native trees and shrubs enhances forest biodiversity by providing habitat for wildlife and forage for pollinators. It’s also a great way connect to the land and increase your aesthetic and recreational appreciation for the forest.
2021 in Pictures
Throughout the year, NNRG’s staff have had the privilege to visit some very cool places, talk to interesting small, people, and experience the beauty and bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Our work has taken us from the Willamette Valley oak savannas to the coastal forests of the San Juan Islands, and beyond. Take a look […]
2021: The Year’s Accomplishments In Review
2022 is just days away, and the NNRG team is itching to get to work on some of the new projects planned for the year. But before we continue on our mission to strengthen the ecological and economic vitality of Northwest forests and communities, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on some of […]
BUY LOCAL FROM WELL-MANAGED FORESTS
There are so many brilliant reasons to buy local. When you trade 2-day delivery for fresh-from-the-forest, you’re supporting local landowners, sustainable forestry practices, and guaranteed high-quality products. Many local forest owners make and sell non-timber forest products that would make wonderful stocking stuffers or can feed your home hearth. This holiday season, consider supporting ecological […]