Workshop: Biochar 101-Making Biochar from Woody Biomass
Benefits for Farms and Forests Learn How to Make Biochar: REGISTER TODAY! Biochar, a charcoal made from woody biomass that stores carbon and improves soil, is an emerging option for forest owners to generate income and remove excess wood from densely stocked forests. Biochar can increase agricultural productivity, improve soil fertility, and help mitigate climate change. This workshop will take you through the steps to turn low-value branches, twigs, and other woody biomass into valuable biochar. We’ll also cover potential business strategies that are working for San Juan county biochar producers as well as findings in the latest biochar research. This
Workshop: Utilizing Woody Biomass to Reduce Fire Risk
Fire Ecology and Active Management in San Juan Forests REGISTER TODAY! Many forests in the San Juan Islands are comprised of extremely dense small diameter trees. These dense stands are at high risk for forest fire, have stagnant growth and low timber quality, and present very poor wildlife habitat. This workshop will go over the history of island forests, the risks and problems with leaving dense forests unmanaged, and different active management strategies to reduce wildfire risk, enhance forest biodiversity, improve wildlife habitat, and generate income. This workshop is the first in a three-part series on woody biomass in the
Workshop: How to Manage a Timber Sale – Jan. 21 & Feb. 4
Timber harvests conducted with care and good planning are an important management tool that can generate revenue while improving the quality and value of timber resources and wildlife habitat. Harvesting and selling timber is incredibly complex and can be challenging – incomplete planning without market knowledge can cost you thousands of dollars. By being well-informed about the value of timber, key questions to ask, and the logistics of harvesting and marketing logs, you can ensure a more efficient harvest operation that yields the ecological and economic results you want from your forest. This day-long workshop will introduce landowners to the
Workshop: Discovering Value in Your Forest – Sept. 24 & Oct. 8
The diverse forests of the Pacific Northwest are home to trees, plants, lichens, fungi and other organisms that are prized for many different uses. Woodland owners can steward their land to yield a range of highly-valued products including materials for food, wild crafting, medicinal plants, firewood, and specialty-wood products such as figured wood, veneer, and pole-quality timber. In this class you’ll learn about Pacific Northwest plants that you can steward on your land for food, craft, and traditional uses. You’ll also learn about niche markets available to forest owners and differences between selling a veneer-grade log at pulp prices instead of the
Workshop: Precision Tree Felling – SAWW Training Levels 1 & 2 – Sep. 22-23
Join Northwest Certified Forestry for a unique, hands-on training program for small woodland owners who are interested in learning how to safely cut down trees in the woods. Harvest planning, tree selection, and safe and accurate tree felling are the most important aspects of conducting a small-scale harvest. These skills are also valuable for clearing trails, harvesting firewood, and taking down potential hazard trees. This Safety and Woods Worker (SAWW) training course is based on the concept of “open face felling” and will introduce some of the world’s leading methods for safe, efficient, and precise tree felling. The majority of this training will
Workshop: Hands-On Forestry for San Juans Woodlands
Learn DIY ways to nurture your forest! Many San Juan forests are in need of care to be their healthiest. In the absence of natural and historic processes, island forests have become overstocked, lost biodiversity, and are more susceptible to stress and disease. Join us for a walk in the woods and learn how to implement easy techniques to improve the ecological resilience and economic value of your forest. Don’t miss this chance to witness ecological forestry in action on a tour of Thornbush Farm, which hosts a beautiful forest showcasing agroforestry, biomass utilization, creative uses of small-diameter wood, and other examples of hands-on forest management practices.
Workshop: Ecological Forestry 101: Intro to Silviculture and Wildlife – June 4 & 11
Woodland owners in the Pacific Northwest are interested in maintaining forests that provide a broad range of ecological functions and economic goals. Enjoying wildlife and providing wildlife habitat are often motivators for stewarding woodlands. It’s important to understand how the habitat in your forest meets the needs of particular wildlife species and what you can do to maintain and enhance your forest for biodiversity. Many Northwest forests are in need of active forest management to create the complex forest structure, light for flowering plants, and space for food-producing shrubs that help wildlife thrive. Careful stewardship can help you to perpetually manage your forest on a
Workshop: You Bought a Forest, So Now What? – April 23 & 30
Owning forestland has been your dream, but now that the land is yours where do you start? This workshop will introduce you to the natural history and ecology of western Washington and Oregon forests and provide key information for starting to assess and manage your land. You’ll also come away with a framework of ideas, tasks, and resources to help meet your forest stewardship goals and enhance your ownership experience. Come learn from regional experts and local practitioners in this interactive class. Topics this class will cover include: Pacific Northwest forest ecology Tree identification and natural history of native
