HAPPENINGS & RESOURCE
Tree Information & Planting Directions - we had another successful Tree Sale selling about 23,000 trees. If you purchased some trees, see below for information about all the trees we sold and planting directions.
- Tree Descriptions – Information about growth rate, height at 30 years, soil type preference, suggested uses and other characteristics.
- Seedling Planting Guide – small number of seedlings.
- Forest Seedling Planting Guide – for larger numbers of seedlings with more planting details.
Mark your calendar for next year’s online Tree Sale which will start February 1, 2024. Pick-up day will be March 16, 2024.
Small Forest Silviculture Workshop - Friday, May 5, 9:30 am. Upper Puget Sound Chapter is sponsoring a tree farm tour in Skagit County. Click here for more information.
DNR Financial Assistance for Forest Health - If you own less than 5,000 acres and are a non-industrial forestland owner who wants help managing your lands for optimal forest health, creating a forest stewardship plan, or applying for financial assistance to improve forest health, read on. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a financial assistance program which focuses on technical and financial assistance to implement forest health or wildfire mitigation treatments or to help landowners write forest management plans. This program can address pre-commercial thinning, brush/vegetation control, pruning, slash management, prescribed fire and tree planting/reforestation. To get a local forester to provide you with a consultation, contact Gene Phillips, District Manager at gene.phillips@dnr.wa.gov
New WSU Extension Forester - Members who attended the December Holiday Party had an opportunity to meet the new WSU Extension Forester in our area - Molly Darr. Molly would love to come tour your property and talk about issues you may be facing relative to forest health & pest management strategies. She can be reached at molly.darr@wsu.edu.
FREE Forestry publications from WSU Extension that are of interest to forest landowners are now available.
- Seasonal Foliage Discoloration and Loss in Pacific Northwest Evergreen Conifer Trees - click here to download.
- A Climate Resilience Guide for Small Forest Landowners in Western Washington - click here to download. (different title shows on webpage, but click on "Western Washington Guide" and it will take you to the Climate Resilience Guide)
- Porcupines in Managed Woodlands: Tools for family forestland owners - click here to download.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS
TREE SALE
Our 64th consecutive Tree Sale is one for the books. We sold over 23,000 trees covering 15 species, had about 65 volunteers, 345 orders and we were done packaging ordered trees by noon. In the 64 years of doing this Tree Sale, we have sold over 1.308 million trees, yes, million, which means our Whatcom Chapter is definitely doing its part to “Keep Washington Green!”
While it truly takes a village (aka over 60 volunteers) it also takes a special family steering the ship. In addition to Lisa Tiemersma at the helm as Tree Sale Chairperson and father Tom Westergreen being the orderer and nurturer of our trees, they also fielded 14 other family members, from three generations, to help with the Tree Sale from picking up trees at nurseries, to unloading said trees, to setting up tables, to wrapping trees, to helping lug bags of trees out to cars, to checking orders out, to providing security, to directing line traffic, and so much more. Many thanks to the entire extended Westergreen family for all they do not only in support of the Tree Sale, but many other Chapter activities as well.
And speaking of families – the Westergreens weren’t the only ones fielding three generations at the Tree Sale. Also included were Dave and Dar New, Arnold Theisen and Gerry Kudsk. Being able to encourage multiple generations within a family to participate in WCFFA activities will help keep our organization strong for many years to come. Thanks to all the volunteers for all they did by rolling up their sleeves and in some cases got pretty dirty. Special thanks to the Mt. Baker FFA for helping with the Sale. We supported them with some funds to be able to travel to and participate in the National FFA Championships last Fall and we appreciate their support of our programs in return.
And while we’re throwing out our appreciation – thanks to Jon Matson for all things tied to our online Store. It’s a tremendous website and has streamlined our Tree Sale substantially. Also thanks to Northwest Washington Fair and Event Center for hosting us and to the nurseries that provide us our trees. We’d also like to thank KGMI and the Lynden Tribune and the many businesses that allow us to post a flyer advertising the Tree Sale.
Want to get a flavor for how our Tree Sale operates and to see a bunch of photos, just click here.
NEW MEMBERS
A warm welcome to new members Roger & Nancy Riffle from Mount Vernon, WA. We're happy to have you join our Chapter and look forward to getting to know you at Chapter events.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
2022 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Click here for a recap of our Chapter's 2022 Actitivites and Accomplishments. It's always a little startling to see just how much we do as a Chapter each year. Check it out and see if there is anything you might be interested in participating in during 2023.
HOLIDAY PARTY
Nineteen folks made it to this year's Holiday Party on December 3 at the Deming Log Show Museum. Dave New made a presentation about using a camera to capture wildlife on your Tree Farm. See several photos from the Holiday Party and information on setting up your own camera on the 2022 Activities and Accomplishments recap.
MT. BAKER FFA PLACES 12TH IN THE NATION
Congratulations to the Mt. Baker FFA Forestry team who placed 12th out of 43 teams (130 students overall) at the Nationals held in Indianapolis in late October. Jorey Johnson was a GOLD individual scoring in the top 1/3 of all competing students. Case Heutink, Kaylee Wahl and Alexis Yates were SILVER individuals scoring in the upper middle 1/3 of students competing. WCFFA assisted Mt. Baker FFA defray competition costs by donating $4,000. Looks like our money was well spent and helps us fulfill one of our purposes which is to promote youth opportunities for education in forestry and land stewardship! Mt. Baker also fielded two other teams at Nationals - Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems placed 7th and Floriculture placed 15th. Great job to all Mt. Baker FFA members and especially to those who placed so highly on the Forestry team. An additional thank you to Todd Rightmire, who has been advising these students for many years.
WINTER HARDENING OF SEEDLINGS
Tom Westergreen visited WACD Nursery in Bow on November 18 to check out seedlings they are growing for our Annual Tree Sale. Click here to get a brief silviculture lesson and see some great photos.
SECRETARY POSITION FILLED
Thanks to Board member, Jim DeWilde, for stepping up to take over the Secretary position. We didn’t tell Jim, but it will be his role to keep all the Board members in line – just kidding. Jim will keep our organization’s records, communicate with members, prepare minutes of meetings, assist with setting up events and whatever else he has an interest in.
Many thanks to Helen Arntson for serving as Secretary for three and ½ years. The 1/2 year was since May when Helen agreed to continue on until the Fall. She did a wonderful job and we wish her all the best in her “retirement” from the Board. Now she’ll have no excuse to keep her away from her beloved music.
BOARD POSITION AVAILABLE
And because Jim DeWilde took the vacant Secretary position, we now have a Board position available. Join us to help achieve our Association’s purposes – including:
- cultivating stewardship of private forest resources,
- exchange of ideas between tree farms and public and private agencies,
- promoting opportunities for youth education in forestry and land stewardship, and
- assisting with providing tours, demonstrations and other educational programs that will enable farm foresters to better manage their property and that illustrate the value of forestry to Association members and the general public.
If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please click here for more information or contact President Herb Barker at barkers.chipping@gmail.com.
HATS 4 SALE
Interested in showing off your affiliation with Whatcom County Farm Forestry Association? Purchase a hat for only $20 - see hat photo in rolling photos to the left. This would make a great Holiday gift. Contact Karen Bellingar at 360-303-1193.
SEED WHISPERER
WCFFA has our own “seed whisperer” in Tom Westergreen. Tom has been instrumental in collecting local seeds and working with nurseries to grow seedlings that we sell at our Tree Sale. The seedlings where we have collected the cones will be acclimatized for Whatcom County. Tom reports that we have enough Cedar seeds to last 10 years, Hemlock seeds to last 13 years and Douglas fir to last 12 years from a good crop of cones collected this year.
CONSERVATION TOUR HISTORY
Our current 5th grade Conservation Tour started out with 6th graders (pre-Middle School) in 1958 at the Assink Tree Farm when Past President Don Assink was a 6th grader. It was there until the 1970's when it moved to the Georgia Pacific Stewart Mountain Tree Farm off the Y Road and then to the Olson Creek Seed Orchard in the 1980's where we have held the Tour for many years. Thanks to Tom Westergreen for the GP start date - he remembers, because that's when he went to work for GP. The Tour is a great opportunity to share our love of the outdoors and trees with 5th graders from across the County, many of whom may have very little exposure to "all things nature." If you are interested in helping with the Tour, please contact Vice President Jan Vollmer at hollowarrow@hotmail.com.
WEST-SIDE ANNUAL MEETING
Many thanks to David & Dar New and family for hosting the West-Side Washington Farm Forestry Association annual meeting at the Nourse Tree Farm. You represented our Chapter exceptionally well. The New family were 2019 National Tree Farmers of the Year and always have some good stories to share. Below are a few videos that David has put together shot on their Tree Farm.
BOARD POSITION FILLED
Per our Chapter Bylaws, the Board of Directors voted to fill a vacant Board position with two members who came forward and volunteered. Mary and Jim Green will be sharing one Board position. Mary brings a keen interest in the 5th grade Conservation Tour and Jim has worked at our Tree Sale for a number of years. If you see them, please welcome them to our Chapter governing body. We still have an opening for the Secretary position. If anyone is interested, please contact President Herb Barker by phone (360) 739-7799, or email: barkers.chipping@gmail.com.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
We welcome to the Whatcom Chapter of Washington Farm Forestry Association Ryan and Andrea Lindsay of Sedro Woolley. We hope to meet you at an upcoming event.
MEMBER HIGHLIGHT
Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt started visiting Bellingham as a child each summer to see his grandmother, and because she was a Nesset, there were many visits to the Nesset farm which WCFFA toured in 2018. Russ was recently written up in Adventures NW magazine for his almost 50 years of building hiking trails. Some of his trails include Port Whitehorn, Wild Goose, Mount Pilchuck, Hannegan Pass & Goat Mountain reconstruction and many, many more. To see the entire list and learn a little more about Russ’s efforts, either pick up a free copy of the Adventures NW - Summer 2022 edition around town or click here for a link to Adventures NW magazine. The article about Russ starts on page 24. Thanks Russ for your extensive contributions which allow your fellow WCFFA members and others the ability to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
WELCOME NEW MEMBER
A big welcome to Chris Elder of Acme as the newest member of the Whatcom County Chapter. We look forward to being able to meet and see Chris at an upcoming event.
WASHINGTON STATE TREE FARMER OF THE YEAR
The Whatcom County Farm Forestry Association and the Washington Tree Farm Program jointly held an awards ceremony and tree farm tour at the Nelson Road Tree Farm, LLC. In addition to the announcement of the State Tree Farmer of the Year, the Washington Tree Farm Program Leadership Award was presented to Tom Westergreen. Click here to see a recap with numerous photos.
5th GRADE CONSERVATION TOUR
This year’s tour was conducted in one day, Wednesday, May 18. The day started out very wet and stormy, but cleared up later. Partners in this endeavor who set up tables or displays to give presentations to the students included: Washington State University Whatcom County Extension Program, Whatcom County Farm Forestry Association, Department of Natural Resources, Whatcom County Public Works, Whatcom Conservation District, United States Forest Service, Sierra Pacific, Barkers Chipping and Hampton Lumber. Volunteers from WCFFA included: WCFFA Tour head honcho Vice President Jan Vollmer, President Herb Barker, Secretary Helen Arntson, Past President Don Assink, Board members – Conrad Koehn, Dan Koehler (thanks for the new signs) and Wendy Wefer-Clinton plus WCFFA member Ruth Heft. Thanks to all partners, presenters and volunteers! See a couple photos in the rolling photos to the left.
Here’s a quick recap: Pouring rain at the start * Winds 10-20 mph * Nine classes from four schools with 180 fifth graders with three buses & drivers * Two homeschool families * 30 grownups attending * Innumerable cars * Two log trucks to be avoided * Three outhouses * Three gates * One parking area (plus overflow roadside bus parking * One fire truck * Eight educational Stations * One new train horn with eight horn blasts signaling the end of each 20-minute session * Nine partner sponsors * Two start lines with a shotgun start * 20 presenters + 6 other volunteers (including three guides) * Ten tree boxes with 200 Ponderosa seedlings (1 to each student) * One school picnic * One creek * One trail * In one county * One fence around a seed orchard * One riparian area * One outhouse truck/pickup truck collision (thankfully no spills) * Zero comments on the weather – because the Weather is part of the Tour * Zero litter * Zero trash * Two empty trash & recycle cans * Some masking * Lots of joy!
It was a good day with children (and many adults) exuberant at being able to be outside together after two years of no Tours due to COVID.
WASHINGTON TREE FARM PROGRAM (WTFP) AWARDS
Congratulations to two Chapter members on winning awards through this year's Washington Tree Farm Program. Named 2022 WTFP Tree Farmer of the Year for Washington state were Bob & Kaz Barker and Robin & Dave Tempero of the Nelson Road Tree Farm, LLC. They will be hosting a Tour of their Tree Farm on May 21. Also picking up an award for our Chapter was Tom Westergreen who was given the WTFP State Leadership Award. Congratulations to all award winners - well deserved all around.
MEMORIAL DONATIONS – Miriam Ewing
Many thanks to members who donated to our Chapter in memory of Miriam Ewing. Miriam and her husband Bob were active, long-time Chapter members. We received over $600 in donations. The Board decided to use the donations to fund our involvement with this year’s 5th Grade Conservation Tour. One of our Chapter’s purposes is to promote opportunities for youth education in forestry. The Board felt that using these donations was a good match as we try to reach potential, next generation family forest landowners. Thanks to Miriam and her family for asking for donations to our Chapter.
ELECTION RESULTS
The Board of Directors election results are in. The following were re-elected - Herb Barker - President, Jan Vollmer - Vice President and Karen Bellingar - Treasurer. Jim DeWilde was newly elected to a 3-year term on the Board. Welcome Jim and welcome back Herb, Jan and Karen. Your service is appreciated. We still have a Secretary position open and another Board position. If you are interested in either position, please contact Secretary Helen Arntson at xylonia@gmail.com.
MT. BAKER FFA WINS STATE
Congratulations to Mt. Baker FFA students who won the Washington State Championship title in Forestry. Next step is off to the National Championships in the Fall. They have supported the 5th Grade Conservation Tour for many years by individually wrapping a Ponderosa pine to give to each student in attendance. In turn, we have supported them financially in buying needed supplies and helping to support their trips to Nationals - which they have done numerous times. The Board decided at the May meeting to agree to contribute $4,000 towards their trip to Nationals next Fall. We wish them the best of luck.
ANNUAL TREE SALE
With over 300 online orders, we sold a total of 23,406 trees varying among 15 species. Many thanks to those who made a purchase and a HUGE thank you to all the volunteers who made this online sale possible by "shopping" for the purchasers, wrapping and bagging the orders and then delivering the bagged trees to the purchaser's vehicle. Job well done!
Just in case you don't have your trees planted in the ground yet, see the links below for some good information.
- Tree Descriptions - List of seedlings available and information about each tree. Information includes: growth rate, height at 30 years, soil type preference, suggested uses & other characteristics.
- Seedling Planting Guide – small number of seedlings
- Forest Seedling Planting Guide – for larger numbers of seedlings with greater detail.
NOURSE TREE FARM VIDEO
David New of Nourse Tree Farm has been at it again, crafting together a video of all the various visitors they have crossing a bridge on their property. He said there was one particular animal which concerned him with grandkids who love to run around the property. See if you can figure out which animal it was. Click here to enjoy the video.
NEW MEMBERS
We’d like to extend a very warm welcome to new members – Rich & Kathleen Greenbaum of Sumas and Michael Herrick of Seattle. We hope to see you at a future event so you can meet other folks who are interested in tree farming.
Membership Information
Interested in membership in the Washington Farm Forestry Association? Membership with the State Association is required to be a member of the Whatcom County Chapter. Please click on the "Join Today" orange tab at the very top of this webpage on the right side for information about becoming a member.
Website Content
Do you have an event to add to our website or suggestions of potential events we could sponsor as a Chapter? Please send an email to: whatcom@wafarmforestry.com
CHAPTER GOVERNING DOCUMENTS
Governing documents for the Whatcom County Farm Forestry Association consist of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. If you would like to review any of the following documents, please click on the blue words below.