Forest Owners Winter School slated at Spokane Community College
About the event
Family owners of private forestland in Washington will have the opportunity to learn how to keep their forests safe and healthy at the Forest Owners Winter School. Some 215,000 families in Washington own more than half of the state’s private working forestland.
The WSU Spokane County Extension educational event will be held on Saturday, February 09, at Spokane Community College. Gates will open at 8 a.m. and presentations will begin at 9 a.m.
Participants will be able to attend up to six different expert presentations, choosing from more than a dozen topics. Among the topics being offered are forest health, common tree and shrub identification, advice for landowners before logging, livestock grazing forages, toxic plants, wildlife habitat, Big game, songbirds, chainsaw safety and maintenance, common forest insect and diseases, growing and tending forests, protecting your home and forest from fire, and thinning and pruning trees. See a portable sawmill demonstrated and ask questions of the experts. Discuss mechanical thinning and brush disposal for reducing wildfire hazard. Owners of forestland located in Eastern Washington and absentee owners living in the Puget Sound area are especially encouraged to attend.
There will be a resource area featuring equipment exhibitors, vendors, and public, private, and nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to landowners. Come speak to consulting foresters and agency service foresters and get your questions answered. Make arrangements to have a forester or wildlife biologist take a walk in the woods on your own property. Refreshments will be available.
Advance registration received by February 4 is $30 per person and $40 per family. Registration after Feb. 4 and the door is $40 per person and $50 per family. Box lunches will be available for an additional $10 each, and must be pre-purchased by Feb. 4.
The registration form and additional information are available at http://forestry.wsu.edu or by contacting WSU Extension at 509-667-6540.