Jamie Gassner
This past week at Starker Forests has been a whirlwind of excitement, filled with new experiences. It all kicked off on Monday when I had the pleasure of joining Caroline and Kathy for a day dedicated to stocking surveys in the Eddyville area. As we made our way up to our designated unit, we were pleasantly surprised to encounter a herd of elk leisurely grazing on the lush grass, perhaps enjoying a snack of young saplings as well.
A herd of elk grazing among small saplings.
On Tuesday, we began our day with stocking surveys, but it took an exciting turn in the afternoon as all the interns engaged in a hands-on hose lay practice session. Foresters Reece and Stephen orchestrated a valuable training exercise to sharpen our skills in hose lays for firefighting scenarios. Under Stephen’s guidance, my group operated one of our fire engines, pumping water through approximately 600 feet of hose while simulating a real fire situation by spraying water along the way. Following this exercise, we headed down to a nearby pond for a drafting practice session using a volume pump to refill the fire engines utilized during the day.
Wednesday brought an exciting change of scenery as we ventured out with Lys to delve into the world of cruising in big timber. It was a big change after we had spent the last two weeks in clearcuts with trees that are shorter than us most of the time! Under Lys’s expert guidance, we were shown the process of cruising to assess the inventory of the stand. From utilizing a relascope to measure plots and using a laser to gauge tree heights, to assessing live crown percentages and identifying defects, we were exposed to a comprehensive range of tasks. While my prior exposure to these concepts in my classes at OSU provided some foundation, the opportunity to interact with Lys and seek her insights as a seasoned inventory professional added immense value to this hands-on learning experience.
Gus uses a laser to measure tree height as Caroline looks on.
During our cruising expedition, Caroline stumbled upon a deer skull, which she kindly shared with me.
Thursday turned out to be a standout day for me at Starker Forests, as Caroline and I had the privilege of accompanying Stephen on a captivating journey to various tree nurseries responsible for cultivating the seedlings destined for our upcoming planting projects.
Our morning began with a visit to the PRT Hubbard nursery, where we were treated to an insightful tour showcasing the diverse array of seedlings being nurtured for Starker. This included many different species such as Douglas-fir, western white pine, western hemlock, and more. While touring their facility, I learned many new things, but something that stood out to me the most was tree sunscreen. We learned there is a liquid that they can be applied to tree seedlings to protect them from the sun, and to keep them from scorching.
One of the coolest things that I got to see at this facility was their seed sorting machine. They use pressurized air to sort out good seeds from bad. For example, the good seeds are heavier, and they will drop to the bottom chamber. The bad seeds are lighter and get pushed by the air, up and over into another chamber, meant for the bad seeds. I thought this was genius and could save a lot of time than if the seeds were manually sorted.
Hubbard seed sorting machine.
Next, Stephen led us to the JE Schroeder Seed Orchard, an expansive 400-acre site nestled near St. Paul, Oregon. This remarkable seed orchard is dedicated to cultivating four distinct species: Douglas-fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, and Ponderosa pine. As we meandered through the orchard in our vehicle, we had the privilege of witnessing firsthand some of the seed trees diligently producing the essential seeds that will eventually give life to Starker Forests’ future seedlings.
Our last stop was at Fessler Nursery, located in Woodburn. This nursery mainly produces plants, as we walked through their facility buildings, we were surrounded with beautiful house plants and hanging baskets, but when we made it to our destination, we were greeted with trays and trays of Douglas-fir and redwood seedlings. This nursery is exploring a different method of growing tree seedlings, in something called an Ellepot. These specially designed trays are crafted to create the optimal rooting conditions for young plants, ensuring superior air circulation and drainage through strategically placed vertical slits. This innovative system effectively prevents the common issues of root circling and girdling, promoting healthy and robust growth for the tree seedlings.
Ellepots, specially designed trays crafted to create the optimal rooting conditions for young plants.
Wrapping up the week on Friday, we returned to conducting stocking surveys. Throughout the day, Caroline and I successfully completed surveys for two units. During our survey in one of the units, I made a delightful discovery—a natural golden chinquapin thriving within my designated plot.
Overall, it was a fantastic week filled with invaluable learning experiences and thrilling discoveries in the realm of forestry!
— Jamie Gassner