Embedded Files
Summer 2023
Cyber Awareness Training
Christian will be hosting a workshop on how to protect yourself and your family online. He'll cover a wide range of cyber awareness topics including password best practices and how to identify and avoid social engineering attacks.
Click here to join the meeting on November 4, 2023 from 4PM-5PM (Pacific Time) on Microsoft Teams.
BIGGEST CAMP EASTER EVER
In July, the farm hosted the biggest Camp Easter in history with 30 people at the height of the week. It was awesome to see the kid pack roving through the woods, followed closely by the dog pack. Meanwhile their parents reminsiced on their own summers on the hill. Mark your calendar for the first couple weeks of July next summer!
August Work Party Success
Thank you Blaed, Ken, and Linda for joining the August work party. Together, they cut back and removed trees and brush that surrounded the cross barn. It's important winter prep so heavy branches don't block the snow from sliding off the roof. We'll plant rhodedenron and ferns to stabilize the steep banks.
The next work party is on September 9th where we'll be focusing on cleaning out and placing rocks around culverts. We'll also be removing hazard brush around buildings and over the road.
We installed a new frost free faucet at the main spigot. Blaed needed to get rid of rocks he dug from his yard, so we used them to create a barrier around the faucet for added protection. Thanks Blaed!
Also in August, we hired Smiley's Tree Service out of Yacolt to fall several Hemlocks that were hazardous and could potentially fall on structures. Over two days, they took out four total trees: 3 near Cheryle's house and 1 above the cross barn.
As part of the deal with the tree service, we sold the Beastly Chipper to Smiley, the tree climber. He'll find much more regular use of it in his work and was happy to work it into the deal.
Meeting with the Forester
By River Easter
In July, we had a productive meeting with MacKenna Milosovich, a Forester from the WA Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The purpose of our meeting was to collaborate on the development of a comprehensive long-term Forest Plan. We walked the property to assess stands, evaluate current conditions, define desired conditions, identify opportunities, and assess potential threats.
With her help and use of the timber cruise data from the appraisal, we will have a Forest Plan that gives us a comprehensive outlook for determining management practices that align with our goals and a sustained yield plan. One significant advantage of this plan is that it positions us to secure funding from both state and federal sources.
Tie Pond Timber Craft
As we look to the future, we would like to share more about how things work on the farm with the whole family. Specifically, we'll be dedicating time in the regular work parties to teach important skills and empower everyone to participate as stewards of the tree farm. Look forward to more information on these education opportunities .
SEPTEMBER TOPICS:
Using the Pole Saw & Building Water Bars
A Year without Grandpa
By Blaed Easter
September 19th will be the 1-year anniversary since the founder of the tree farm, our dear Grandpa, Dick Easter, passed along to the afterlife. I was on a vacation out of the country when he died, but I was fortunate that Hailey and I visited him only a couple of weeks before. At the time of this last visit he seemed like his “new normal” self, which developed after suffering a stroke a few years prior. We walked into the grandparents house to sit down for a visit with him and Grandma. He was struggling to get some sort of a container open, if memory serves me. I don’t remember his exact phrasing, but the conversation started with something like, “Blaed, getting old sucks” in a dry humor delivery. He seemed to have a special connection with Hailey and called her, “twinkle toes.” Overall, he seemed fine though, and I figured we’d see him in not too long on our next regular visit up on the hill. I sure miss him a lot every day, but I’m probably most sad that Hailey and Jamie will not know him as well as I got to. I feel pretty lucky that I was able to spend so many years visiting, doing projects around the tree farm with him, and being able to go to him for guidance and advice. Not too many people are lucky enough to have both of their Grandparents around into their late thirties. This tree farm was his passion, and his life long project. I think its future is looking promising as ever as a lot of his hard work is continually evolving into a prosperous endeavor.
Artist Spotlight
Acrylic & Pen by Clyde Edwards
Birthdays
Josephine 7/3
Josh 7/12
Tasha 7/28
Odin 8/1
Ken 8/10
Avery 8/23
Clark 8/31
Adam 9/7
Payton 9/10
Jackie 9/11
Cooper 9/16
River 9/17
Lori 9/19
Camp Easter
By Cedar Smith
Camp Easter 2023,started small: Meera, Heath, Sky, and me. Waking early to chop and stack wood before the sun drove us away,this year we paused for an afternoon matinee. We’d head to the bridge for rope swinging fun, when the sun started to cool we’d get the rest of the wood done. Every day more campers arrived,Erin came after her 3-day bike ride! The Touts in their camper overlooking the pasture,waking to coyotes howling and in what sounded to be disaster. Morgan, Jasen and Josephine in the Princess Room,crescendoing up to the Camp Easter Boom!The older cousins who used to climb tractors, run wild, and play;now all adults, pitching tents and watching our littles soak up the day.Evening dinners always feed the whole crew,hiking the trails when we are through.Gathering with Grandma and Aunties as the sun goes downsoaking up the mountain air and stillness that you can't get in town. Berry picking, canoeing, barbie car fun.Camp Easter continues with another generation!
Do you have information or ideas for the next newsletter? Send us your thoughts!
Google Sites
Report abuse