Vashon Forest Stewardship Coached Planning 2024

Wednesday evenings starting February 21st

A forestry class for property owners

Your Land. Your Trees. Your Goals.

Natural beauty, wildlife, ecosystem health, harvest income, family ties, privacy, and peace and quiet are some of the many reasons people value their forestland. Whatever your values are, this comprehensive university-based forestry class will help you get the most out of the land you love. Whether you have just a few wooded acres or a larger forest tract, if you have trees on your property, this class is for you.

Topics covered include:

  • How do you know if your trees are healthy? What should you do if they aren’t?
  • Are characteristics of your property attracting or repelling the wildlife you enjoy? What can you do if wildlife cause damage?
  • Are there certain trees you should always keep or remove? How do you cut trees without damaging your land?
  • What types of trees do you have? Does your forest look like a “mess”?
  • How do you know if your trees need to be thinned, and how do you go about it?
  • How do you identify and mitigate fire risks?
  • Are invasive and noxious weeds taking over your underbrush? What are the risks and what can you do about it?
  • What kind of soil do you have and how does that affect what grows?
  • Can you successfully generate income from harvesting timber? How do you work with loggers?
  • How do you increase biodiversity and foster old growth type forest conditions?

You might save money, too!

As part of this class we will “coach” you in the writing of your own simple forestry plan that may help otherwise qualifying landowners enroll in conservation cost-share grant programs or current use property tax reductions.

When and Where

Dates and Times

Tuesday evening class sessions

The Wednesday evening class sessions will be 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesdays, February 21 – April 17, 2024.

Field Trip

The field trip will be 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2024 at Island Center Forest.

Location

Wednesday evening sessions will be held at the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust Building, 10014 SW Bank Rd, Vashon, WA 98070. Driving directions.

Cost and Registration

What’s Included:

  • Nine evening class sessions taught by state and local experts
  • A Saturday field trip
  • A digital library of reference materials and how-to guides
  • A copy of the book Native Trees of Western Washington
  • A consultation site visit to your property from a state or county service forester

Cost

The registration fee is $175. Registration covers up to two adults from the same household/ownership. If registering as a couple, only do one registration for the both of you – do not do two separate registrations. Youth under 18 are welcome and may attend at no additional cost.

Registration

The registration process includes required short questionnaire. If you have forested property, please make sure you have your property information ready before you start the registration process, including acreage and county parcel number(s).

Register online

Register online via Eventbrite. Online registrations are subject to a non-refundable credit card processing fee. Online registration will be open until 5:00 p.m. February 16, 2024.

Register by mail

Mail-in registrations must be received by 5:00 p.m. February 16, 2024. Download the mail-in registration form (PDF). This fillable PDF form is an accessible document. Fill it out on your computer and then print it out and mail it in with a check made out to “Washington State University Extension” to:

WSU Extension Forestry
Attn: Vashon Coached Planning Registration
6705 Puget Park Dr
Snohomish, WA 98296

Note: to fill out the mail-in registration form, we recommend that you right-click the download button and select “Save link as” to save the PDF file, and then open it in Adobe Acrobat or the free Adobe Reader rather than viewing it within your web browser. The form functions may not work when viewed in a browser window.

Acknowledgements and Accommodations

This program is an educational partnership between Washington State University Extension Forestry and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. This Program is made possible in part by funding from King Conservation District. In-kind support provided by, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks and the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust.

Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Sarah Stewart at sarah.stewart1@wsu.edu or 425-738-0103 at least three weeks prior to the event

Course Handouts

Visit the Vashon Coached Planning Handouts page to download copies of course handouts and presentation slides. A password will be provided in class to access this page.