Winter 2025 Shelton Forest Stewardship Coached Planning

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 forested property. Whatever your values and objectives 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 you can 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

The afternoon class sessions will be 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. February 7 – March 28, 2025. There will be an in-person field trip from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 1, 2025 in the area.

Location

Mason County Public Works Conference Room: 100 W. Public Works Drive, Shelton, WA 98584

Cost and Registration

What’s Included:

• Eight class sessions taught by state and local experts
• A 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 service forester

Cost: $175

Space is limited and is first-come, first-served.

Cancellation requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 24, 2025 to be eligible for a refund.
No refunds will be given after January 24th.