In 1913, Ancutty Tillicum wrote an article for the Island County Times remembering what the Fourth of July celebrations in Coupeville had been like 50 years earlier in 1863. "There were large encampments at Long Point, under the chieftainship of General Pierce". Long Point is the beach projecting...
The University of Washington has created a very comprehensive online digital archive of local historical documents (content.lib.washington.edu). I came across it while searching for "Island County: A World...
This week I completed the full Forest Stewardship Program. Closing night was a fun and rather different format than the rest of the program. The three main instructors led a game of "Jeopartree", hosted by Alex Treebeck. The class split into three groups (we were the Fir Fiends against the Pine...
Our property has naturally occurring rhododendrons sprinkled here and there throughout the entire property, including two very large bushes that happen to frame our chosen driveway entrance. Many flowers are pink salmon colored, with other color varieties as well.
Over the years, forestry sciences have developed a classification system for quickly summarizing the tree growing potential of a site. Sites may differ significantly in soil quality, nutrients, water availability, and environmental conditions, enabling the same seed to grow far stronger and larger...
Soil is the tissue that holds an ecosystem together. Its characteristics determine the types of plants that exist on a property. When combined with water retention levels, compaction, depth of organic layers, and proximity of underlying hard layers, it all combines to form the underlying structure...
Contour maps can be helpful in planning site design, locating roads, being aware of slopes, and more. The helpful forester from the Washington Department of Natural Resources sent a copy of a contour map for my property and the surrounding area. By using Google Earth and walking the property, I...
As part of the Forest Stewardship Program, an interesting wildlife biologist gave us a presentation on wildlife ecology and forest habitat. Quite an interconnected web out there! Forest succession affecting water supply affecting small game affecting large predators affecting food sources affecting...
