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Walker Creek Ecoforestry

Walker Creek Ecoforestry (WCE) manages 365 acres of mixed age, mixed species forest, comprising two thirds of the Walker Creek watershed, outside Coquille on the southern coast of Oregon. For over 10 years, we have served as an integrated prototype for ecological, social, and sustainable forest management based on resident stewardship. Ecoforestry, the restoration of forest health, guides our practices. Our forest is certified as sustainably managed by Northwest Certified Forestry, who, in turn, is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. A conservation easement, held by Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, protects our land in perpetuity.

Since 2001, WCE has been implementing a forest management plan written by consultant Jerry Becker. The main components of the plan are pruning, thinning, and interplanting. We have been leaving the vast majority of the wood we cut on the forest floor (using the "lop and scatter" technique), to decompose and feed the forest soil food web. This work reduces the fire hazard, increases wildlife habitat, selects for healthier and valuable lumber trees, and speeds up the succession of the forest towards a mature forest ecosystem as it used to be 100 years ago.

This year, we are beginning to implement the commercial aspects of our Ecoforestry plan, including increased marketing (such as production of samples, flyers, and publications). We aim to produce 10-20 MBF of wood products annually for the first few years, and then increase production to 100-200 MBF. We custom cut and process trees of all species that grow here within the limits of our annual growth rate. When we thin, we harvest trees in their prime that are not further improving their lumber quality with age. We then market and sell them as lumber. To keep our costs low, we keep the trees growing in the forest rather than stocking an inventory in storage. We mainly focus on marketing custom value-added products such as flooring, paneling finish trim, and peeled poles. However, we also supply lumber, green or kiln dried, planed or rough cut, as well as saw logs. We cut Douglas Fir, Red Alder, Oregon Myrtle, Western Bigleaf Maple, Port Orford and Western Red Cedar. Our services include product delivery and consultations on Ecoforestry.

Through Mountain Homestead, situated on our land, we also host field trips, workshops, and apprenticeships on forest management and Permaculture design, mushroom cultivation, ecological food production, and natural building. From February 5-12 2011, we are holding an Ecoforestry Course, featuring hands-on thinning, pruning, and selective harvesting, field trips to other ecoforestry operations, discussions and lectures, and guest instructors.

Please contact Chip Boggs and Ish Shalom at walkercreekecoforestry@gmail.com for info and price quotes.