Urban Forestry

Join Home Orchard Society for the 41st Annual Fruit Propagation Fair!

Sunday March 20th, 10am - 4pm
Clackamas County Fairgrounds - 694 NE 4th Ave, Canby, OR

This event will be held at the main pavilion at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. In a few short hours, we'll sell hundreds of rootstocks, give away thousands of scions, graft untold numbers of trees, complete our Make-A-Tree orders, and help lots of folks launch into the pleasure of growing good fruit at home!

Free with entry - hundreds of varieties of scions!
Arrive early for best selection of apple, pear, cherry, plum, persimmon, and peach scions!
Free cuttings: grapes, kiwis, and several varieties of berry bushes!
Rootstocks & plants for sale!
HOS experts will answer your fruit growing questions!
Mason bee supplies (we'll have empty tubes and a limited number of clean cocoons - boxes of 20 for $25, we will not have tubes of dormant bees as in years past)
Plus ... custom grafting, fruit tree growing publications, door prizes, & more!

Admission:

- $5 for members (family $10)

- $7 for non-members (family $12)

- Free if you join HOS at this show!

If you would like to volunteer for the show, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator for this event, Jacqueline Freeman, at friendlyhaven@gmail.com. If you volunteer, your admission fee will be waived.

Bark Grafting
Saturday April 2nd, 10am - 1pm
NE Portland, Woodlawn neighborhood
 

In this hands-on workshop you will learn the basic techniques of bark grafting (topworking). This method of grafting will allow you to combine different varieties and species of fruit into a single tree during the Spring season. This fun workshop will be an opportunity for you to gain a basic understanding of different grafting methods and when they should be used.

<<Click here to register now>>

About the instructor:

Rick Shory has always worked with plants. In addition to gardening, he has grown and pruned fruit trees, including over 30 years experience grafting. In 2010, he returned to the Pacific Northwest after ten years in Colorado, where he worked in environmental field research and had a home orchard and permaculture. His botanical specialization is grasses.

 The location address and other details will be provided after you register.

<<Click here to register now>>

Each year the Columbia Slough Watershed Council hosts dozens of educational paddling events that expose adults and children to the wonders of the Columbia Slough. We're seeking novice to advanced paddlers who would like to volunteer to assist with our Twilight Paddles, Slough School kids' paddles and our summer festivals. Orientation Part 1 will focus on the logistical aspects of this volunteer team. Orientation Part 2 will include on-water skill building. Volunteers must attend each session.

Scheduling is flexible. Volunteers are expected to commit to 1-2 programs per month over the paddle season (May through August) with the option to continue with Fall programming. Before orientation, volunteers complete a short, informal interview with the Council's Volunteer Coordinator.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
*    Assist staff members with canoe and kayak-based educational and recreational activities
*    Monitor and lead volunteers in the paddling area at events
*    Facilitate safe, inclusive on-water activities with kids and adults
*    Perform routine maintenance on boats and paddling equipment 

Minimum Qualifications
*    Novice to advanced canoeing and kayaking skills
*    Strong communication, teamwork and leadership skills
*    Able to work in variable outdoor conditions, sometimes cold and/or rainy and dark
*    Able to take direction and initiative, provide leadership when needed
*    Comfortable working with children and adults
*    Able to lift 30 pounds overhead

To apply
Please send a brief letter of interest to Hanna Davis at Hanna.Davis@columbiaslough.org describing your experience and interest or call (503) 281-1132 to schedule a time to speak over the phone.

Learn about the nature and culture of your local area while making friends and getting outdoors! Join us for a fun and engaging four-day naturalist training to explore topics in wildlife, history, and Chinookan Culture.

Be the friendly guide that connects people of all ages and backgrounds to the land. Work with us this spring and summer on projects with the public, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to the outdoors while enjoying a unique natural area.

No experience needed! Volunteers do the following and more...

• Exploring trails with students during field trips
• Welcoming and orienting visitors to two Refuges in the area
• Connecting people to local culture in the Plankhouse
• Engaging people in learning during special events

We will meet four Fridays in April at both Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (Ridgefield, WA) and at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Washougal, WA). Training is 10 am to 3 pm on April 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th.

Contact Park Ranger Josie Finley at 360-887-4106 or by email at Josie_Finley@fws.gov to learn more about this training series and other ways you can get involved.

The Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) and the European Gypsy Moth are recognized threats for Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. We can protect our trees if we act fast, are vigilant, and on the lookout for this pest.

The Oregon Forest Pest Detector program is now offering three education opportunities in spring 2016 for community members and OFPD program graduates. The AGM training program consists of: (1) one online learning module on AGM and EGM(link below), and (2) a two-hour field workshop at St Johns Community Center in North Portland.

Together, the online training and workshop will familiarize you with the history, life cycle, and pest management/control of EGM and AGM; and how you can help by surveying for egg masses and pupal cases at home or at work.

AGM Workshop dates: February 26th, February 27th, and March 4th. Choose one date. Each workshop goes from 10-noon, and is free.

Register for this training, and other upcoming OFPD trainings at:
http://pestdetector.forestry.oregonstate.edu/programs/asian-gypsy-moth