OSU Extension Forestry Shortcourse

Have you ever wanted to learn to become a better gardener, manage your land or can pickles? The OSU Extension programs offer information on all things related to using and managing natural resources.

One of the best resources for people who need help or want to learn how to use and manage their natural resources like home gardens and woodlands is the OSU Extension Service and there are offices in most counties.  Extension's goal is to improve the lives of Oregonians, to provide researched-based information so that people can enrich their homes, land and communities.  Extension offers classes, publications and can direct you to resources for on-site help

A great example of the classes they offer, the Albany OSU Extension Office recently held a forestry class for woodland owners called Woodland Management: a basic forestry shortcourse.  Brad Woodrow Wilson, the Extension forester for Linn, Benton and Marion counties, taught the course which was a survey class and designed to give the owners of forestland the basic information, terminology and resources so that they may manage their land.

Brad Woodrow Wilson and Lee Grand identify possible
diseases from examples that Grand brought in from
his property.

"This is a survey course and as much as I would love to answer every question about each property, I can't.  After this class, they will know the questions to ask, who to ask and what resources to reach out to," said Brad Woodrow Wilson, Extension forester.

The forestry shortcourse covers identifying trees and plant species, setting goals and objectives for your land, learning how to keep your forest healthy to avoid disease and pests and how to manage your property to obtain forest health and your objectives.  Each owner has their own thoughts and ideas on what they want to achieve with their property aesthetically and economically.

The class held on Wednesday nights throughout April, 2013.

"Live and let live. It comes down to what objectives you have for your land," said Matt O'Neil one of the attendees of the course who manages 300 acres of forestland.

Woodrow Wilson who is an Extension forester hosted the course and guided the class in discussions based on the materials he has provided through the course.  His open and friendly approach made the three hour class interesting and informative.  It was a very social class and attendees  enjoy the friendly environment as well as the benefits of what was being taught.

"Our property was ignored for over 25 years by the previous owner.  We have had it for three yeas and have no idea what to do with it, where to start," said Cheri Allen, a class member and woodland owner who has 176 acres out in the Five Rivers area east of Toledo.

Class members discussed the major issues like pest management, disease control, thinning and harvesting with one another, Master Woodland Managers and Woodrow Wilson.  Each member and property had unique situations that were often shared among members in the classes.  It was soon discovered that one of the best resources in the class were each other.  Members in the class had properties that range in size from four acres to 300 plus acres, from a few trees to fully forested, urban and rural, and all over Benton and Linn counties.

Mike Albrecht, a Master Woodland Manager and Roger Bain
discuss how to manage invasive species on Bain's land.  

After members finish the course the biggest goal Woodrow Wilson wanted them to learn was to know their resources to be able to pursue the individual goals that were set in the class.  He also made sure that everyone knew the basics and the buzz words in forestry.  Finally, the class members attended an all day field trip out to a small woodlands property and had a tour of the property and learned how it was managed.

If interested in any of the services that OSU Extension offers, the best resource is Extension Service's website.  The website provides news and articles; information on the programs that are offered, a calendar of local events and a catalog of available publications.

At a Glance:
Who is OSU Extension Service:  Extension has detailed programs that help individuals seeking to learn how to use and manage their homes and lives.  Key programs that are currently being offered are: 4H; agriculture and natural resources; family and community health; forestry and natural resources; Sea Grant; and communications from the Extension and experiment stations.