By Larry Mauter
LCSWA member
The NOAA Climate Prediction Center long-range forecast suggests above average rainfall and cooler than average temperatures for Linn County through February — and into the spring.
That’s great news if you are planting trees.
If you are looking for trees, the 30th annual Linn County Small Woodlands Association (LCSWA) seedling sale has them available Saturday Feb. 15 — especially Douglas fir and western red cedar.
The online seedling sale closed Jan. 31, and seedling sale Chairperson Lena Tucker, of Sweet Home, was pleased with results.
Everything has sold very well, she said. Our largest quantities remaining include: grand fir 240, Douglas fir 618 and western red cedar 452.
Customers who pre-ordered products are reminded to pick up stock between 8 and 11 a.m. at the Santiam Building at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E, Albany.
There will be additional trees and shrub seedlings and tree protectors for purchase the day on the event, said Tucker.
Volunteers are the backbone of the event’s ongoing success. The sale provides university scholarships for forestry students as well as stipends for 4-H forestry projects.
Fay Sallee has organized the volunteer force for years. Her husband Sherm started the sale as a way for small woodland owners to get quality stock at a good price.
“At the seedling sale, volunteers are always needed,” Sallee said.
“It takes around 40 people to fill the pre-orders.”
Tucker said the group has a total of 208 orders with an average of 37 items per order for our packing fun next week,” said Tucker.
January net sales were $6,627 in 104 transactions. The biggest order for that period was $1,128 and the top-selling item were Douglas fir, Tucker noted.
An aspect of the annual event — The Local Woods Fair — offers seedling sale customers a chance to browse displays of local woodworkers or check out information from local forestry and conservation groups.