February 27th and March 5th 12 noon – 2pm Cost: $10
Fred’s Homegrown Produce and Pacific County Natural Resources Conservation Service will be finishing a 10 Year Salmon Habitat Restoration project with the planting of native plants along a the stream bed of a newly constructed fish passage to the Naselle River. This project is a continuation of a previous salmon habitat restoration project that turned a half-mile of riverbank into a total of 8 acres of forested habitat in 2006. The project is focused on restoring habitat for salmon, birds and native pollinators. It involves culvert removal and replacement with salmon-friendly culvert systems, replanting native species along an additional 4 acres of interior stream bank, and creating a buffer filtration system for the cattle pasturage enabling production of salmon-safe beef.
The final planting will complete the half mile of newly constructed fish passage, and add another 800+ feet of river frontage to the original 2006 Habitat project. The habitat project creates a spawning area for salmon as they come up the river from the ocean. The fish need areas to lay their eggs where they will be protected from predators and high water velocity when the smolts first hatch. Streams such as this small one that runs through the property provide this type of protection for the fledging fish.
The Farm will be hosting two classes in habitat restoration planting, hedgerow design and site-specific erosion control. The first class on Feb 27th, focused on the upper non-flooding area along steep stream bed slopes, and the second on March 5th covering planting habitat in a flood plain area.
Native area plantings will consist of a multi-canopy design of a mix of coniferous and deciduous tree species including firs, western red cedar, yews, and coast redwood. Also flowering and fruiting shrubs including thimbleberry, red huckleberry, blue elderberry, snowberry, twinberry, serviceberry, spirea, oceanspray, pacific ninebark, and a mix of other understory shrubs. There will also be ground cover and lower story plantings of native strawberries, giant camas, Oregon iris, red columbine and salal.
And there will be Pizza! Farm-made pizza will be served after the class is completed for all participants.
Learn about specific plantings for various soil types, planting strategies, designing habitat for birds, bees and fish and choosing appropriate native species of our region. Learn how to address habitat restoration in your own restoration project!
Classes are $10, start at 12 noon and go until 2 pm, rain or shine – bring your mud boots and raincoat – and stay for a slice of hot farm-fresh pizza to wrap up the day!
All ages are invited, and for anyone who would like to commemorate someone the love, or someone they have lost, come and plant a tree in their memory and honor.
You might be surprised in how good it can make you (and future salmon) feel!
Please call Fred @ 360-484-3345 if you have any questions. Classes will be limited to 20 people per class, with resources available on site.