Signs of Sustainable Forest Stewards

We have been honored in recent years with two certifications for sustainable forest stewardship. So we have two signs we're very proud of, that we plan to post in a few years, after the heavy work on our property subsides.

The "Stewardship Forest" sign on the left was awarded to us in 2007 after we completed a 9-week course offered by the Washington State University Forestry Extension. The culmination of that course was a Forest Stewardship Plan, approved and signed by our Washington Department of Natural Resources forester. Andy Perleberg of WSU, and John Keller of DNR, led the instruction. (We went on to complete the Advanced Stewardship Course with lead instructor Kevin Zobrist of WSU.)

The "Family Forest" sign on the right indicates that our property has been certified as a sustainable forest by the American Forest Foundation (AFF) American Tree Farm System (ATFS). Wood products from an ATFS certified forest are stamped so the end user knows the wood was grown and harvested sustainably. Andy Perleberg at WSU oversaw the process of applying for certification in 2009. Having a written management plan was a prerequisite.

Rather than risk having the signs damaged by heavy equipment or falling trees, we'll keep them in a safe place for now. This is a web exclusive sneak preview for our blog readers.