A Washington Cohousing Project Could Help Preserve Farmland

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by Lena Beck

It’s a rare sunny day in January, and about a dozen people gather on a farm in Snohomish County, Washington. The farmer, Brett Aiello of Reconnecting Roots Farm, wants to suppress the weeds around some newly planted fruit trees without disturbing the soil, and he’s enlisted some help.

The people in the field work together to sheet mulch the patch of land — some lay sections of clean cardboard, others cart wheelbarrows of bark chips across the field, carefully layering the chips onto the old boxes… Boehnlein says they’ve worked extensively with the Snohomish Conservation District. In one instance, the Snohomish Conservation District received a grant to explore agroforestry as a solution to farming wet ground.

Read the story on Modern Farmer.

Portland-based organization to receive $1.9 million to help underserved forest landowners in WA, OR access climate markets

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The Forest Service announced it will award more than $1.9 million to Bonneville Environmental Foundation to help connect underserved and small acreage landowners to emerging climate markets.

This funded project will expand the foundation’s Carbon Credit Regional Operator Program, which provides local forest restoration partners with tools and training to reach small-acreage forest landowners and support their access to voluntary carbon markets.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation and collaborators will recruit new implementation partners, perform focused outreach to landowners, and develop landowner payment structures.

Key partners include Snohomish Conservation District, Spokane Conservation District, Trout Unlimited, Whatcom Conservation District, Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council, Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, City Forest Credits, and Upstream Tech.

Read the announcement on the USDA Forest Service website.

Countywide wildfire survey will be backbone of ideas to reduce life, safety risks

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As wildfire risks in Western Washington increase, Snohomish County officials are developing a county-wide protection plan. 

The county is surveying residents to provide information about the area’s preparedness that will be used to develop the plan. The survey went live in early August and will be available until mid-November. Fire districts, as well as cities, community organizations, the Snohomish Conservation District, the forest service and the state Department of Natural Resources are participating in the planning effort.

Read the article at the Snohomish County Tribune.

Everett plans to add 3,000 trees, which residents can receive for free

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More trees, please! A recently launched program in Everett aims to add 3,000 trees around parts of the city, and they’re free to anyone who wants one. People and property owners in seven neighborhood areas can request a free tree from the Snohomish Conservation District.

Read the article by the Snohomish County Tribune.

Live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss and surrounded by azaleas make for a charming spring walk in Charleston, South Carolina. Shutterstock

Native plants at great prices at Snohomish Conservation District’s annual sale

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The beloved, much-anticipated Snohomish Conservation District’s Annual Plant Sale offers low cost, high quality native plants for pre-order online through Feb. 9.

The sale is open to all, not just Snohomish County residents, according to a news release.

“This a great way to get native species out there at a low cost,” says plant sale lead Summer Daugherty. “Last year we had 1,430 orders and we’re already at 1,500 orders. We increased our stock by 15% this year to meet demand.”

Read the article by My Edmonds News.

Lynnwood awarded $1.3 million federal grant to revitalize urban forests

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Lynnwood awarded $1.3 million federal grant to revitalize urban forests

The City of Lynnwood is receiving $1,308,198 of the Urban and Community Forest Grant for its South Lynnwood Urban Forestry & Stewardship Program. Overall, municipalities in Washington state were awarded a total of $36,365,854 in funding from the grant for 2023. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service awarded more than $1 billion in competitive grants this fall to plant and maintain trees, combat extreme heat and climate change and improve access to nature.

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Millions of dollars for ‘tree equity’ head to Snohomish County

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Millions of dollars for ‘tree equity’ head to Snohomish County

Thousands of trees are coming to urban areas in western Snohomish County.

“We’re doing 100% underrepresented communities,” said Linda Lyshall, the executive director of the Snohomish Conservation District. “We really wanted to address that tree equity concern, where you have urban areas where there’s just no greenery.”

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