Certified with American Tree Farm Systems since 1955, Coburg Tree farm is the 9th oldest consecutively certified tree farm in Washington State. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range in Washington State, Coburg Tree Farm is
currently under the stewardship of the Townsend brothers, Steve, David, Carl, and Keith. The
Tree Farm began as the intergenerational dream of our grandfather, Robert “G
rampa” Wise. Following his service in WWI, Grampa traveled to Wapato, Washington, to pick peaches for his
uncle. An Iowa born man, the tallest
thing he had ever seen was a stalk of corn. He was amazed of the beauty of the west side of
the Cascades, the mountains and, oh the trees! He enrolled and graduated from the University
of Washington, married, established a business, and raised a family. All the while, dreaming
and admiring the trees and forests of the Pacific Northwest. In 1954 his dream became a reality when he purchased 160 acres in the names of grandsons
Steve and David (Carl and Keith were not born yet.) In 1955, he purchased for himself an
adjacent parcel of 120 acres. Certified by American Tree Farm System, he named the property
“Coburg” after the German town from which his grandfather emigrated. Our Tree Farm is the
9th oldest certified tree farm in the Washington Tree Farm Program. Grampa actively managed
the 280 acres until his death in 1966, when his daughter, Lane, (our mother) inherited his
parcel. She and our father, Ivan, became second generation tree farmers and managed the
property until 1992 when the two parcels were merged, and the current family partnership was
formed. Our wives, Kay, Jan, Jennine, and Yvonne along with family members of the fourth and
fifth generations are actively involved in the operations. Grampa’s goal was a forest full of Douglas fir trees. The property had been logged in 1919 and
a forest fire ravaged the area in 1924, so the naturally reseeded and unmanaged trees were less
than 30 years old when he began his work. One of his goals was to produce premium clear
grain timber that would be used for plywood. He had most of the trees pruned to a height of
18’. He thinned crowded stands, fertilized other areas, and cut and girdled Red alder. When
Steve and Dave were young boys Grampa taught them how to girdle the unwanted Red alder
with a machete. Today, Coburg Tree Farm is sustainably managed forest land. Our Timber Management Plan
identifies 13 management units. Each unit averages 20 acres and are managed independently
based upon timber types, timber ages, soil type and condition, water presence, invasive
species, and other environmental considerations. Although processes have evolved over the
years, typically after a unit is harvested, we plant trees, provide deer and elk browse control,
pre-commercially thin, prune to a height of eight feet, do two commercial thinning operations
before an ultimate final harvest at 75 to 90 years old. Each management unit is given a name
after planting. For instance, the Rainier Plantation had a marvelous view of Mt. Rainier after it
was harvested. The Windthrown Plantation was harvested after a freak windstorm blew down
hundreds of trees. Sometimes we have to adapt our forest management plan to accommodate
Mother Nature! By the time each management unit has been harvested, the first unit, the ’76
Plantation, will be ready for harvest and replanting, creating a truly sustainable forest. One challenge tree farming presents is knowledge. Education, and networking with
organizations such as the American Tree Farm System, Washington Tree Farm Program,
Department of Natural Resources, and Washington Farm Forestry has provided invaluable
insight to managing different situations. As with any organization, the more you put in to it, the
more you get out of it. Dave served as President of the Pierce County Chapter of Washington
Farm Forestry Association for ten years. Steve, Kay, and Dave currently serve on the WFFA
Board, and Keith & Yvonne serve as Co-Vice Chairs of the Washington Tree Farm Program. Countless articles have been written for a variety of forestry publications. We hold tours of our
property for fellow tree farmers, and we enjoy the camaraderie that comes from experiences
and shared knowledge. Another challenge is deer and elk browsing on seedlings. Overcoming this challenge has been
an evolution and an education. After Mom & Dad planted 16 acres of Douglas fir, the deer and
elk enjoyed the new growth on the seedlings. To thwart the browsing, they hand-cut drafting
vellum into small tubes and stapled them to the leaders of each tree. Each year, the tubes
needed to be moved up, until the trees were out of browsing danger. In the next plantation we
used 3’ tall Vexar rigid seedling protector tubes or “nets”, held in place with one bamboo stake. In following plantations taller nets were used and we learned they required two bamboo
stakes. Each year, the plantation needs to have nets straightened to make sure the tops of the
trees grow straight up, and not out the side of the net. This version of “networking in the field”
is very labor intensive. Following a harvest in 2018, half of the 20 acre unit was planted with
Douglas fir with 48” nets, secured with two bamboo stakes. The other half was pair-planted
with Douglas fir and Sitka spruce; two trees in the same hole. The two trees grow at about the
same rate, and the sharp needles of the spruce deter the deer and elk from browsing. It only
takes a few pokes in the snout for them to learn that these trees are not to be browsed upon. So, education is not only for us, but for the deer and elk, too! The pair planted trees are
maintenance-free for the first four or five years, until the spruce is cut at the ground level. We
are working with Washington State University to prepare a report on which seedling protection
method is more effective and efficient. We like to think of trees planted with nets as “caged”
and pair-planted trees as “free-range.” Commemorating the harvest of 1919 and the planting in
2019, this unit was named the Centennial Plantation. Our goals for the tree farm are many, but the four tenets of the American Tree Farm System are
the basis for our success: 1) To conserve the forested nature of the property while practicing
sustainable forestry practices; 2) to enhance and foster a variety of wildlife habitats; 3) to
ensure and protect the cleanliness of the creek which runs through the property, and 4) foster
strong family ties and relations with friends and neighbors through recreational and
educational activities. Running through the property is Krones Creek, a type “F” stream. First identified on a map
from 1893, protection of the creek has included replacement of a fish-blocking culvert through
the Family Forest Fish Passage Program (FFFPP) and the establishment of a conservation
easement through the Forest Riparian Easement Program (FREP). Tree Farmers of the third, fourth, and fifth generations live in seven different states across the
country, which can make scheduling a work party a challenge! Consequently, many large scale
tasks are contracted out to professionals. However, each summer we have family reunion that
has been a tradition for more than 50 years. All generations enjoy the family gathering and
salmon cooked over alder coals! Recently we asked our 96 year old mother what came to mind when we say tree farm. Her
response was immediate. With happiness and radiance in her face, she replied, “Family!” The
generations of our family work together to grow trees that produce fine quality timber. But we
don’t just grow trees, we grow family. We think Grampa would be proud. You have to bake your own cake, but the tree farm can put frosting on it.
