Forest products have long been an economic engine for the state. As a state agency charged with public education about the forest sector, it’s one of OFRI’s core competencies to lead a deep dive into the sector’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. In October, OFRI published its assessment of the economic impact of Oregon’s forest sector. Titled “The 2012 Forest Report,” the 200-page study is the most comprehensive look at sector employment and economic impact in nearly a decade. The findings may surprise you...

Well, I wouldn’t recommend it, but there are a lot more products from forests and trees than just wood. Wild forest goods – also known as non-timber forest products – are booming in Oregon forests, thanks to the work of several groups. I had the pleasure of attending a Forest Learning Fair sponsored by the Oregon Woodland Cooperative in September near Brownsville. I was surprised by the number of products: basketry materials, berries, boughs, cones, dyes, essential oils, firewood, floral products, wild honey, moss, mushrooms, nuts, resins, seeds and syrups are all being harvested and marketed by Oregon family woodland owners...

It’s not unusual to see film crews on the street below the OFRI office in downtown Portland. They often use the Historic U.S. Bank Building as a backdrop. But it was a first for us last week when a crew from the TV series “Grimm” came inside our office to shoot a scene taking place across the street. Inspired by the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales, the show “Grimm” is set in Portland because the area reminded the creators of Germany's Black Forest, where many of the original tales take place. “Grimm” tells the story of a Portland homicide detective who discovers that fairy-tale creatures are real – and that he has the power to see them when others usually can't. These creatures include the beaver-like Eisbiber, the wolf-like Blutbaden and the bear-like Jägerbären...

Thanksgiving is this week. Our family, like most families, has plenty of traditions surrounding Thanksgiving. Many of them are food-related – the brining of the turkey, the mashed-potato volcanoes, and the little oddly shaped dish whose only job, it seems, is to hold the green olives. But we’ve created other traditions over the years. One of our most recent is a post-Thanksgiving trip to the Tillamook Forest Center to create our annual holiday wreath...

The other day I was browsing the Oregon “Agripedia” – it’s 90 pages of agricultural statistics. It’s more interesting than it sounds, really. I learned that Oregon is the No. 1 U.S. producer of peppermint, grass seed, blackberries, hazelnuts, Dungeness crab and potted azaleas. And also Christmas trees. Oregon growers sold 6.4 million Christmas trees last year, more than any other state...

Image The rewards – and the work – of being a family forest landowner continue.

Image What is damaging or killing trees on private forest landowners’ properties? 

Image As we wind down 2012, I want to take this opportunit

Image With the turn of the New Year, there are some new resources to help family forest landowners d

Image My wife and I are leaving on vacation soon; we will be someplace warm w

Image Eastsiders like to protest that they are ignored in Portland and Salem, and there

Image Who has patience for hot-air hand dryers?

Image “You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”

Image Stories about old growth preservation and battles over forestry on public lands often make t

Image A pair of reports released

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Image My wife and I recently returned from a vacation in Southea

Image Hiking isn’t just for the sunny days of summer.

Image Up early and ready to go on a r

Image It’s been more than 135 years since J. Sterling Morton originated Arbor Day.