By Larry Mauter
For Lebanon Local
More than 100 volunteers over two days pushed the 24th annual Linn County Small Woodlands Association seedling sale to near-record numbers.
More than 9,000 seedlings were sold Feb. 2 before noon – including about 150 pre-orders that were packaged Feb. 1. Both those figures are near-records.
“It was one of our best years ever,” said Sherm Sallee, a co-founder of the event.
The event at the Linn County Expo provides $5,600 in scholarships annually to both university forestry students and Linn County 4-Hers involved in forestry.
Some 50 volunteers, including local 4H members and forestry students, were on hand Friday, Feb. 1, to set up for the event.
In addition, the event allows LCSWA members and the general public to get quality nursery stock at a good price, said event chairwoman Bonnie Marshall.
Scholarship winners, 4-Hers and their parents along with membership set up and operate the sale.
“I just love seeing the generations come together, with the 4Hers, their parents and our members participating,” said Marshall.
A wide variety of Oregon native plants and shrubs along with conifers make up the sales. Plant varieties have expanded through the years, said Marshall, in her third year leading the event.
Nursery stock this year came from Brooks Farms of Salem, Sevenoaks Native Nursery in Albany, PRT in Cottage Grove and Heritage Nursery in Salem as well as member donations of Douglas fir seedlings.