Applegater Spring 2018 1 Applegate Valley Community Newspaper, Inc. PO Box 14 Jacksonville, OR 97530

Photo by Linda Kappen applegater.org SPRING 2018 Applegate Valley Community Newsmagazine Volume 11, No. 1 Serving Jackson and Josephine Counties — Circulation: 11,000 AVFD honors its own at Cantrall Buckley Park annual awards event Golden Jubilee Coming this summer! Join the Applegate Valley community in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Cantrall Buckley Park, which officially opened on July 14, 1968. When: Saturday, July 14, 2018, 11 am to 7 pm Where: Cantrall Buckley Park, 154 Cantrall Road, Ruch The whole park is reserved for the day. How: Concerts, exhibits, food, spirits, and much more! The event will emphasize our Applegate community and its history. We are soliciting the participation of local businesses and organizations. At the annual Applegate Valley Fire District awards ceremony and dinner on February 2, the Firefighter of the Year award (photo, above left) was presented Contact Tom Carstens, event coordinator, at 541-846-1025 or to Julian Ramirez (left) by Battalion Chief Cody Goodnough. Volunteer of the [email protected] (subject line: Golden Jubilee). Year award (photo, above right) went to Tim Ryan (left), with Operations Chief Ditto if you’d like to help with planning! Chris Wolfard presenting. For a list of additional awards, see page 22. Photos For more information, visit gacdc.org and courtesy of Rob Underwood. the calendar on applegateconnect.org. See AVFD AWARDS, page 22 The next generation of A historic moment for philanthropists is already A Greater Applegate doing good works BY SETH KAPLAN

BY DIANA COOGLE February 1 marked a historic turning Cantrall Buckley Park, but it has remained point for A Greater Applegate (formerly committed to community visioning and The meeting room of GACDC), as the organization handed launching new projects. Below are some the Josephine County back operational control of Cantrall of the key projects and strategies we are Foundation (JCF) at Hidden Buckley Park to Jackson County Parks undertaking. Valley High School (HVHS) and launched the new Applegate Valley While A Greater Applegate will no is a bit of a mess. Cardboard Connect community website. These and longer be operating the park, we remain boxes tumble along two other developments align with our new committed to its improvement. The new walls. The meeting table mission: “To sustain and enhance the Park Enhancement Committee, chaired by seems incidental. The focus communal, environmental, and economic Janis Mohr-Tipton, will benefit from about is on action. vitality of the Applegate Valley.” It’s a big $120,000 in recent grants to take on some The action signified by mission, but it also takes us back to the wonderful new projects. We will partner this mess is the Guatemala original vision of the founders of GACDC with the county to install solar panels, a Project—donations of of “Sustaining Vitality in the Applegate.” sundial, and an educational kiosk. We also lightly used school supplies We want to acknowledge and thank will be providing public art, pollinator (binders, notebooks) Treasurer Larry Anderson and long-time gardens, benches, educational programs packaged by JCF volunteers Promoting the Healthy Food Festival are JCF members, from member Lynn Funk, who resigned from for students, and more. for shipment to Guatemala left to right, Shaley Petropoulos, North Valley High School; the board at the end of 2017, as did Park The new Applegate Valley Connect at later in the month. Milo Dolantree, Hidden Valley High School; Cheyanne Dodge, Committee Chair Tom Carstens. Tom will applegateconnect.org is a free open-source The Guatemala Project North Valley HS; and Aria Back, Hidden Valley HS. stick around to lead the 50th anniversary website for Applegate Valley businesses, represents the desire to celebration of the park on Saturday, July nonprofits, and others to share all the great “make a difference,” the founding principle in 2011 with the vision of vibrancy, 14. All these community leaders will be events, activities, resources, and services of JCF. Under the leadership of HVHS health, education, and prosperity for every missed, although, in this valley, no one is across our valley. Committee chair, Barbara teachers Chris Pendleton (now JCF’s individual in Josephine County. Like the ever too far away to ask for help! Holiday, and our consultant, Community executive director and board treasurer) boxes overflowing with school supplies For more than two decades, GACDC/A Systems, LLC, have led this effort. Register and Dale Fisher, students founded JCF See PHILANTHROPISTS, page 22 Greater Applegate focused on maintaining See A GREATER APPLEGATE, page 7

Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID Permit #125 Medford OR Local Postal Customer ECRWSSEDDM 2 Spring 2018 Applegater

OBITUARY Arthur Coulton February 13, 1938 - January 20, 2018

My very dear friend the internet and learned and neighbor, Arthur new tricks, almost Coulton, died on immediately finding Saturday, January 20. Kristi, a Wisconsinite. His wife, Kristi Cowles, Love blossomed, and, in and his community of October 2007, Kristi sold close friends gathered her bed-and-breakfast in to pay their respects and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, assist in his burial on the and moved to the mountainside above his Applegate. During their home next to his beloved first year together, Kristi deceased wife, Linda. surprisingly “took to the Arthur was born in shoe shop,” becoming Land Steward students learn about trees and forestry during a field-based class. Toronto, Canada, on a welcome addition to February 13, 1938, Country Spirits. into a large, close-knit In the last months Living on Your Land 2018 Latvian Jewish family. of Art’s life, as things When Arthur was 13, became difficult, their BY JACK DUGGAN his parents moved their community came immediate family to Palm Springs, together to care for both of them. Praise More than 100 years ago the Agricultural (RCC) campus on Saturday, April 14, California. After a number of years living is due to all those whose selfless efforts Extension system was created to spread the 2018. The Land Steward Program has in southern California, where his children helped to comfort these two elder hippies knowledge of land-grant colleges to rural partnered with the Rogue River Watershed were born, Art moved to the Rogue Valley through that time. farms, helping to improve food production. Council to offer a selection of classes on with his second wife, Linda. They started a Because of my own efforts in assisting Soon farmers’ wives wanted to share in the How Streams Work, Riparian Restoration, leatherworking business, Country Spirits, Art and Kristi, a good friend referred to knowledge, learning how to process those Water Rights, Fish Biology, Water Quality, with a primary focus on handmade shoes, me as “a true mensch.” I do aspire to be crops into food for the table. Children Rainwater, and Springs. The ever-popular sandals, and boots. They also designed and such a person, but I mentored with the one joined in with the establishment of 4-H. Funding Panel will return with a host of created handbags, belts, pouches, and other who personified that description—Arthur Today the Southern Oregon Research and agencies sharing how you can get help to leather goods, and marketed their products Coulton, a true mensch (“someone to Extension Center (SOREC) offers a wide accomplish tasks on your land. at fairs throughout the western states admire and emulate, someone of noble range of affordable learning—covering Classes on geology, irrigation, native for many years. Arthur and Linda were character, someone with rectitude, dignity, topics like farms, orchards, livestock, plants, dehydrating food, citizen science, juried artists at the Oregon Country Fair and a sense of what is right, responsible, forests, food preservation, and gardening. fire ecology, weeds, tree diseases and beginning in 1978 and were well-known and decorous”). In 2009 the local extension began insects, weed management, and fruit trees throughout that venue. Local people who Arthur is survived by his loving offering a holistic program to guide are also included. own their products may still remember Art wife, Kristi, a brother, three sons, six people in managing their land to achieve There will also be a panel on Neighbors, and Linda 20 years from now because the grandchildren, and a host of Canadian environmental and personal goals. The the Good, the Bad, the Legal. Panelists craftsmanship they put into their shoes cousins. This quote from his son speaks 11-week Land Steward Program covers include a real estate broker, a landowner, ensured that they would last a very long volumes: “My dad always viewed the world everything from pastures to forests, law enforcement, and others who deal with time. Art often joked that his products had as what it could be, not what it is, and wildlife, fire, water, and more. Each neighbor issues. a lifetime guarantee: his lifetime! sought to live his life in a way that exhibited year the programs fills up with some 35 Informational materials and a complete In 1984, Arthur and Linda moved those values. His wisdom, perspective, and students. list of classes, with descriptions, are still into a yurt on their property on Humbug insight will be sorely missed.” But not everyone can afford the time being developed as the Applegater goes to Creek, quickly establishing themselves Arthur lives on in our hearts and minds to take this program, so in 2011 the Land press, but you can get on the list to receive deep in the Applegate community while and on our feet, so comfortable in our Steward Program started offering a one-day a mailed brochure by calling SOREC at building their home and leather shop. Country Spirit shoes. conference, Living on Your Land, covering 541-776-7371. Registration will be online When Linda died of cancer in 2006, Art Paul Tipton, in collaboration a range of diverse topics for landowners. through RCC. was so grief-stricken that few thought he with Kristi Cowles This year’s conference will be held at the Jack Duggan would survive. But the old dog got on [email protected] Grants Pass Rogue Community College 541-899-7310

An interview with Mary Jacks, 3rd Annual Sunshine Plaza owner Williams Propagation Fair BY DON AND DEBBIE TOLLEFSON four years to construct. In 1979, after the center was completed, Bob died. The Third Annual Williams Propagation For 41 years, Mary Jacks has owned When Bob died, you were left Fair is coming up soon! and managed the Sunshine Plaza in with a daughter, property, The event will be held on Sunday, Ruch. She has been a fixture in the and a business to run. March 11, from 11 am - 4 pm at the Applegate Valley since the 1970s, and At that time, and as a woman, Sugarloaf Community Association park many businesses owe their success was that a lot on your plate? shelter at 206 Tetherow Road, Williams. partially to her and her late husband’s It wasn’t easy, but many of the The Williams Grange will hold their seed pioneering commercial shopping center original businesses are still operating, swap earlier that morning. in our valley. Here is her story. though some with different owners. The fair is a free event, with scion of Where and when We still have a grocery store (originally many different fruit trees provided free to were you born? Ron’s Market, now Ruch Country the public. Grafting scions to rootstock I was born Mary Estremado on June Store) and a restaurant (originally provided for sale will also be available. 6, 1930, in the family home on Galls Lumberjack Café, now Honeysuckle Scion is the fresh year’s wood-growth of Creek Road in Gold Hill. My parents Café). a fruit tree. When trees are pruned in the had two boys and three girls. Two of my Current and past businesses winter, scion is collected, labeled, placed siblings, Jean and James, are still living include a real estate office (Applegate into the refrigerator, and sealed in plastic Mary Jacks, long-time owner of Sunshine Plaza in Gold Hill. I was raised on the family Valley Realty), a resale shop (Born until spring, when rootstock becomes in Ruch. Photo: Don Tollefson. farm and went to school in Gold Hill. Again), a beauty shop (Salon 238), available. The scion (which determines the Twelve grades were in the same building the opportunity to purchase property in Applegate Christian Fellowship, a movie variety) is then grafted onto the rootstock from the basement to the second floor. Ruch from Hunter & Best, the McDough rental house, an exercise studio (Body that has the desired size, soil preference, I graduated with the class of 1948 and, Brothers, Archie Pierce, and Wes Lincoln. and Soul), a chiropractor (Applegate and disease-resistant characteristics. in 1952, I married Robert (Bob) Wesley In 1976 the beginnings of Sunshine Plaza Chiropractic and Wellness), a massage There will also be a potluck and Jacks. started with the construction of the grocery therapist (Haley May LMT), a tax educational opportunities at the fair. This is When did you come to store, now Ruch Country Store. Red accountant (Applegate Tax Service), your chance to share your own scion as well the Applegate Valley? Bowman was the contractor. The second and many more over the 41 years of my as extra food-plant cuttings or divisions. Bob was into logging, road-building, phase started in 1977. The shopping center ownership. This propagation fair is 100 percent and construction in the area with many was built for the original tenant, Western Don and Debbie Tollefson volunteer-driven. private and federal projects. He had Auto and Hardware, and took a total of [email protected] For more information, visit scionexchange.wordpress.com. Applegater Spring 2018 3 Stories of Southern Oregon: A geranium you don’t want Hear the stories. Meet the storytellers. BY BARBARA MUMBLO BY MAUREEN BATTISTELLA AND THALIA TRUESDELL Shiny geranium (Geranium lucidum), a noxious weed new to the The Stories of Applegate, was recently found in the Southern Oregon vicinity of Forest Creek on Bureau of folks will be back Land Management (BLM) land. You in the Applegate may have read Suzie Savoie’s article this spring. Join about it in the Fall 2017 Applegater. them for a preview This plant is fairly small, is a non- of video interviews native annual, and spreads very and to honor aggressively. It’s on list B (“a weed of the Applegate economic importance that is regionally storytellers at abundant”) of the Oregon Department Ruch Library on of Agriculture’s (ODA’s) noxious weed Saturday, May 5, list. (Visit oregon.gov/oda/programs/ from 2 to 4 pm, weeds/oregonnoxiousweeds/pages/ and at the 2018 aboutoregonweeds.aspx for more Vern Arnold (above) is McKee Bridge information.) The infestation of shiny videotaped as he tells Celebration on geranium is estimated to be about his story at the McKee Saturday, June 9. Bridge Centennial 40 acres. Both events are Celebration in 2017. So far, the shiny geranium is free and open to Ryan Rabjohn (right), known only at the Forest Creek the public. in old-time attire, adds location, a small site on private land The Stories of his story to the growing that is being worked on, and a few Southern Oregon Stories of Southern small sites upstream of Gold Hill Be on the lookout for the shiny geranium, a noxious is a project Oregon project. along the Rogue River. It is easily weed recently found in the Applegate. that organized transported by soil movement since Photo: Bruce Newhouse. community its seeds are tiny. I heard that a friend forums about the region’s agricultural, of mine accidently brought it home, timber, and mining heritage. Thanks to probably having picked it up on his boots funding from the National Endowment while fishing. for the Humanities, the project has Two other non-native geraniums digitized family photos and artifacts and commonly found in the Applegate are collected more than 175 video interviews. Dovesfoot or Crane’s Bill (Geranium molle) All this represents a rich historical and and Cut-leaved Crane’s Bill (Geranium contemporary archive available for dissectum). However, these two geraniums public use through the Southern Oregon are not the pests that shiny geranium is University Hannon Library’s digital since they don’t spread as rapidly. One of collections, the Southern Oregon Digital the features to look for to distinguish shiny Archives (SODA). The archive increases geranium from these species is its red stem. awareness of heritage work life and Also, the leaf is not hairy and has a waxy The Dovesfoot geranium is non-native but is enhances the importance of preserving and appearance, so it seems shiny compared to not considered a pest. Photo: Steve Matson. sharing community values because history stories, jokes, and zucchini (!), and the the other two. is now and history is everywhere. librarians hear it all. They knew whom There may be more shiny geraniums The Applegate stories to talk with, whom to call, and whom to out there than we know. We are planning Stories of hardships, connections, and encourage to share their stories. to contact private landowners near this site successes abounded. Some pioneers had the At the Ruch Story Days, the to see if the plant might have moved onto foresight to record their experiences and environmentalists’ point of view was their property. We would also appreciate struggles in journals and letters. Poems, balanced with stories of mining for gold in your help in keeping an eye out for it as quilts, photographs, and headstones in the 1980s and 1990s. Gold miner Glenn you travel around the valley. overgrown cemeteries also tell stories, some Wadstein was pleased with the work he The plan is to start control efforts for from over one hundred years ago, some accomplished in leveling the tailings piles this infestation this spring. Participating more recent. at the old Sterling Mine, improving the in this plan are the Applegate Partnership “We are creating history now,” said poet land, and bolstering the local economy. He and Watershed Council, the Medford Paul Tipton, “with this storytelling project brought with him videos showing his crew District BLM (Ashland Area), ODA, The Cut-leaved Crane’s Bill is another non- and the unique stories, which are part of of men and women operating equipment Jackson and Josephine Cooperative Weed native geranium that is not considered a pest. local history, that people will ponder in to retrieve the gold overlooked by earlier Management Areas, and Applegaters. This Photo: en.wikipedia.org. the future.” miners. He drew satisfaction from his plant can make a monoculture, as has been The Stories of Southern Oregon project research into mining and working in the seen in the Willamette Valley. We hope to Leave me a message if you think you’ve began to document the history of the community. “Thank you for encouraging keep it from becoming more widespread found this plant, and I’ll come check it out. people in the Applegate Valley in June me,” said Glenn Wadstein. “Now I know in southwest Oregon, especially in the Barbara Mumblo • 541-890-2091 2017 at the McKee Bridge Centennial my life’s work will not be forgotten.” Applegate Valley. [email protected] Celebration. Huddled under a canopy Residents understand the importance while the rhythm of the rain kept time with of heritage documentation and are eager the Old-Time Fiddlers, folks began sharing to participate. “I am grateful we can their stories, recording their histories, and all be recognized as valuable to future scanning precious photographs. generations,” commented Paul, “and that Unsure if they qualified to assume a they will have access to our tales and the place in the history of the Applegate, some history of the Applegate Valley in our curious residents approached cautiously libraries through the Stories of Southern and were drawn in and encouraged to Oregon project.” relate their relatively recent experiences See the stories of the last 40 or 50 years, assured that See the Stories of Southern Oregon their contributions are valuable to local on YouTube and in the Southern Oregon history. One resident recited poetry and Digital Archives at soda.sou.edu, and join another sang an old spiritual as the camera the storytellers for a reception at Ruch rolled. Environmental activist Chris Bratt Library on May 5 and at the McKee Bridge spoke of his growing interest in preventing Celebration on June 9. If you contributed a logging, mining, and herbicide use and story or photographs, you’ll be able to pick the success that local groups have achieved up a CD/DVD of your video and images in that area. Ryan Rabjohn talked about at either event. what it was like to live in the 1940s. Diana For more information, contact Maureen Coogle told tales about living in the woods Flanagan Battistella at 541-552-0743 and and writing about what that life was like. [email protected] or Thalia Truesdell at Two weeks later, the story project 541-899-7438 and [email protected]. continued at Ruch Library. The library’s Maureen Flanagan Battistella community room is a busy place, and [email protected] many patrons are there daily to use the Thalia Truesdell computers. It is the perfect place to share [email protected] 4 Spring 2018 Applegater BOOK REVIEWS Winter Is Coming 1999 has not really stood Sugarbob goes Garry Kasparov (2015) up to him. This lack of backbone from American to the Lodge How many people presidents has allowed Jef Kooper (2018) remember “duck and Putin’s KGB fangs of poison cover” from their childhood to kill off the anemic start Having grown up in the school days? I do. I can of democracies in Russia. Applegate Valley, I’ve heard still picture the underside George W. Bush said many stories about Sugarbob, of my grade school desk of Putin, “I looked the the playful deer who was from all the duck-and- man in the eye. I found rescued from the Applegate cover drill rehearsals for the him to be very straight River by the owners of the coming nuclear war with forward and trustworthy, Applegate River Lodge. If the Russians. While I sat and we had a very good you live near Applegate, you under that desk, I studied dialogue. I was able to get probably have too. I remember all the many years’ worth of a sense of his soul.” I hadn’t hearing how, even as a fawn, chewed gum that had been realized myself that Bush Sugarbob would make his way across the humans and animals, no matter what stuck there, as well as a few other things was that blind. Then Barack Obama and busy Highway 238 to say hello to people kind. It’s amazing how a wild and usually that I could not identify. The underside of his administration decided to do a “reset” at the Applegate Store & Cafe. I didn’t shy animal can come to be an outgoing my desk was like a petri dish’s nightmare. with Russia—another “are you kidding have the pleasure of meeting Sugarbob companion with the love of a few kind I never thought it could save me from the me?” moment! personally, but after reading this book, I’ve people. Rarely does something amazing coming mushroom cloud. Like all dictators, Putin confiscates come to know his story better than I ever like this happen, and I feel lucky to Much later, on November 9, 1989, the all media that does not pledge loyalty to have before. have had it happen in the small town of communist darkness that had engulfed him. Loyalty pledges are a big thing with Sugarbob goes to the Lodge first Applegate. Russia, along with its menacing threat to dictators. According to the book, Vladimir introduces Richard and Joanna, owners of Sugarbob’s story really is a heartwarming us, ended—or did it? Gusinsky, the Russian media tycoon, spent the Applegate River Lodge. One day while one. And thanks to the wonderful writing of Winter is Coming author, Garry three days in prison and was forced to give they are working, Joanna sees a baby deer Jef Kooper, along with some truly beautiful Kasparov, is a Russian who spent 20 up his media company to Putin and his floating down the Applegate River. Richard illustrations by Philippo LoGrande, the years as the world’s number-one ranked closest gangster associates. runs outside, hopping into the chilly story comes to life. Sugarbob goes to the chess player until his retirement. With his Putin even went after Pussy Riot, a whitewater to save the fawn. They bring the Lodge is a sweet story that can be enjoyed pen and voice he has been a crusader for Russian feminist protest punk-rock group, baby deer back to the lodge and take care of by both children and adults. There’s never democracy in Russia. He now lives in self- for mentioning Putin by name in the video him, naming him Sugarbob and tying his going to be another story quite like this imposed exile in New York. they made of their performance of a brief famous orange bandana around his neck. one, so do yourself a favor and read it. In this book, Kasparov covers the rise to “Punk Prayer” inside Moscow’s Cathedral Growing up around people and animals Carlen Nielsen power of the KGB thug and authoritarian of Christ the Savior. They received a made Sugarbob an outgoing and playful Williams resident and eighth-grader at Vladimir Putin. In a country where 20 two-year prison sentence for using what creature. I heard that he would walk right Lincoln-Savage Middle School million people can barely make ends meet, we in America call free speech. Russia’s up to you so you could pet him. [email protected] Putin’s personal wealth—according to prisons and graveyards are full of people As the story continues, the reader The book’s author, Jef Kooper, provided Hermitage Capital Management CEO Bill who oppose him. One of Putin’s favorite watches as Sugarbob learns to adapt to his another review, this one from five-year-old Browder, who testified before Congress in expressions is “managed democracy,” as new surroundings and learns important Aliza, daughter of Chris and Meghan, July 2017—is believed to be around $200 long as he is the manager. things about safety and manners along owners of Crossroads Café in Williams: “It’s billion (Fortune.com, July 20, 2017). The atrocities committed by Putin’s the way. Then, as Sugarbob returns to his the best book ever. I love it!” Sugarbob goes Doesn’t that make Bill Gates (Microsoft) toxic touch have been felt in Georgia, natural habitat, he is able to continue living to the Lodge is available at Applegate Store and Jeff Bezos (Amazon) paupers in Chechnya, Ukraine, and even in the his life as a normal deer, but still with close & Cafe, Provolt Country Store, Pennington comparison? United States. Kasparov makes it very ties to his friends and family at the lodge. Farms in Grants Pass, Takubeh Natural As Kasparov tells us, as a dictator (all clear how Putin’s menacing threats to The cute tales of Sugarbob the deer Market in Williams, and Rebel Heart Books elections are now rigged in Russia), Putin’s democracy have gone from local to regional really show how a bond can grow between in Jacksonville. wealth has been acquired through thievery, and, today, to global. Yet we still haven’t murder, and moral corruption. While declared or treated Putin’s Russia for what reading this book, I realized that Putin it is: a criminal rogue regime. You don’t makes gangsters such as Al Capone, Frank negotiate to the advantage of gangsters. Poetry Corner Lucas, and even Amado Carrillo Fuentes You put them out of business. (richest Mexican drug cartel boss) look like If you are or are not interested in what’s Eagle Scouts. happening on the world stage, you still Arthur moved Kasparov lays out a pretty detailed map need to read this book because Putin’s foul by Barbara Summerhawk of events showing that every American breath touches us all. president since Putin came to power in J.D. Rogers • 541-846-7736 With great, quiet purpose To the deck shadows Where peppermint tea (and if lucky, a buttered bagel), — N O T I C E — Stoked our casual forays into the sublime-light, and listened The Community Calendar seems to have taken up As if whatever babble we believed at the moment was Worth the wait. permanent residence on our website at The hallmark comment, a gentle chuckle, lends us hope applegater.org. The cats may someday sit on our laps, too. The only point Arthur pushed was an awl that Laced up many of our Humbug feet and Encouraged the process to make our roads and Lives a little less dusty, so we could walk the Valley with a clean slate.

Somewhere up ahead in the sky He sits slapping his cosmic knee, a Galaxy-wide grin on his face, patiently waiting For all of us who love him: Arthur.

See Arthur Coulton’s obituary on page 2.

Visit the A-Frame Bookstore @ Ruch Library Upper Applegate Road A-Frame Ruch Used books from $1 to $1.50 Library Tuesdays 12 - 4 Thursdays 1 - 5 Saturdays 12 - 4 Managed by Friends of Highway 238 Ruch Library. Join us! 8 miles from Jacksonville Applegater Spring 2018 5 ~ FINE PRINT ~ A huge THANKS to the generous donors WHO WE ARE The Applegate Valley Community who recently contributed Newspaper, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the publication to the Applegater. of the Applegater newsmagazine, which, we feel, reflects the heart and soul of our SUSTAINER Donald Hoskins, Jacksonville, OR Kelly & Don Brandeau, Williams, OR community. Our Mission Maggie Purves Fund of Kuzma Family, Jacksonville, OR Jan Buur, Santa Barbara, CA The Applegate Valley Community The Oregon Community Foundation, Don & Lori, Sayer, Applegate, OR David Calahan & Newspaper, Inc. (AVCN), provides the Applegate, OR Peter & Shelly Smith, Barbara Kostal-Calahan, many rural and diverse communities Greeley Wells, Jacksonville, OR Grants Pass, OR Jacksonville, OR of the Applegate Watershed with a Zephyr Fund at Schwab Charitable, Lillian & Allen, Stewart, Mark Charles, Jacksonville, OR communications vehicle, the Applegater San Francisco, CA Jacksonville, OR Dennis & Barbara Crawford, newsmagazine, free of charge to all CONTRIBUTOR Alan & Cindy Voetsch, Ruch, OR Williams, OR watershed residents. Our quarterly Chris Bratt, Applegate, OR Ted & Mary Warrick, Faith Embury, Grants Pass, OR paper presents constructive, relevant, Drummond & Deborah Rennie, Grants Pass, OR Cheryl Garcia, Jacksonville, OR educational, and entertaining reports on a wide variety of subjects such as: Jacksonville, OR Julie Wheeler, Jacksonville, OR David, Haynes, Grants Pass, OR n natural resources SUPPORTER SPONSOR Gordon Hoefer, Grants Pass, OR n ecology and other Anonymous, Grants Pass, OR (4) Anonymous, Grants Pass, OR (4) Helon Howard, Williams, OR science information Adrienne Hassanein, Applegate, OR Anonymous, Jacksonville, OR (4) David Knight, Applegate, OR n historical and current events Bob Hendrix, Grants Pass, OR Gary Biggs, Grants Pass, OR Dolores and Gary Lisman, n community news and opinions Jacksonville, OR AVCN encourages and publishes Margaret Martin differing viewpoints and, through the Help us ensure that we have the ongoing support needed to publish the Applegater newsmagazine. Richard & Ann Mikula, Applegater newsmagazine, acts as a Jacksonville, OR clearinghouse for this diverse community. All contributions are tax-deductible and receive recognition in print. Karen Mitchell, Jacksonville, OR We are dedicated to working together with community members to maintain Patron $1,000+ Kathleen Moore, Jacksonville, OR and enhance the quality of life that is Sustainer $500 - $999 Louise Nicholson, Applegate, OR unique to the Applegate Watershed. Contributor $200 - $499 Diana Potts, Applegate, OR Gregory Powell Acknowledgements Supporter $50 - $199 Rocky Sanborn, Grants Pass, OR The Applegater newsmagazine is Sponsor $5 - $49 Michael Schneider, Thousand Oaks, CA published quarterly by the Applegate Please make your checks payable to Applegater David & Mary Sergent, Valley Community Newspaper, Inc., and and mail to PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530 is funded by donations from our loyal Jacksonville, OR readers and advertisements for local Donors: We strive to ensure that our donor list is accurate. Nila Simmons, Grants Pass, OR businesses. Please contact us if there are errors or omissions. Norman Somes, Jacksonville, OR Special thanks to Diana Coogle, Jeanette Stobie, Applegate, OR Margaret della Santina, H. Ni Aodagain, and Paul Tipton for copy editing; Diana Coogle, Paul Tipton, and Debbie and PERSONAL MAILING LABEL Don Tollefson for proofing; David Dobbs Living away for a while? for bookkeeping; and Webmaster Joe LETTER TO THE EDITOR Lavine. Friends and relatives in faraway places? Board of Directors Arctic Refuge Diana Coogle, Chair The Applegater can be mailed Dear Editor: Shelley Manning, Secretary anywhere in the US. The Senate/House tax bill conference endorsed oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Chris Bratt, Treasurer Order a personal mailing label for National Wildlife Refuge. This is amazingly short-sighted for many reasons. Many proven David Dobbs, Assistant Treasurer One year: $14.99 alternative energy choices can replace oil and gas, but there is only one Arctic National Barbara Holiday Two years: $24.99 Wildlife Refuge. The Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge includes precious habitat for Debbie Tollefson species ranging from polar bears and caribou to nesting birds and waterfowl. These Don Tollefson Mail us a check or pay online at migrating birds touch all 50 states and nearly every continent of the globe. J.D. Rogers (Honorary) www.applegater.org. The Coastal Plain supports 135 species of migratory birds that fly to six continents Editorial Committee and provides critical habitat for the iconic polar bear. In Oregon, the Arctic National Chris Bratt Wildlife Refuge may seem far away. But the Sandhill Crane and the Brant Goose migrate Tom Carstens Masthead photo credit to and from the Coastal Plain and southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley each year. Barbara Holiday, Editor This Arctic attack ignores the will of the American people. For nearly 40 years, efforts Sandy Shaffer Linda Kappen captured this painted Greeley Wells lady nectaring on a dandelion in have been under way to protect the immense biodiversity that is the Arctic National Rauno Perttu (Honorary) Wildlife Refuge from the assault and devastation imposed by fossil fuel exploration spring. Thank you, Linda! and extraction (refugeassociation.org/advocacy/refuge-issues/arctic/). While completely All articles, stories, opinions and ignoring and, in fact, violating the rights of and treaty obligations to the Gwich’in letters that appear in the Applegater [Alaskan Native] people of the US and Canada, drilling proponents claim that lease are the property and opinion of the author, and not necessarily that of the Editorial Calendar sales will generate as much as $1 billion in revenue over the next decade. Compared Applegater or AVCN. ISSUE DEADLINE to the $1 trillion-plus in tax cuts benefitting corporations and the extremely wealthy, SUMMER (June - Aug)....May 1 such revenue, if realized, would not repay us for the destruction of our Arctic Refuge. PROTECTION OF Environment-Fire- Republican abuse of the budget process sacrifices one of the nation’s most ecologically COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Recreation and culturally significant places for a paltry federal benefit. All materials submitted for publication Americans who care about our future should respond to this act of economic greed must pertain to the Applegate Valley, be FALL (Sept - Nov)...... August 1 original (no reprinted articles, please), Agriculture-Wine at the expense of our national heritage when they next enter the polling station. and be the intellectual property of the WINTER (Dec - Feb)...... November 1 Yours truly, author unless otherwise credited. Holiday-Arts Dennis Specht All articles submitted to the Applegater SPRING (March - May)....February 1 Southern Oregon Climate Action Now are subject to edit and publication at the newsmagazine’s discretion and as space Commerce-Community 541-282-3456 allows. When too many articles are submitted to include in any one issue, some articles may be placed on our website or held until the following issue. Advertisers Inside the Gater Letters to the editor must be 450 ! words or less. Opinion pieces and A partnership for life...... 14 articles cannot exceed 700 words. We can help you reach your Community calendar submissions must market. The Applegater is the only ACCESS Food Share Gardens thrive with volunteers...... 12 be brief. newsmagazine covering the entire Bird Explorer: Great Gray Owl rescue...... 11 PHOTO REQUIREMENTS Applegate Valley. All photos submitted must be high resolution (300 dpi) or “large format” With a circulation of 11,000 and Cantrall Buckley Park news...... 10 (e.g., 30” x 40”). If you have questions, a readership of more than 20,000, we Dirty Fingernails and All: Let’s get trendy...... 9 email [email protected]. cover Applegate, Jacksonville, Jerome Photos submitted for the masthead Next Generation...... 23 are on a volunteer basis. Credit is given Prairie, Murphy, Ruch, Wilderville, in the issue in which it appears on our Williams, Wonder, and areas of Grants Nonprofit News and Updates...... 7 website and on our Facebook page. Pass, Medford, and Ashland. All submissions for the next issue Opinions...... 18 - 19 must be received at gater@applegater. For more information, contact: Rare Baker’s cypress trees in the Applegate...... 22 org by the deadline. Ron Turpen • 541-601-1867 Applegate Valley Community Newspaper [email protected] Resetting the conversation between BLM and the Applegate community...... 6 PO Box 14 Starry Side: The real nature of the universe or viva la imperfection!...... 8 Jacksonville, OR 97530 Next deadline: May 1 6 Spring 2018 Applegater 3. What’s working well and not working build more cooperative and collaborative Resetting the conversation well about the management of public relationships. One of the most helpful lands? tools we learned at this workshop was the between BLM and the 4. What ideas do you have for making Grounding Circle, which allows everyone a things better? chance to speak uninterrupted while others Applegate community Kevin’s work led to a series of listen with respect. The value of learning neighborhood meetings as BLM began these tools and processes together with our BY KRISTI MASTROFINI to conduct outreach for the upcoming stakeholders will be to help build capacity Middle Applegate Vegetation Management in collaborative process both within Southwest Oregon residents and integrated ecological, economic, and social Project. Kevin’s work generated good the agency and within the community. stakeholders place a wide variety of values objectives reflecting the needs of the land information about the concerns and Conflict will likely always be present to on public lands managed by the Bureau and communities. Applegate residents ideas of those who live and work in the some degree; however, through learning of Land Management (BLM). This range who valued the AMA designation are now Applegate community and identified and building capacity, we hope to become of values can lead to conflict among concerned that BLM no longer values a opportunities for the BLM to foster more self-sufficient and effective in our community members and between the collaborative process that was a hallmark to more positive community relations and conflict resolution. community and BLM. That is why BLM’s agency and community interaction under collaboration. As we continue outreach for the Ashland Field Office has been working with the AMA. In autumn of 2017, the BLM began Middle Applegate Project, we hope all local stakeholders to reset the conversation Collaborative action working with Diane Groves of Whole participants will utilize lessons learned regarding public land management in The Ashland Field Office sought System Performance, also a subcontractor from this important workshop to improve the Applegate Valley. Over the past few support from BLM’s Collaborative Action of Kerns and West, Inc., to begin preparing our relationships in working together more years, relationships with the community and Dispute Resolution (CADR) Program for a consensus-based workshop. Diane collaboratively throughout all aspects of have been challenged as a result of trying to assist us in rebuilding trust with engaged approximately 55 diverse project development and planning. We to work through collaborative efforts on the community and to help move our stakeholders in a series of conversations; welcome anyone interested to join us in contentious projects, such as Nedsbar, engagement with the community in a most were face-to-face and some by phone. learning more about this work. without the proper skill sets that could more positive direction. In 2016, we BLM staff were present as listeners for If you are interested in being on the help us to be more successful. began working with Kevin Preister, of many of the conversations. notification list for upcoming meetings With the rollout of BLM’s new the Center for Social Ecology and Public Two-day workshop and field trips or would like to receive Resource Management Plan (RMP), Policy, as a subcontractor of Kerns and Information gathered from these Ashland update letters, please contact public lands in the Applegate Watershed West, Inc. Kevin, along with his staff, conversations was used to customize a Brian Lawatch at 541-618-2316 or previously designated as the Applegate conducted listening sessions throughout two-day consensus-based workshop. The [email protected]. Adaptive Management Area (AMA) the community, asking residents four key workshop that convened in November Kristi Mastrofini • 541-618-2438 were not carried forward. The Applegate questions: 2017 was valuable in beginning to reset the Bureau of Land Management AMA was incorporated in BLM’s 1995 1. How do you use public lands? conversation between the Ashland Field Ashland Field Manager RMP as an area to develop and test new 2. What’s important about these lands Office staff and public land stakeholders. Medford District Office approaches to forest management that for you? We learned a variety of tools to help [email protected]

Let our advertisers know that you saw their ad in the Applegater. Applegater Spring 2018 7 NONPROFIT NEWS AND UPDATES — McKee Bridge Historical Society — ■ A GREATER APPLEGATE others—we are here to create opportunities Continued from page 1 for all to speak. Save the date by Maureen Battistella of Southern Oregon your organization on the directory so We are excited to partner with a sister Despite one close call this winter—an University. This year these stories, which people know what you do and how to organization, IV Can, in the Illinois elder alder on the ditch bank fell across give a variety of perspectives on the history find you. Post your events on the calendar Valley. We are sharing experiences about the corner of the west approach to McKee of the past century in the Applegate, will and share stories and details about the community building in rural areas and Bridge, resulting only in damage to the be shown at McKee Bridge Day, projects you are doing. We want Applegate have begun conversations about projects tree—the old bridge is standing strong Our centennial t-shirts are still available Valley Connect to be the primary source on which we might collaborate to benefit and getting ready for its 101st birthday. at Ruch Store, Tiffany’s Outpost, and of information for the entire Applegate our entire regions. This year, McKee Bridge Day will be held Applegate Store. If you don’t find your Valley watershed. Community chili feed on Saturday, June 9, from 11 am to 3 pm size, a full range will be available on June 9. In the near future we will be launching You can learn more about these projects, with the usual good music, food, historic As the date gets closer, more information “Community Connections” to support meet our board, let us know how you displays, vendors, raffles—something for about this year’s celebration will become Applegate Valley businesses, nonprofits, would like to get involved and what everyone. We hope you’ll join us for an available. For updates, visit Applegate and neighborhoods with information, you think about a more vital Applegate afternoon of family fun and a celebration Valley Connect at applegateconnect.org trainings, meetings, advocacy, and other Valley at our free community chili feed of local history. to read the information in our directory assistance to better sustain and enhance on Thursday, March 15, from 5 to 7 pm, At last year’s Centennial Celebration, a listing and also to check the calendar on the communal, environmental, and at Applegate Valley Fire District’s meeting number of local people were interviewed June 9. Hope to see you all there. economic vitality of the Applegate Valley. facility. The community chili feed is and video-recorded through a project called Paul Tipton • 541-846-7501 Community Connections is chaired by our sponsored by Craig and Amber Hamm of Stories of Southern Oregon, coordinated [email protected] newest board member, Megan Fehrman. the Ruch Country Store. Craig is the new You will hear more about these efforts in treasurer of A Greater Applegate. the next issue of the Applegater. All of this work would not be possible if — Pacifica — In January, Vice Chair Paul Tipton and we hadn’t made the decision to hire Brooke Barbara Holiday joined me for a meeting Nuckles Gentekos as a very part-time Spring at Pacifica the labyrinth and along the road. The with Josephine County Foundation consultant. We are excited to have Brooke We’ve been enjoying a nice variety of Pollinator Garden has been dug and will founder, Chris Pendleton, and a remarkable supporting our committees, fundraising waterfowl on Heron Pond: buffleheads, hopefully be completed this spring. When group of Hidden Valley High School efforts, and organizational development. goldeneyes, mergansers, and more. There things start to bloom, be sure to visit! students to learn what it’s like to be a young As the saying goes, we are learning to is a waterfowl identification sheet on Pacifica will be working double-time person growing up in the Applegate Valley. build the plane as we fly it. If that sounds the kiosk by the pond. Come enjoy our this spring providing the Caterpillar’s We were reminded that none of us should like fun to you, join us—you are very visitors. fascinating hands-on program, “Partners assume what our community is like for welcome! To make a donation, please visit New and in progress in Pollination,” to local schools. Field trips anyone else until we ask them, and this will gacdc.org. The 2nd Annual Spring Art & Music (when the kids come to Pacifica) include be a theme for A Greater Applegate moving Seth Kaplan Fest is being planned for Mother’s Day. a hay ride, art, and lots of fun science. In forward. We are not here to speak for [email protected] Bring Mom and have a great day looking at May we will also be hosting a new Outdoor art, listening to live music, and eating great School program for eight three-day sessions food. Moms get a complimentary canvas of 60 children each. tote bag ($1 for others) that they (or their As part of plans for PODS (Pacifica •••BIZbits••• kids) can decorate. It will be perfect timing Outdoor School), we now have our own Applegate Country Club. Applegate Country Club (ACC) has expanded its hours for one of our great wildflower walks and little certified mobile kitchen built in a and is now open six days a week (every day except Tuesday) from noon to 9 pm. Stop a bird walk…after all, Pacifica is a nature cool blue school bus. It will, we hope, be in, see friends and neighbors, and enjoy delicious pizza. Delivery for ACC members is center and it’s spring! Sounds like a great up and running by the Spring Fest so you available! 15090 Highway 238, Applegate • 541-846-1666 • applegatecountryclub.com. day, so don’t forget: Sunday, May 13, 10 can come admire it. • • • am - 4 pm. Volunteers are always appreciated for Applegate Valley Connect. Check out this new community website that connects The Fragrance Garden is almost any variety of jobs. Please contact peg@ the Applegate Valley. Find events and information about businesses and nonprofits, use done (if a garden can ever be really pacificagarden.org. the handy links to libraries, schools, government, etc. Try it out—register now and enter done!). Whooo-hee! Over 100 kinds of Peg Prag • 541-660-4295 your own information. It’s free! applegateconnect.org • [email protected]. fragrant plants have been planted around [email protected] • • • Applegate Valley Realty. The Jacksonville office of Applegate Valley Realty has a new name, Jacksonville Realty, and welcomes a new agent, Tammy French. All agents, including Don Tollefson, Debbie Tollefson, Carol Milazzo, and Tammy French, specialize in rural homes, ranches, farms, and vineyards, as well as historic Jacksonville. Applegate Valley Realty and Jacksonville Realty strive to offer you a smooth and enjoyable experience whether you are buying or selling your home. Jacksonville Realty, 935 North Fifth Street, Jacksonville • 541-218-0947. Applegate Valley Realty, 7380 Highway 238, Ruch • 541-261-0949. • • • Provolt Country Store. If you haven’t been to the Provolt Country Store and Deli lately, check it out. Enjoy delicious baked goods (best croissants this side of Paris!), sandwiches, soups, pizza, and more. When you walk in the door, you will notice a fresh look. Always convenient for food on the go, the store now has an inviting seating area to stay and enjoy your food. You can also have beer or wine with your meal. Open Sunday - Thursday 7 am - 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 7 am - 10 pm. Corner of Highway 238 and Williams Highway, Provolt • 541-846-6286. • • • Troon Vineyard. Dr. Bryan and Denise White of Arlington, Texas, acquired Troon Vineyard with a vision of expansion. They had previously bought an adjacent vineyard, now known as White Family Vineyard. Their grand plan is to combine the two properties, a total of 95 acres, and convert Troon to exclusively estate-bottled wines. They will follow full biodynamic practices and attain biodynamic certification. Total production under the Troon label will be 7,500 cases. Wine industry veterans Craig Camp, general manager, and Steve Hall, wine maker, continue to lead Troon as it enters a new era. Says Craig, “Everyone at Troon is excited to reach the stars with our new wine.” Tasting room is open daily from 11 am - 5 pm. 1475 Kubli Road, Grants Pass • 541-930-2089 • troonvineyard.com. BizBits highlights businesses new to the area, holding special events, or offering new products. If you are a business owner, let us know when you move into the area or to a different location, hold a special event, expand your business, or mark a milestone. Email Shelley Manning at [email protected]. 8 Spring 2018 Applegater

THE STARRY SIDE The real nature of the universe or viva la imperfection!

BY GREELEY WELLS Greeley Wells The universe is so beautiful and well- What we had thought were perfect why and how and where they will appear. big and visible constellations. The handle ordered. Planets circle around the sun, circles are oval, elliptical, off-center, and This depth of “imperfection” adds a level of the Big Dipper has brought into the our moon circles around us, our solar at angles. Whereas once we thought the of exquisite beauty and unknowability to east one of the brightest stars in the sky: system circles around the galaxy, and the planets, including ours, were perfectly what might have been thought of as the Arcturus (follow Big Dipper’s handle galaxy around the universe, in ordered, round, it turns out that almost all of them simple, boring, repetitious, predictable, arch to Arcturus). Rising in the east is predictable ways. bulge at the equator. perfect dance of the universe. I am so the crown, Corona Borealis, followed by In the beginnings of our science, our Although all this is hardly noticeable, grateful for the anomalies that make our Hercules, the hourglass shape. They are illustrators used beautiful perfect circles we do notice things like the longest day universe so unpredictably fantastic. Viva both led by Arcturus up from the east around each circular orb, but later, with of the year. But, counterintuitively, the la imperfection! to overhead as this season matures. Vega closer observations, we saw that the orbits longest day doesn’t have the earliest sunrises Orion is still setting in the west in is rising in the east with Deneb, two of weren’t perfect circles at all. The moon or latest sunsets. The shortest day of the April, with the “V” of Taurus setting west- the summer triangle’s three stars and comes closer to us at one point, then moves year isn’t the coldest, either, nor is the northwest. Sirius is setting west-southwest. harbingers of summer skies. The bright farther away, in an orbit expanding away longest day the warmest. Castor and Pollux, in Gemini, are high Capella is the five-pointed Auriga, which from us at a rate of a quarter inch a year. Many such anomalies exist in the in the west. Even in May, the Gemini was overhead last season and now has One day the moon will even leave its orbit universe. Instead of a simple dance of Twins are still there, although all of their moved west to soon swing around under around Earth! We are regularly closer to perfection, the universe performs a much other winter cohorts have set. With the the North Star. and farther from the sun, a pattern that more interesting dance of imperfection, Big Dipper going over Polaris (the North Here’s to clear, dark night skies and doesn’t correspond to warmer or colder which actually creates the beauty we know. Star), Leo the Lion goes almost overhead bright stars for us all! seasons because in winter we are actually And part of the beauty is the surprise. For parallel to it. The zenith (the highest central Greeley Wells • [email protected] closer to the sun than in summer. It is the instance, things like eclipses need to be point in the sky) is between them. These Hey, check out greeleyandfriends.com—I tilt of the earth that gives us our seasons. studied carefully to figure out when and two constellations together make spring’s make movies too! Illustration from stellarium.org.

Of note Mars is up in the morning and will begin to brighten dramatically, eventually outshining Jupiter! He will reign as the fourth brightest object in Earth’s sky—after Venus, the moon, and the sun—from about July 7 to September 7, 2018, this summer. Wow! Venus has been behind the sun, but in March and April, she is going to sneak into our evening dusk. The Lyrid meteor showers—April’s shooting stars—will last from about April 16 to 25 with about 10 to 15 meteors per hour. The showers will peak in the dark hours before dawn on April 22, when the moon is out of the sky. The Lyrids are known for uncommon surges that can sometimes bring the rate up to 100 per hour! The radiant for this shower is near the bright star Vega, now rising in the east-northeast in the constellation Lyra. It wasn’t long ago that Vega set in the west with the very end of summer, but now it appears in the east with spring. The best viewing hours are in the dark morning before dawn. Applegater Spring 2018 9 DIRTY FINGERNAILS AND ALL Let’s get trendy BY SIOUX ROGERS

Gardens, like most aspects of life, rotate • Some of us are getting older and Check out the photos for examples and very practical Sioux Rogers through trends and changes. Consider appreciating the “less-is-more” of what you may want to plant. If you in containers, trends to be just that: trends. If the “trendy” philosophy. We don’t need giant gardens are just starting this project and plan especially when sitting outside your stuff does not work for you, no problem. unless we are feeding the entire tribe. to go full speed ahead with numerous kitchen door or on a sunny window ledge. There is no right or wrong and all is • If you are a small family, you can actually containers, think about first placing the Believe it or not, potatoes, sweet good. Of all the new trends, gardening in grow most of your edibles in containers. empty containers where you think you potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, containers is the focus here. • You can create a fabulous floral want them. Rearrange as much as you want kohlrabi, and root vegetables in general While container gardening certainly is arrangement with living plants in while they are empty, because large, full do exceptionally well in containers. And not new, it is now being revisited as the containers. containers are hellacious to move. zucchini, pumpkins, and other squashes latest and greatest. Personally, I have always • Plants in containers can have their water Certain plants, such as mint, comfrey, also thrive when contained. loved container gardening, especially and nutrient needs taken care of much and ivy, should usually be in containers While old tires, stacked two high, are when I have had limited space to appease easier than long rows of plants. because they are horrific spreaders—via not exactly aesthetic, I planted squashes my passion. Here are some of the many • Plants in containers are much easier to roots, not clumps. If you want a hillside in them that produced an abundance valid reasons container gardening is a very protect from critters—deer, gophers, of mint, toss the container and go for the of healthy and large vegetables. Lettuce popular and viable garden option: squirrels, slugs, or whatever else is hillside. It will smell marvelous. also looks great and grows very easily in chowing down. Just cover the container Easy and practical suggestions containers, although not necessarily in or move it to a protected area. How about starting with some old tires. Strawberries do excellent in most • There is almost nothing that will not perennials, which come back every year? containers. If you do see some bugs and grow in a container, although I’m not Again, there is no right or wrong with slugs feasting on your delectables, they will suggesting planting a giant redwood. whatever you plant, with a few exceptions. not have a chance under your watchful eye. If you are placing more Vegetables and flowers are so practical than one type of plant in and easy to grow in containers. Frankly, Photo, top left: Ready-made salad in a basket a container, ideally they flowers planted in containers are my (deborahsilver.com). should require the same passion—I liken them to a masterful and Photo, lower left: A variety of herbs thrive in containers amount of water, fertilizer, colorful work of art. Again, no rights or (edencondensed.com). and sun exposure. This will wrongs—containers with mixed colors, Photo, lower right: Black krim tomatoes make them all very happy. different shades of color, tall plants, and planted in old tires (i.ytimg.com). Read the nursery label short flowers all work. Containers can be describing the plant’s needs planted with a kaleidoscope of colors or or ask the nursery expert. designed with a limited color pallet such That’s easy, right? as blues, purples, pinks and whites. Vines, such as clematis, All is good—it is your garden. If you roses, honeysuckles, and mix annuals and perennials together next even cucumbers, placed so year, you will need only to replace the they can climb are extremely annuals. happy in containers. They If I can help, clarify, or suggest anything do not have big roots, but to get you started, email me. It will be my rather love the vertical space. joy and pleasure. Herbs like parsley, cilantro, Dirty fingernails and all, dill, thyme, sage, oregano, Sioux Rogers • 541-890-9876 and cilantro, are fabulous [email protected]

Applegate Store & Cafe Deli & Picnic Supplies Breakfast • Lunch •To-Go Orders Gas • ATM • Espresso Open 7days a week! Beer & Wine 15095 Hwy 238, Applegate, OR 541-846-6659

Horsefeather Farms Ranchette

Guesthouse Stayovers B&B Bring the kids! Pet friendly! 13291 Hwy 238, Applegate, OR Stay at a real country farm on the Applegate River! Call for information and reservations: 541-941-0000 www.horsefeather-farms-ranchette.com 10 Spring 2018 Applegater New projects at Cantrall Buckley Park Learning Center. The park residence is being removed in March. In Cantrall Buckley Park news place of the park residence, BY JANIS MOHR-TIPTON we are putting a learning center Cantrall Buckley Park for school and in transition community Now that Jackson classes and County Parks has taken park-related over the management of meetings. At our “gem of the county” the community park, Cantrall Buckley, meeting in you may see, when you December visit, a park host, a park 2017, there ranger, a community was discussion volunteer, or me. I am the about the need Metal artist Cheryl Garcia (left) and Cantrall Buckley Park Enhancement organizer of enhancements for further Committee chair, Janis Mohr-Tipton (right), show off a miniature of Cheryl’s mock orange sculpture that will be installed in Cantrall Buckley Park and new projects in the educational beginning in August. The 12-foot-high sculpture will park. Before the transition, opportunities in inaugurate the Art-in-the-Park project. Photo: Tom Carstens. it was Tom Carstens, the the park. Jackson former chair of the Park Newly restored restroom at Cantrall Buckley Park. County Parks Committee, who worked Photo: Steve Lambert, Jackson County Parks. has approved researching a yurt for the learning center building, and I am researching hard at managing and the size and equipment needs for a successful park classroom. We are beginning to improving the park. Now the community was no longer available. In late January, fundraise and hope to complete the project by 2020. and the new Park Enhancement Committee he said, “I’m glad to have this restroom Cheryl Garcia Educational Art Walk. Cheryl, a local metal artist, will create large- (PEC) have the fun task of envisioning near completion. It is definitely one of the scale sculptures of local wildflowers and birds, which we’ll place throughout the park new enhancements and making them nicest restrooms in our park system now for a walk or car tour. We’ll have educational information about each sculpture and the happen. The committee is looking for more and something for the community to be species represented by it. This will be an ongoing project until the walk is complete. interested and dedicated members. proud of.” Grant and donations have already provided $15,710 of the $33,000 goal for this first Volunteers are needed Some of the new features are bright “Art in the Park” project. We will be soliciting funds and artists for additional displays I hope to see lots of community LED lighting in the interior, lighting all in the park. Cheryl’s work can be viewed throughout the Rogue Valley. members, local organizations, and around the exterior, a wheelchair-accessible Solar array with educational component and a sundial. We just received a grant members of PEC as official volunteers at drinking fountain and water-bottle fill from Blue Sky for a 72-panel array, with shaded classroom seating for studies, educational the park. Sign up with me to be part of a station, and a wheelchair-accessible kiosks, and an interactive sundial art piece. This project, scheduled for completion group-planned volunteer project or work path from the parking area through the this year, is in partnership with Jackson County Parks, A Greater Applegate, Oregon occasionally as an individual. playground to the restroom. Community Foundation, Carpenter Foundation, and True South Solar. We need help with some of our Benches that were purchased with grant Contact Janis Mohr-Tipton at 541-846-7501 or [email protected] enhancement projects: removing invasive and donor monies are being installed. for more information or to volunteer for any project. species, planting and maintaining special Then volunteers will be needed to assist planted areas, and doing some painting. with preparing landscaped areas, planting, Once you are signed up, volunteer passes and finishing with bark mulching in will be available when you contribute early March. Please contact me if you are — Cantrall Buckley Park donors — some time. interested. Organizations can do an Adopt-A-Park After school is out, local ceramics artist Thank you to all the project (planned group) on a specific date. Jeremy Criswell will resume work on the generous donors to the park! I can explain how that program works for community mural that we’ve so patiently Cantrall Buckley and let you know what waited for. Now it has a wall to go on and The Park Enhancement Committee would like to acknowledge the many projects have been approved for 2018. should be completed in fall. This will be donors and volunteers who make all the Cantrall Buckley Park enhancements a Look at the forms on jacksoncountyor.org/ a perfect time for family involvement in reality for surrounding communities and visitors to enjoy. parks/Adopt-a-Park-Program. this project. You can see its progress when PEC’s first planned project will be you visit the playground and park through Solar Renewable Energy Award with SOLVE, a statewide 501(c)(3) this summer. Pacific Power Blue Sky Award: $89,530 nonprofit organization with a mission “to Good News. The entrance fee will bring Oregonians together to improve return to $4 per vehicle, or you can buy Foundation grants for art, ecological, solar, our environment and build a legacy of a Jackson County Parks seasonal pass for and education projects stewardship.” On Saturday, March 17, $30, good through December 31, at Ruch Oregon Community Foundation (OCF): $20,000 from 9:30 - 11:30 am, we will be cleaning Country Store, Blackbird, and other places Carpenter Foundation: $4,000. up invasive plants from some planted beds listed on the Jackson County website at OCF (Anonymous Donor Fund): $2,000 in the lower area near the playground and jacksoncountyor.org/parks. restroom and replanting with native plants. For more information or to volunteer Legacy Donors ($1,000 or more) for Sign up at solveoregon.org/project-oregon for any of our projects (see new projects campground RV upgrade or email [email protected]. article on this page), contact me. We need Legacy Donors who contribute $1,000 or more will be The restroom was finally completed in community support to accomplish all permanently recognized in park displays. February, and finishing work has started that we are doing. My philosophy is “help Applegate Valley, Medford, and Central Point volunteers (in-kind donations) with stains, paint, and sealants on floors, where it feels right for you,” so if you’re Applegate Valley Oregon Vintners Association (AVOVA) walls, and detailed portions. passionate about a particular project, that’s Jacksonville-Applegate Rotary Club Jackson County Parks Program where we can use your help. Rogue Valley Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association Manager, Steve Lambert, explained that Janis Mohr-Tipton Greg and Debbie Schulz, Applegate Valley a lot of extra work went into installing Park Enhancement Committee Chair doors and making changes to the exterior 541-846-7501 Other generous donors because the brick used for the building [email protected] Applegate Trails Association (in-kind park trail maintenance) Tom Carstens, Applegate Valley Individual competitors of Rat Race Paragliding Competition Bonnie Rinaldi, Ashland Alan Watson, senior, South Medford High School project (in-kind donation) Steven and Priscilla Weaver, Applegate Valley

To make contributions to any of our park enhancement projects, send a check to A Greater Applegate, PO Box 335, Jacksonville, OR 97530 and note the project: Campground, Solar, Art, Ecological/Educational, Learning Center, or other enhancements. For more information, contact Janis Mohr-Tipton, Park Enhancement Committee chair, at 541-846-7501 or [email protected]. Applegater Spring 2018 11

BIRD EXPLORER Great Gray Owl rescue

BY PETER J. THIEMANN

exams at Wildlife Images showed This is exactly what happened. By From March Peter J. Thiemann wing damage consistent with an giving the owl some lift upon release, he through May, we automobile collision. This is the was able to fly to a nearby tree, land on a will conduct our yearly Great Gray Owl most common cause of injury for branch about 20 feet up, and look around. nest platform surveys and will invite some this species because they perch on After allowing all who were there to take birders to come along. low fence posts and fly low over some photographs, he flew off into the Peter J. Thiemann rural roads. snow-covered trees and never looked back. [email protected] The prognosis for full recovery for What a sight—free and wild! this owl was guarded. But after wing stabilization to encourage healing, good nutrition, and weeks of flight training, the Great Gray Owl was judged fit to return to the wild. I had been following the owl’s progress and was given a release date of early December. The plan was to release the injured owl near Butte Falls, where he had been found. So on a Sunday after an overnight snowfall, we took the owl to Willow Lake at about 4,000 feet elevation and searched for a suitable Rescued Great Gray Owl release area near water with some meadows and a mature forest. We This is a story of a successful owl rescue found open space with some dead trees for and rehabilitation at Wildlife Images in perching. It was important to have some Grants Pass. easy landing trees nearby so that the owl Earlier this winter a male Great could land after his initial release to be able Photo, above left: Recovered Great Gray Owl about to be released at Willow Lake. Gray Owl was found on a mountain to orient himself and choose a flight path Photo, above right: Upon release, the owl will land on a nearby tree branch to choose its flight road, disoriented and injured. X-ray into the forest. path into the forest. Photos courtesy of Peter J. Thiemann flickr photo stream. The Gray Hairstreak butterfly streaks by

BY LINDA KAPPEN

The Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), very long—we can see Gray Hairstreaks a very common butterfly of the Lycaenidae from March to October. In a recent year family, is found in all of the contiguous US with a very mild winter, I spent New states and throughout southern Canada. Year’s Day at the southern Oregon coast. The adult Gray Hairstreak can have up On grassy hills above the ocean, I saw to a one-and-a-half-inch wingspread. The two Gray Hairstreaks near the top by the upper wings (dorsal view) are deep slate- coastal woods. On the same day I saw a blue with a bright orange patch between Common Buckeye. When coastal weather the two tails on each wing. One tail is very is mild here, a few species can fly about short; the other is a longer, prominent more often. tail. The underside (ventral view) is soft Nectar sources gray with bands of black bars outlined in Nectar sources are many: flowers of white. Orange spots have black/blue spots alfalfa, spreading dogbane, rabbitbrush, within and are near the tails. The tail, with mint, purple loosestrife, goldenrod, Gray Hairstreak butterfly on swamp milkweed at Applegate School. Photo: Linda Kappen. its hair-like extensions, fools predators into buckwheat, and just about any bloom in thinking it is the head of the butterfly. the vicinity of their flight. I have seen the The Gray Hairstreak is just that—a Gray Hairstreak on islands of poison oak at gray streak flashing by with its streak-like the Ashland Imperatrice Hills to the banks pattern and rapid flight, speeding from one of the Rogue River near Galice, where they spot to another. feast on a variety of riverbank blooms, most Habitat often narrowleaf milkweed. One can get a Their habitat is usually open, non- close look as the Gray Hairstreaks nectar in forested sites. They are common in the sun, rubbing their tails back and forth. disturbed, weedy areas; they are not seen Fun fact in deep forests or very cold climates. The Gray Hairstreak is known to be Breeding happens in lower elevations in the top ten Lycaenid species with a near riparian areas of rivers, streams, and successful symbiotic relationship with ants. fields. Males will sit on shrubs waiting to The larvae of the Gray Hairstreak secrete eye a female. The female will lay its eggs a sweet honey-like liquid. Ants will drink on a wide variety of host plants in every this liquid and, in turn, will protect the region, using many host plants within the larvae from predators. different families of plants, thus making The photo shown here was taken in them the most successful generalists. A few the Applegate School Butterfly Habitat of the most common hostplants for the on swamp milkweed, where I can usually Gray Hairstreak in the Pacific Northwest count on seeing a few during the season. are mallows, clovers, buckwheats, docks, Check your blooming flowers oaks, vetches, and many other members throughout the early spring to late summer of the pea family. for this small beauty, which is fun to watch The chrysalides overwinter, and, with up close. an early spring emergence, up to three Linda Kappen broods are possible. The flight period is [email protected]

Happy Mother’s Day! 12 Spring 2018 Applegater ACCESS Food Share Gardens thrive with volunteers BY KIM BARNES

Growing healthy communities plants and listening to the birds. They When I arrived at the ACCESS Food come to learn and share their knowledge Share Garden in Gold Hill on an August about organic gardening. morning, the garden was already abuzz Garden volunteers have discovered with activity. the incomparable joy of preparing and Marilee and Ardella were working eating food they have grown themselves. their way through the 80-foot squash and And they know how good it feels to be zucchini rows, carefully checking under of service. While all garden volunteers Food Share Gardens volunteers in Rogue River (photo, above) tend to rows of the leaves of each plant. They carried five- will bring home produce for themselves vegetables. Student volunteer Mya Manders gallon buckets, which were filling up with and their families to eat this week, the from Gold Hill (photo, left) pale-green patty-pans, shiny dark green vast majority of what we pick will go proudly displays the bounty. zucchinis, and crookneck yellow squash. with Sonny, our volunteer driver, to the Deep in the jungle of tomato vines, I could ACCESS warehouse. From there, it will be Would you like to see a Food Share Garden see Doug and his father, John, reaching for distributed through the ACCESS network in your neighborhood? Do you have land the ripest fruits, a rainbow of red, pink, of 24 emergency food pantries in Jackson to offer or know a few people who might and orange. County, including one in the Applegate. want to help build this kind of community At the wash station, Keiko and Candi The fresh organic vegetables we have grown resource? Let us know! You can always start were pulling cucumbers out of cold water will help provide low-income families by signing up for Plant-A-Row. ACCESS to dry on draining racks before they and individuals with nutritious food they will supply you with seeds to plant a couple sorted, boxed, and weighed them. There might otherwise not be able to afford. of extra rows in your home garden to was already a collection of buckets on the Since 2010, Food Share Gardens have donate to ACCESS. table beside them, filled to the brim with produced 400,000 pounds of organic For more information, email tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants waiting vegetables for the ACCESS network of [email protected] or call 541- to be cleaned and boxed. The wash station emergency food pantries. It all began in 779-6691, ext 309. is where everyone will end up in an hour Gold Hill, where a group of residents Kim Barnes • [email protected] or so, sitting on buckets under the shade started an organic garden to supply their of the madrone trees, wiping and sorting local food pantries. After a successful first tomatoes, talking and laughing. season, they brought the model to the Rogue Farm Corps: As I entered the gate, six-year-old ACCESS Nutrition Department. Seeing Michael came barreling out from behind the value of fresh produce for pantry a cluster of sunflowers and embraced me clients, many of whom suffer from chronic Passing knowledge to the next generation at the knee before grabbing my hand and disease, ACCESS developed the model BY ASHLEY ROOD pulling me into the garden to see how the into a countywide program. Community beans we planted last week have begun partners generously donate land and Our working landscapes—our farms, to germinate. I waved at his mother, water to the project, and each site enjoys ranches, and forests—distinguish our Linda, as we passed, laughing at Michael’s the leadership of an experienced local community and our state. Not only exuberance. Charlie, the garden manager, volunteer garden manager. do they keep our farmers’ markets and was on the other side of the beans, picking Volunteers always welcome groceries stocked with fresh, healthy, local cantaloupe. He came to me with a list of New volunteers are always welcome food, but they stimulate our economy questions, observations, and supply needs, at the Food Share Gardens, whether you and nurture our ecology by fueling export but first things first, a hug. And smell the have years of gardening experience or markets, providing jobs, and harboring sweetness of this melon! He would cut this none at all. We are in the gardens two to wildlife habitat. These lands provided one open for everyone to snack on while three mornings a week from March until eight billion dollars to Oregon’s economy we worked. November. We also love to have extra help in 2015, and Jackson County’s more than Food Share Gardens volunteers from community service groups and school 1,700 farms and ranches have an annual I have the great privilege of participating groups. Last year, two high school seniors market value of over $64 million. in this community as the coordinator of the completed their senior projects in the We are about to see an unprecedented ACCESS Food Share Gardens, and I am gardens. This year we hope to have more shift in ownership of these working lands. lucky to experience scenes like this, not homeschooling families join us. Seventy-two percent of Jackson County only here in Gold Hill, but in Medford, Food Share Gardens farms’ owners are over the age of 55. As Rogue Farm interns get hands-on training at Central Point, and Rogue River as well. in the Applegate? these farmers retire over the next 20 years, Dancing Bear Farms in Williams. Everyone here today volunteers their ACCESS is committed to supporting a lot of our farmland will change hands. time. They come to the garden because the development of new Food Share What will happen with that farmland? agricultural production. “It’s inspiring to they love the feeling of community. They Gardens in Jackson County, and we would How do we continue the Applegate legacy see these passionate people learn and thrive come because they enjoy being with the love to see one in the Applegate Valley. of keeping working lands working? How on the land,” said Megan Fehrman, Rogue do we keep our green landscapes from Farm Corps education director and farmer being paved over, from being sliced and at ByGeorge Farm, a dairy in the Applegate diced into smaller plots that are better for Valley. Megan would know—her brothers homes than food production? Johnny and Tyson, who run the dairy, got A good place to start is to work with their start as Rogue Farm Corps interns. Carol Milazzo our land stewards: our current and future The event on Monday, April 23, is open farmers, ranchers, and foresters. And we to the public and designed to help young need to start with what farmers think about folks like interns take their next steps, while Debbie Tollefson Don Tollefson Principle Broker Principle Broker but don’t talk about enough: financing also helping established farmers learn how Owner Owner Broker 541-973-9184 541-973-9185 541-415-1844 farmland and succession planning. to pass on their legacies. On April 23, Rogue Farm Corps is If you are an aspiring farmer, come on gathering together aspiring and retiring out to learn about creative ways to start farmers to talk about the nitty-gritty your farm business with topics on creative List with our winning team at our of farmland access and how to pass on leasing, financing options, and agricultural the farm to the next generation. It’s a real estate practices. If you are a retiring Ruch office or our new company continuation of a tradition that started farmer, come learn from experts about here in the Applegate Valley 15 years ago what it takes to pass your farm and your when Rogue Farm Corps was founded by business to the next generation of farmers, Applegate farmers interested in passing ranchers, and foresters. There’s also time their knowledge gained through sweat and for us all to gather and connect, building tears on to the next generation of farmers. a community to ensure the future of our Rogue Farm Corps places interns and farms in Applegate Valley. apprentices on farms and ranches in four The event will take place at the Rogue at the Jacksonville location. chapters around the state of Oregon, Community College/Southern Oregon including the Rogue Valley. Host farms like University campus, 101 South Bartlett Sun Spirit Farm, located on 30 riverfront Street, Medford, from 7:30 am - 5 pm. Applegate Valley Office Jacksonville Office acres of certified organic farmland along Breakfast and lunch are included. The 7380 Highway 238 / Ruch, OR 935 North Fifth Street / Jacksonville, OR the Applegate River, give beginning cost is $20. Register through ashley@ Next to Ruch Country Store By the Gas Station farmers and ranchers hands-on training, roguevalleyfarmcorps.org. 541-261-0949 541-218-0947 while Rogue Farm Corps coordinates Ashley Rood classes to teach them the ins and outs of [email protected] Applegater Spring 2018 13 GRAPE TALK

under white noble grapes are roussanne, carmenére, an Applegate Valley which is similar to chardonnay, and old varietal from marsanne, which is similar to viognier. France’s Bordeaux vintners experiment Vintners throughout the valley are region. experimenting with new grape stocks Herb Quady Debbie Tollefson and new wine blends. Bill and Barbara of Quady North with wine varietals Steele at Cowhorn Vineyard make a is also doing some interesting creations. lovely marsanne-roussanne blend, a His Pistoleta blend includes marsanne, BY DEBBIE TOLLEFSON personal favorite of mine. Rachel Martin rousanne, viognier, and grenache blanc. at Red Lily Vineyards recently released a Herb’s complex Rosé includes counoise (a The list of grape varieties planted in qualities or properties”). The red noble vermentino, a wine similar to sauvignon variety of grape from the Rhône Valley that the Applegate Valley has really grown grapes are pinot noir, grenache, merlot, blanc from southern France, northern is often used in blending for Châteauneuf- in the last few years. According to Greg sangiovese, nebbiolo, tempranillo, cabernet Italy, or Sardinia, but now grown in the du-Pape) blended with grenache, syrah, Jones, a former professor at Southern sauvignon, syrah, and malbec. The white Applegate Valley. and mourvèdre. He also has created a Oregon University and now director noble grapes are pinot grigio, riesling, Albarino, a Spanish white-wine grape version of GSM, a well-known Rhône of wine education at Linfield College sauvignon blanc, chenin blanc, moscato, similar to pinot grigio or chenin blanc, blend that uses grenache, syrah, and in McMinnville, Oregon, our area of gewurztraminer, semillon, viognier, and is being grown in our AVA, along with mourvèdre to create a red wine with southern Oregon is ideal for a very large chardonnay. According to my research, verdejo (also called verdicchio), which is complexity, but without too much tannin. variety of grapes. He estimates there nebbiolo (red) and semillon (white) are the similar to sauvignon blanc. These accomplished wine makers and are over 75 different varieties of grapes only varieties of noble grapes not grown in Sangiovese, one of the red noble grapes, many others are realizing that our climate is growing in and around the Applegate our area. If you know of growers of either is Italy’s top wine varietal. It is similar to perfect for experimenting with all kinds of Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). grape, let me know. other Italian grape varietals such as Chianti. interesting grape varieties. The innovative There are 18 grape varieties known Both red and white noble grapes have Steve Hall, winemaker at Troon Vineyard, and award-winning wines being created as “noble” grapes (defined by Merriam- additional varieties, a number of which also has created award-winning wines blending from these varietals are putting our AVA at Webster as “possessing very high or excellent grow in the Applegate Valley. Categories sangiovese with mourvèdre and tannat. the forefront of Oregon’s highly acclaimed Mourvèdre is a very old Spanish varietal wine industry. brought to Spain by the Phoenicians, and Debbie Tollefson tannat is a grape variety from southwest [email protected] France and now also the national grape of Uruguay. Both mourvèdre and tannat are grown locally. San Francisco Chronicle Joe Ginet at Plaisance Ranch created a 2018 Wine Competition 100 percent mourvèdre—the 2009 vintage — Applegate Valley winners — is currently available. He is also growing and experimenting with mondeuse and Best of Class Augustino Syrah 2014

Double Gold: Schmidt Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Touriga Nationale 2014, and Chardonnay 2015

Gold: Schmidt Family Vineyards Albarino 2016 and Serra Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2014

For a complete list of winners, visit Cowhorn Vineyard Quady North GSM winejudging.com/medal-winners. Marsanne Rousanne blend. (grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre) blend. Plaisance Ranch 100 percent Mourvèdre.

Voices of the Applegate Spring Concerts Our new director, Jenifer Knipple, has launched our choir into the realm of New World music. Our concerts will be held in Jacksonville on Friday, April 6, at 7 pm at the old Presbyterian Church at 6th and California Streets, and in Applegate on Sunday, April 8, at 3 pm at Jenifer Knipple, the Applegate River Lodge, 15100 Highway 238. We will new director of be singing songs from Russia, Iceland, and Korea, as well Voices of the Applegate. as American folk songs and modern classical selections. Jenifer Knipple has an impressive background in music education and a unique worldview, which she demonstrated with nearly 500 Central Point students on a virtual trip around the world in “The Magic Cape Show” in January. She has been bringing music into the schools of southern Oregon with Rogue World Music, whose mission is “building community and cultural awareness through world music performance, education, and participation.” Our rehearsals are exciting and educational. We look forward to our Wednesday evenings together to sing and learn a variety of songs from many different countries. Our rehearsals take place every Wednesday evening at the Ruch Library meeting room from 7 - 8:30 pm. Our next session will begin in early September. All are invited to attend. There is no audition required. Registration fee is $60, and some scholarships are available. Come join us for our next year of singing together. And don’t forget to attend our concerts in April! Joan Peterson • 541-846-6988 14 Spring 2018 Applegater and observers. I A partnership for life am also committed to stewardship of BY BARBARA CHASTEEN the plants that are putting down roots As you drive up Thompson Creek the Applegate, the Rogue, and the ocean in their new and Road, you pass a stretch of stream that once again. improved home. looks as if it has been invaded by plastic Another life cycle enriches the land as APWC has 25 pads and chopsticks lined up along the well as our plates: the salmon that are born years of experience banks and the floodplain. The plastic pads in the stream grow large enough to head for in riparian surround new plants; the sticks protect the ocean and eventually return to spawn restoration them from brush cutters that will keep and die, bringing back essential nutrients, partnerships. The invasive competition like blackberries from especially phosphorus, from the sea. project team has returning. It takes some imagination to see To me, it was a priority to restore this listened to my a future riparian forest. riparian area to a healthy condition. I ideas and questions When I arrived on this land two imagined tall cottonwoods, pines and and been respectful years ago, the creek looked battered, cedars, aspens and maples shading the of our privacy. I’ve sunburned, and used up. Isolated old trees stream, with shrubs and bunch grasses been kept in the looked down on a stream that had been scattered on the banks to shelter and feed loop as the stages channelized, mined, and poisoned with a host of animals. of the project herbicides. Blackberry thickets had taken How to make restoration a reality? It moved forward. As over most of the banks and the floodplain. requires not only money but knowledge, a citizen scientist, To me, the stream is not just a conduit energy, and extra hands. I was fortunate I am pleased for water or a sweet sound to hear on quiet enough to connect with the Applegate that this project evenings. It’s part of an interactive system, Partnership and Watershed Council includes studies of a life cycle. Thompson Creek begins when (APWC). Once we found endangered various planting water rises out of the Pacific Ocean into coho salmon clustered in a sheltering pool, techniques. clouds that drop rain and snow onto there was a strong impetus for finding grant I was (and still Top photo: Before restoration work looking downstream from Thompson Creek Road, March 16, 2016. Grayback and Steve Peak. It runs off the money to add this stretch of the stream am) impatient for Bottom photo: After restoration work, maintenance, rocks and percolates down through the to the ongoing restoration projects along quick results, but and planting, December 1, 2017. forest soils that filter and slowly release Thompson Creek. neither nature Photos: Applegate Partnership and Watershed Council. it downstream. Some of it sinks into An enterprise like this takes a team. As the nor partnerships groundwater basins to replenish wells landowner, I am responsible for providing work that way. and springs. As it moves downstream, the a “good faith” cash contribution, a source APWC is committed to a number of the banks, the weasel that braves the water supports wildlife and farm animals, of summer irrigation water, other support projects that need to be coordinated with open to drink, the deer that step carefully irrigates crops, and nurtures trout, salmon, such as space and shelter for materials, staff, volunteers, and contractors, with between the stakes (and hopefully are and many species of birds before joining and long-term access for contractors the weather and the seasons, and with discouraged from eating new shoots availability of machines and materials. by deer repellent), the beaver that help Considering all these factors, our project engineer a healthier watercourse. We have is moving forward well, and I know that created a living and ongoing partnership those thousands of young plants are as we work for leafy shade, healthier soil, growing as fast as they can. cooler water, and cleaner air. We share the stream with our neighbors, Barbara Chasteen not only humans but the birds that [email protected] continue to float, fly, feed, and nest along 707-217-4626

Experience I� 1� freshfruit and :.'-:1 -· . berries from \ f1 your own backyard!, .,. ,,' �lJNURSERY SHOOTING STAR

wholesale • retail • design & consultation

• 7-acre nursery specializing in deer-resistant & drought-tolerant plants • Large selection of fruit trees and berries, as well as ornamentals • Delivery options and knowledgeable staff

Fruits of Persia:~ NewestFigs, Pomegranates, Spring &Class Persimmons, ~ March 3 Register for this and more at roguevalleynursery.com. Applegater Spring 2018 15 resilient than a homogenous Other kinds of flowering plants one! Seed companies across the country have recognized in the Applegate that the seed coming from BY STACEY DENTON our valley is an indispensable part of organic farming and It’s true, farms in the Applegate really was formerly an important alfalfa-seed gardening throughout the do grow other kinds of flowering plants. In production zone. It may be a little hard for US, and yet this might be fact, for decades our region has supported gardeners to relate to seed production on a fresh idea to many locals. thriving farms dedicated to growing that scale, but growing seed from vegetable, With so many gardeners in flowers to produce seeds. The same hot, dry flower, culinary, and medicinal herb crops the Applegate, there are ample summers and abundant water that make has also been an important focus for opportunities to support the for good cannabis-growing conditions also Applegate farmers and homesteaders. success of Applegate farmers make southern Oregon one of the best Another wave of our region’s seed Harvesting “Double Click” Cosmos seed at Flora Farm by purchasing seed locally. In places to grow seed crops in the country. growing began back in the 1970s, when in Williams. Photo: Rob Grobman, Heartisan Films. addition, your crop will have Our weather helps us avoid disease back-to-the-landers who moved into the the advantage of being grown problems and pestilence that farmers Applegate focused their efforts on food with seed adapted to the soil farther north in the Pacific Northwest (and production and dabbling with seed. Stone other small-scale farmers to dedicate and climatic conditions of our bioregion. from the Midwest to the East Coast) battle Broke Hippie Seeds was born in 1974 themselves to growing organic seed. If you buy your seeds from a seed with their greater humidity. in Ruch and later became Sow Organic Presently, I count 12 farms in the company outside the area, make sure to The work of seed growing in the Seeds in Williams. Sow Organic was the Applegate that are growing seed for ask where its seed is coming from. Also Applegate has a long history. Some folks first retail seed packet business in our distribution throughout our bioregion, as ask which varieties it sells are coming may not know that the Grants Pass region, and its pioneering work has since well as nationally and internationally. These from southern Oregon farms. Many seed Grange Co-op used to have a two-story influenced the success of many other farms include Bluebird Farm, Siskiyou companies advertise their businesses as seed-cleaning and bagging machine for purveyors of organic seeds—Seeds of Seeds/Seven Seeds Farm, Flora Farm, farm-based, giving the impression that handling small grain crops, some of which Change, Strictly Medicinal Seeds, Siskiyou Lupine Knoll Farm, Wandering Fields their farms grow the seed, but more often came from the Applegate. And Wilderville Seeds, among others—and inspired many Farm, White Oak Farm & Education than not just a few of their offerings are Center, L & R Family Farm, Wolf Gulch coming from US farms and the rest is Farm, Dancing Bear Farm/Madrona, coming from China and Europe. Notes from a Rogue entomologist Ridgeline Meadow Farm, Feral Farm, and As the price of agricultural land rises in Strictly Medicinal Seeds/Horizon Herbs. the valley, supporting local, organic farm ‘An inordinate fondness for If we consider garlic seed, the list expands businesses by buying from them will be to include Whistling Duck Farm. These essential to maintaining the agricultural beetles’...and invasive pests farms are either selling directly to gardeners character (open space, working farms, and farmers like Siskiyou Seeds/Seven long-term residency, safety, knowing BY RICHARD J. HILTON Seeds Farm, Strictly Medicinals/Horizon your neighbors, stewardship ethic) and Herbs, and Whistling Duck Farm or environmental integrity (clean water, The title phrase is taken from a quote wholesaling seed to other seed companies healthy soils, pollinator habitat, safe food) (attributed to the biologist JBS Haldane) with a national presence, like Johnny’s and of this valley we love. that has become rather famous, especially High Mowing. Stacey Denton in entomological circles. As the story goes, As we consider the future of the Owner, Flora Farm Haldane was asked by a theologian what agricultural terrain of the Applegate Valley, [email protected] one could conclude as to the nature of both literally and figuratively, it would Stacey Denton has farmed and gardened in the Creator from a study of his creation, behoove us to look beyond cannabis and Williams for 16 years and grows flower seed and Haldane answered, “An inordinate wine grapes. A diversified economy is more for Siskiyou Seeds. fondness for beetles.” While the quote’s precise origin may be in doubt, it is very Cereal leaf beetle true that there are more described species (biolib.cz/en/image/id98458/). of beetles than any other order of insects. Presently, there are nearly one million Portland and Hillsboro. The Japanese known species of insects, with beetles beetle has a very wide host range and is a accounting for about 40 percent. pest of many crops, including grapes and The highest levels of insect diversity fruit trees; however, it is best known as a occur in the tropical rain forest, where pest of home landscapes where larval grubs beetle species often specialize on specific attack the roots of lawn grass and adults types of plants. However, even in our are a notorious pest of roses. Eradication temperate zone we have a wide array efforts are under way, but the City of Roses of beetles and many examples of beetle may have a new pest to contend with. specialists. In the Spring 2010 Applegater, One invasive pest to look for this I discussed local cucumber beetles and flea spring is the cereal leaf beetle. This beetle beetles that can plague vegetable gardens. came to the US in 1962 and made its I have also discussed the problem of way to Oregon in 1999 and to the Rogue exotic insects, new to the area and removed Valley in 2009-10. Since then we have from their native natural enemies. These been monitoring it and releasing parasitic invasive insects often become serious pests wasps to provide biological control. The and threaten our crops and forests. In the beetle, while small (a quarter inch), is quite US, more and more of these invasive pests distinctive and attractive with metallic blue originate from Asia as trans-Pacific trade elytra (i.e., wing covers) and an orange has increased in recent decades. Many thorax. The original infestation was by beetles fall into this group, with the Asian the Rogue River near the Table Rocks, but long-horned beetle and the emerald ash infestations have since been found in the borer as prime examples, both of which vicinity of Jacksonville. can kill trees. The US Department of Larvae feed on small grains (wheat, Agriculture has programs to halt the spread barley, and oats). If populations get too of invasive species, but it appears difficult high, treatment could be necessary. The in the case of the emerald ash borer, which larvae try to protect themselves by putting has spread to 31 states since first being their feces on their backs, which is rather found in 2002 and has already killed fascinating but also disgusting. However, hundreds of millions of ash trees. Neither the parasitic wasp can evade this defense species has appeared in Oregon yet, but and lays its eggs inside the beetle larvae. the Oregon Department of Agriculture is While the wasp is now established here, it on the lookout. has not provided the high level of control One exotic species that is not a recent that has been seen in some other areas. arrival to the US is the Japanese beetle. Our hope is that this will be the year the This insect came from Japan and was found parasitic wasp (with its “fondness” for the in New Jersey in 1916. It slowly spread beetle) will keep the local cereal leaf beetle throughout most of the eastern US and population in check. has appeared periodically near the Portland Richard J. Hilton • 541-772-5165 x227 Airport, probably brought in on cargo Senior Faculty Research Assistant / planes. There was an infestation in Cave Entomologist Junction, but it was successfully eradicated Oregon State University-Southern (Winter 2013 Applegater). But in 2016, Oregon Research and Extension Center populations were found in an area between [email protected] 16 Spring 2018 Applegater

— Applegate Library — — Josephine Community Libraries —

Christine Grubb is “delighted to serve up an appointment—call Bret at 541-734- Chess Club at the library as the new manager of the Applegate 3921 or email [email protected]. The Williams branch of Josephine Library.” While she says she is not a “real In case you missed the big Community Libraries is hosting chess local,” she has called Jacksonville home announcement, there are no more late fees club every Tuesday afternoon from 3 - 5 for the last 15½ years. Christine grew up for overdue books! Another reason to love pm. All ages and skill levels are welcome. in Pennsylvania and met her husband, your library! Additionally, patrons will Chess boards and pieces are provided. married, and had their children in Virginia. soon be able to check out hotspot devices Registration is not required. Her husband was born in Bend (a “real” (for wireless internet connection) for two Williams branch weekly storytime Oregonian!). She now considers the family weeks. Visit jcls.org for details on all the Bring the whole family to the weekly to be Oregonians. new happenings! children’s storytime and craft at 3:30 Come in to the library, say hello Here’s just a brief list of what Applegate pm every Wednesday. Registration is not to Christine, and talk about ideas to Library offers: required. further Applegate Library’s presence and • Hotspot devices to check out Farewell note from Evelyn Roether attraction to the community. Christine • Audiobooks Please join me in welcoming Ellie has been working for the library in various • Magazines Avis, the incoming branch manager at the New Williams Branch LIbrary capacities for ten years and says she learns • Book advice Williams branch of Josephine Community manager, Ellie Avis. something new every day. Look for a notice • DVDs Library District. What a wonderful little of an upcoming “meet and greet” with the • Music CDs (all genres) library it is! With our stalwart crew of district. We have plans to expand hours, Friends of Applegate Library to learn more. • Wi-Fi volunteers, a supportive community, and add new programming, and recruit new Susie Beckham continues to provide her • Public computers a stellar staff of colleagues at the newly volunteers in the coming months. Most kind and generous service as the assistant • Digital Media Services formed Josephine Community Library importantly, I hope to continue serving librarian. She is also the storytime reader, • Interlibrary loans District, the Williams branch is poised to you with the best rural library services so bring your preschoolers (ages 3 - 5) • Copying, faxing, scanning, mobile continue serving the literary needs of the around! —Ellie Avis every Saturday from 10:30 - 11:00 am to printing community. Williams Branch Library is located at enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, and fun at • Meeting room (for classes, etc.) Now that there is a permanent tax 20695 Williams Highway in Williams. the library. This is a great opportunity to • Book clubs/Book Club in a Bag base to fund our libraries, we can begin to For more information, contact branch encourage an interest in books and reading. • Telescope to check out envision and implement improvements to manager Ellie Avis at 541-846-7020 or Applegate Library has its very own Applegate Library is located at 18485 library services. More money is available to [email protected]. “digital dude,” Bret Fearrien, a member North Applegate Road, Applegate, and is purchase items for the library collection When will the community of the Library Digital Services team. open Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 - 6 pm and all branches are open longer hours start seeing changes Bret can answer your technical questions and Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 and more days. to the library district? (computers, laptops, smartphones, am - 2 pm. For more information, contact I look forward to staying connected with Some changes will be ongoing, such as e-readers, iPads, etc.) every Tuesday from manager Christine Grubb at 541-846- the district and the Josephine Community the addition of a more robust collection of 2 - 4:30 pm at the library. You can also set 7346 or [email protected]. Library Foundation, hopefully working materials and more programs for all ages. with many of you, to keep our Josephine The following changes are happening over County library system vibrant and the first quarter of 2018: — Ruch Library — responsive to the community. I will also • January 1—Josephine Community be focusing my personal efforts on revising Library District takes over operations of Dog trainer Cary the Williams Area Trail Guide! all four library branches and all district Voorhees is back, Thank you all for your patronage and employees are hired. just in time for the please stop by the Williams branch to • Mid-February—Illinois Valley, Williams, Chinese Year of the give a hearty welcome to our new branch and Wolf Creek branches open more Dog! She will present manager! —Evelyn Roether hours. a program, “Selecting Introductory note from Ellie Avis, • Mid-March—Grants Pass branch library and Training a Rescue new Williams branch manager open more hours. Dog,” on Saturday, Hello Applegate Community! I’d like to • April 1—Out-of-district patrons will March 10, from 2 take this opportunity to introduce myself start paying for library cards. - 3:30 pm at Ruch as the new Williams branch manager. I’ve New hours for Library. In her 34- Dresses created out of pillow cases at Ruch Library lived in Williams for over two years and each rural branch year career, Cary has to send to girls in Malawi, Africa. have been lucky enough to get to know • Illinois Valley. Thursday, Friday, trained service dogs, many of you through community events, Saturday: 11 am - 5 pm. Wednesday: pets, and competition dogs for various dog Harry Potter comes to Ruch! There’s preschool activities, and my work with the 11 am - 6 pm. sports. Cary has also worked with rescue a Quidditch Tournament going on at Sugarloaf Community Association. • Williams. Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday: dogs and currently has two, whom she Jackson County Libraries through April. Before moving to Williams, I lived 1 - 6 pm. Friday: 11 am - 4 pm. adores. Her training tips will benefit any You can enter the contest weekly, earning in the Bay Area for several years, where • Wolf Creek. Wednesday, Saturday: 1 - 6 dog owner, so you will not want to miss ten points for your favorite house and I attended graduate school at University pm. Friday: 11 am - 4 pm. her presentation! having a chance to win the monthly of California, Berkeley, and worked as a As each branch opens for more hours, More little dresses for Africa! On drawing for a prize. Ruch will hide a Snitch researcher at several university-affiliated more volunteers will be needed in order Saturday, March 17, from noon - 3 pm, somewhere in the library from April 3 - 10 institutes and nonprofits. Although I’ve to operate. come to the library to help us create dresses, and reward the finder with a prize. Come volunteered at libraries in the past, this is If you would like to get involved or made from colorful, like-new pillow cases, in and try your luck! From April 17 - 24, my first position as an official employee. need more information about Josephine for girls in Malawi, Africa, who have “Dobby” will be in Ruch, inviting patrons I am so excited to be joining Josephine County Libraries, contact Brandace never had anything new. Bring a sewing to take a selfie with him and enter it into a Community Libraries during this time Rojo at 541-476-0571 or email info@ machine if you have one, pillow cases (not countywide contest. Winners’ pictures will of transition to a publicly funded library josephinelibrary.org. white), scissors, trim, seam binding, and be displayed at Harry Potter World during sturdy fabric ribbon for shoulder straps. the Medford Comic Con (April 28 - 29). him directly at [email protected], call Tuesdays from 10:15 - 10:45 am. This is We need people willing to sew, iron, pin, In addition to our sizzling Hot Off your library to set up an appointment, or not only a great early literacy program, but draw with fabric paint, thread ribbons into the Press Books, we will now be leasing just drop in. it is also a great way for families to connect. the dresses, etc. Last year we discovered some additional copies of newly released The Friends of Ruch Library (FORL) Preschool Storytime is from 11:30 am - that being part of a busy group creating books, allowing us to put more copies are pleased to have a warm, clean, and 12:15 pm and includes a simple craft. And dresses was so inspirational and rewarding into circulation at the library. Then, when expansive space in the “Book Barn” next to Legos are available for all ages, any time. that we all voted to do it again! All ages and interest wanes, Jackson County Library the A-Frame Bookstore for sorting books. Ruch Library is located at 7919 skill levels are welcome. Services can sell that title back to the Please bring donations for FORL to the Highway 238 in Jacksonville (Ruch) and The Stories of Southern Oregon company so we can make room for more! library during our open hours. Your book is open Tuesdays from 10 am - 5 pm, project organized community forums Check out the great titles we have now! donations are tax-deductible. Thursdays from 1 - 7 pm, and Saturdays last spring, archiving local stories and We are proud to offer Personalized FORL will be holding a $5-A-Bag from 11 am - 4 pm. photos for Southern Oregon University’s Tech Services at Ruch Library on Tuesday Sale on the first Saturday of each month. For more information, contact branch Hannon Library Digital Collection. Join mornings to help you with your needs Join us for Babies and Wobblers manager Thalia Truesdell at 541-899-7438 the storytellers for a reception at Ruch regarding Hoopla, Libby Overdrive, etc., Storytime for children 0 - 3 years on or [email protected]. Library on Saturday, May 5, from 2 - 4 on your phone, iPad, or computer. Bret pm to hear some of the stories and view Fearrien is here from 10 am - 12:30 pm the videos. For more information about the making movies, audiobooks, and music HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! project, see the article on page 3. readily available to you. You can contact Applegater Spring 2018 17 ‘Future of Soil’ learning series offered Our community BY MAUD POWELL AND JENNIFER ZEITLER website is live! Farmers, ranchers, The Applegate and gardeners in Valley Connect website the Applegate, and everywhere for that (applegateconnect.org) is matter, rely on soil to live and expanding every grow crops and provide day with more registrants, the forage and pasture to viewers, and directory and raise animals. The health calendar posts! Let’s keep of our soil, therefore, is paramount to food this site growing to become and fiber production. the number one website for Between February and Attendees at a February session of “The Future of Soil: Ensuring residents and visitors to find Resilient Food and Agricultural Systems,” sponsored by June this year, Our Our Family Farms, a local nonprofit organization. information about the Applegate Valley. Family Farms, a local Photo provided by Chris Hardy. Here’s how to use this invaluable website: nonprofit, is bringing together national • Events and directory. Find events on the calendar and local experts, local farmers, and scientists for or $20 at the door (based on availability). organizations in the directory or register (free) to post your a six-part series on the future of soil. Our Scholarships are available. own community event or to add your organization to the Family Farms is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit Workshop series schedule directory. that protects our farms, families, and future Two sessions were held in February: • Community projects. Learn about projects of interest to by educating, advocating, and inspiring (1) History of seed, food, and farming farmers, policy makers, and the community practices in southern Oregon, our state, and the public and submit your own community projects. at large to support regenerative agricultural nation, with presentations by Red Earth • News and stories. Read about local organizations and submit practices. We envision a thriving food and Descendants, Larry Mullaly (Southern your organization’s news and stories. agricultural system with seed diversity and Oregon Historical Society), Don Tipping The intent of this new community website is to become the farmable land for generations to come. (Siskiyou Seeds), and Our Family Farms, primary connection and source of information about what’s going “The Future of Soil: Ensuring Resilient and (2) Soil is Alive to Nurture the Next Food and Agricultural Systems” will Crop Without Added Toxic Chemicals, on, where you can find services, and who’s doing what throughout explore the impacts that our everyday with Dr. Elaine Ingham (Soil Foodweb). the Applegate Valley. decisions have on soil health, from what Session three, March 20, Medford Thank you to The Ford Family Foundation and Community seeds we buy to how we grow plants to Library. Pest Management beyond Systems, LLC, for their ongoing support of this community project. what foods we choose to put on our table. Neonicotinoids: Predatory Insects For more information, email [email protected]. The workshops will address both the and Regenerative Agriculture with Dr. producer and the greater community. The Jonathan Lundgren (Blue Dasher Farm). final session will be a celebration of our Agricultural industry from 1 - 5 pm; local food system featuring food and drink community from 6 - 8 pm. vintners, orchardists, restauranteurs, and Sponsors of the series include Our produced in southern Oregon. Session four, April 17, Medford consumers will discuss why they have Family Farms, Lush Cosmetics, Mountain Sessions three, four, and five feature Library. Pesticide Impacts on chosen an organic-based business model. Rose Herbs, Ashland Food Co-op, Dr. two tracks: one for people working in Farm Workers, Consumers, and the Agricultural industry from 1 - 5 pm; Bronner, Pacific Botanicals, Beyond Toxics, agriculture and the other for interested Environment, featuring Lisa Arkin community from 6 - 8 pm. Wild Wines, and Willow Witt Ranch. community members. Participants can (Beyond Toxics), Dr. Ray Seidler (retired Session six, June. The date and location For more details about “The Future of register for single sessions. Join us for one EPA scientist), Dr. Richard Fenske (Acting will be announced later for Celebrate Our Soil,” call 541-690-8053 or email contact@ or more of the workshop sessions and learn Chair, Department of Environmental and Local Bounty! At this final event, the ourfamilyfarms.org. more about soil health and how to preserve Occupational Health Sciences, University agricultural industry and the community Maud Powell it for future generations. of Washington), and a local resident and will come together to celebrate the bounty Our Family Farms Board Member Thanks to generous sponsors, we can farm worker. Agricultural industry from of our local food system. Tantalize your Jennifer Zeitler offer this educational series at a discounted 3 - 5 pm; community from 6 - 8 pm. taste buds with the foods and libations of Our Family Farms Staff rate. Community members and agriculture Session five, May 15,Medford Library. southern Oregon. [email protected] industry professionals can attend individual Oregon Businesses and Regenerative sessions for $15 each with preregistration Organic Agriculture. Local farmers,

Soul Boxes: Art revealing the gun violence epidemic

The purpose of epidemic to the the Soul Box Project entire world. is to visually reveal A similar the growing number project was of gun-related deaths started by middle- and injuries in the school children in US. That number Tennessee studying is now so large it is the Holocaust who incomprehensible— wanted to know nearly 170,000 since 2014, not including what the number “six million” looked like. 22,000 yearly gun-related suicides. They asked survivors to send their stories Dennis Meiners and Leslie Lee, former and a paper clip for each victim lost. Several Applegaters now living in Portland, are years later they had 30 million paper clips making and collecting simple origami and had built a museum out of a German boxes measuring 3”x 3” x 1.5” to use in World War II railcar. This project is the a variety of public art displays. Each box subject of the video, One Clip at a Time. represents one victim. Their goal is to Make a box. It counts. accumulate over 200,000 boxes, but as the Ruch Library has shipped over 500 Soul number of boxes grows, they will represent Boxes, created by staff, patrons, friends, different sets of statistics along the way. and Ruch middle-school students, to How can a bunch of paper boxes Dennis and Leslie. The project needs tens change gun violence? Maybe in the of thousands more boxes. If you want same way that past projects have raised to help create this visual comment on a worldwide awareness by counting national tragedy, we have instructions and victims. One example, the Names Project some paper, which we have cut to size from AIDS Memorial Quilt, originally created old calendars, maps, and magazines for in 1988 to commemorate AIDS victims, making boxes. Stop by Ruch Library and grew to hundreds of panels covering the let us get you started! National Mall in Washington, DC, in Thalia Truesdell • 541-899-7438 1996, bringing awareness of the AIDS Ruch Library Branch Manager 18 Spring 2018 Applegater OPINIONS The forest for the trees: The future depends on us Global warming is here now BY LUKE RUEDIGER Do you love the BY ALAN JOURNET Applegate Valley for its natural beauty? Do In the Winter 2017 Applegater, Alan or 8 to 20 years. Importantly, an FRI of 8 you value the wildlands, Voetsch wrote a lengthy condemnation means that about 12.5 percent of the forest old-growth forests, of climate science, climate scientists, and burns every year. Since the imposition clear-running streams, concerned individuals who understand and of fire suppression, the FRI has shifted and scenic vistas of accept that science. Rather than respond substantially—now any given location the Applegate Valley? to his criticisms of climate science, I will burns only once every century or more. Although we all benefit focus on one issue that is highly germane Although fire suppression has been from these important to the Applegate: wildfire. successful, forest drying and warming natural amenities, many Forest ecology reveals a connection from global warming is defeating that of these values still exist between forest fire and global warming that effort as risk rises again. Rogue River- in our watershed due to A view across Long Gulch from Wellington Butte is clear, convincing, and well understood. Siskiyou National Forest supervisor, Rob the hard work of local in the Wellington Wildlands and the While many individuals blame regional MacWhorter, recently reported that, in residents who have planning area for the Middle Applegate Timber Sale. fires either on environmental regulations 2017, some 14.5 percent of the forest passionately advocated or overly dense forests, the best predictors area burned, a value not much different for their backyard forests, wildlands, and is unknown at this time what logging will for forecasting a “severe” versus “normal” from the 12.5 percent historic value at streams. The Applegate Valley has a long be proposed, the planning area includes fire year—reported as long ago as 2006 an eight-year FRI. Apparently the area history of community-based collaboration, the beautiful Wellington Butte Roadless in the journal Science—are the timing of burned in 2017 was consistent with the environmental activism, and advocacy for Area, the Enchanted Forest Trail, Billy spring snowmelt and temperature during region’s pre-suppression history. Unless we public lands. Mountain, Old Blue, large sections of the the growing season. Trends in these factors collectively acknowledge global warming Many of the places we know and love proposed ART, and portions of the newly are induced by global warming. According as the root cause of the increasing fire risk, today have been protected by the efforts created East ART. We hope that BLM will to Westerling et al. (2006, Science: 313 pp it is difficult to imagine how we will ever of local residents. For instance, a dam focus on restoring previously impacted 940-943), the fire season in our western curtail the fires. was once proposed at the confluence of lands rather than damaging currently forests is now two and half months longer But, as most Applegaters know, our dry Yale Creek and the Little Applegate River, intact, old forests and roadless areas. than in the 1970s. forests are both fire-prone and fire-adapted. major housing developments have been The Rogue River-Siskiyou National A 2012 study reported in the Proceedings This means fire is essential for maintaining proposed in Ruch and Williams, timber Forest and BLM have been collaborating of the National Academy of Science correlated healthy forests. We also need to accept sales and new roads were proposed across with local community members on a biomass burning with climate trends over this reality and manage our forests in the face of Wagner Butte into the heart of widely supported project in the Upper 3,000 years. This revealed that current recognition of its importance. what is now the Red Buttes Wilderness, Applegate Valley. Although a final proposal climatic trends, combined with the Also noteworthy is the fact that Oregon’s and over the years, nearly every currently and environmental assessment have not twentieth-century imposition of fire forests are very effective at capturing and standing old forest on Bureau of Land been developed, many in the community suppression, have induced a vast fire deficit storing carbon. Our forests annually Management (BLM) land has been feel the forest thinning, prescribed fire, in our western forests. capture 50 percent of the greenhouse gases proposed for logging at least once. Due to and restoration focus of the project is Meanwhile, assessments by the US emitted statewide. Maintaining healthy the effort and determination of residents commendable. Many are also concerned by Forest Service of the impact of global forests provides huge benefits. in this valley, we have much to appreciate the controversial proposal to build new off- warming on individual forest species have However, counterintuitively for many and much to defend. highway vehicle (OHV) trails in the Boaz demonstrated that many of our ecologically observers, forest fires don’t cause much Given the political climate surrounding Mountain Roadless Area above McKee and commercially important species are carbon loss. This is not only because, for public lands and the policies of our current Bridge and Eastside Road. The OHV being compromised by global warming and most of our forests, 50 percent or more administration, the places we love and the development will impact important winter the climate change it is causing. Specifically, of the carbon is underground and barely places that define this beautiful valley will range habitat for a large population of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, incense cedar, touched by fires, but also because fires are become increasingly threatened. black-tailed deer, degrade important native sugar pine, white fir, and Pacific madrone very patchy. High severity burns in 2017 For example, the BLM has proposed habitats, and impact nearby communities are likely to be compromised through affected only seven percent of the Rogue large timber sales extending from on Upper Applegate Road. the century. It appears that even oaks, River-Siskiyou National Forest. On the Wilderville to Ruch across the Applegate Meanwhile, on the Siskiyou Crest, though possibly able to exist over a broader other hand, carbon losses resulting from Valley. The Grants Pass Resource Area near Cook and Green Pass, the Klamath geographic range, may not remain as tree harvest—burning slash and mill waste has proposed the Savage Murphy Timber National Forest has proposed to clear-cut healthy as they are today. and combustion of fuel used in harvesting Sale, which would log hundreds of acres 1,700 acres following the Miller Complex The smoke last summer during the fire and processing—are substantial. outside Wilderville, Murphy, and above Fire. The project will log a previously uncut season was certainly a problem for many The reality is that unless forest managers North Applegate Road. The BLM has forest located within one-eighth of a mile area residents. However, while the trend in the Applegate Valley and across the proposed to log a fire-adapted forest of the Siskiyou Crest and the Pacific Crest over the final three decades of the last nation acknowledge that global warming dominated by large, old trees directly Trail. The project is located adjacent to the century and beyond indicates increasing is the primary factor influencing not just adjacent to the proposed Applegate Ridge Condrey Mountain Roadless Area and the large wildfire frequency, when we look even wildfires and smoke production in our Trail (ART). The BLM is also proposing Kangaroo Roadless Area surrounding the further back, we find fire frequency much forests, but also the general health and to construct two new roads directly on top Red Buttes Wilderness. higher than it has been recently. resilience of these forests, sound forest of the proposed ART corridor, significantly You can guarantee that Applegate Fire return interval (FRI) identifies how management will elude us. impacting the trail’s scenic character. The Neighborhood Network will continue the often fires occur in a given location. Studies Alan Journet, PhD ART is being developed by Applegate Applegate Valley tradition of defending the for the dry forests of southern Oregon show Co-facilitator, Southern Oregon Trails Association and would connect wild places we love and the landscapes that that prior to fire suppression the median or Climate Action Now Jacksonville to Grants Pass through BLM define this beautiful valley. We hope that average frequency varied between 5 to 14 [email protected] land. The trail could be a significant asset others in the community will join us and to our community and our economy, but support our work. The future of this valley National celebration to the corridor must be protected from road- depends on the efforts we make today. welcome home all veterans building and inappropriate logging. Luke Ruediger • 541-890-8974 who served during the period The Ashland Resource Area has also Applegate Neighborhood Network (ANN) of the Vietnam War. recently proposed the Middle Applegate Update: Just before publication, BLM Timber Sale. The BLM has identified Wednesday, March 29, 2018 • 10 am to 2 pm notified ANN that all units in the Savage a large planning area sprawling across A barbecue lunch, service providers, and guests speakers will be at the event. Murphy Timber Sale west of Murphy have the Middle Applegate Valley from the Please come and show your support. All are welcome! been canceled along with road construction mountains around Ruch to Thompson and timber sale units on the ART. This is Riverside Park Trevillian Pavilion • 304 SE Park Street • Grants Pass, OR Creek, Humbug Creek, Slagle Creek, and an example of our community successfully Grants Pass Vet Center • 541-479-6912 portions of North Applegate. Although it defending wild places in the Applegate. Applegater Spring 2018 19 OPINIONS Behind the Green Door Worlds apart in protecting the environment

BY CHRIS BRATT Chris Bratt

For me, 2017 was filled with heartache Pruitt has proposed eliminating 50 has left local Bureau of Land Management It’s heartwarming to see large numbers because of the rollbacks of many programs to protect watersheds like the (BLM) officials in a position where of scientists showing some leadership environmental programs and safeguards Applegate, pushed to repeal America’s they can’t commit to collaboration with on these local and global environmental throughout our community and our Clean Power Plan, proposed steep budget Applegate community members or groups issues. In November 2017, 15,364 country. The ongoing debate over how cuts to programs that promote clean air as they have done in the past. scientists from 184 countries endorsed we continue to use the environment has and water and fund toxic waste cleanup, Personally, I find all of the above actions a document that concluded that urgent become very polarized. Some people favor and encouraged the withdrawal of the US extremely shortsighted and offensive. measures are required to avert worldwide increasing environmental protections from the Paris climate accords (the only They represent a total disregard for environmental disaster. They called on while others favor rampant development country to reject this global agreement). the health and welfare of our local and the scientific community, media, and of our natural resources. Many He has shown no interest in protecting global communities, future generations of ordinary citizens (that’s us) to pressure their groundless executive orders and policies the environment while pushing along a mankind and other species, and the planet’s government to “take immediate action as (some unprecedented) are now being series of actions that side with industry ecological and environmental functions. a moral imperative to current and future implemented by Trump administration over public health. It seems that the top guns in the present generations of human and other life.” appointees. These new rules block, delay, Zinke has eagerly stated, “For too administration are focused on exploiting Lead author, William J. Ripple, a or weaken many federal laws and agency long America has been held back by our natural resources strictly for their dollar distinguished professor of ecology at responsibilities that have been in place for burdensome regulations on our energy value for the purpose of further enriching Oregon State University, and seven co- years to protect America’s priceless and industry.” He has overturned a moratorium wealthy individuals and corporations. authors wrote the manuscript titled, irreplaceable resources. on new leases for coal mines on public It’s pretty obvious where I stand on the “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: Our present Congress and administration land and signed a land-trade agreement issue of continuing unsustainable logging A Second Notice,” which declared that are refusing to acknowledge and deal with that could lead to construction of a road and its threat to our Applegate community, “A great change in our stewardship of the a whole host of local and worldwide through the Izembek National Wildlife ecosystem, and natural heritage. But I’m earth and the life on it is required.” Given environmental concerns. Instead, federal Refuge in Alaska. He has called for not alone. There are millions of people in that 66 percent of our Applegate watershed agency heads are determined to lease and shrinking our local Cascade Siskiyou our country who disagree with stripping is public land (323,677 acres), it goes develop every public acre of land they can. National Monument while proposing away our environmental protections. Like without saying that our community needs Here are some examples of high-handed more grazing, motorized vehicle use, and me, they want our politicians and federal to take a big part in that required “great positions and attacks being made on our timber cutting in the monument. agencies to do the right thing by stopping change in our stewardship.” environment by Trump administrators Zinke also stated that 30 percent of the damage to our last untarnished regions. If you want to join forces to take Scott Pruitt, from the Environmental the 70,000 Department of the Interior They want our public resources managed immediate action to protect our local Protection Agency, and Ryan Zinke, employees were not “loyal to the flag.” in the public interest rather than in the environment, let me know. Secretary of the Interior. Zinke’s contempt for public employees private interest. Chris Bratt • 541-846-6988

When government talks BY TOM CARSTENS They say you can’t go back. begins), the wildlife is still amazing, and My wife and I tried to do this in January sea bass (“corvina”) is still prepared in a when we revisited Panama, a country we delectable Panamanian way. lived in in the early 1990s. Of course, One thing has changed fundamentally, some things have changed: Noriega is and it shocked us. Driving through the long gone, Panama City is taller (even central highlands, we noticed that many of boasting a Trump Tower!), the middle class the upper reaches of the mountains were has expanded (traffic jams), many of our absolutely barren. In a country that receives old jungle hikes have turned into tourist as much rainfall as Panama, this is just not meccas, the military bases in the canal natural. Cloud forests are the lifeblood of zone have been repurposed for commerce, Central America: they check water runoff, and the canal itself has been straightened, freshen the air, are home to some of the widened, deepened, and expanded to most spectacular birds on earth, and serve permit larger ships (crossings now cost economies through ecotourism. What had between $400,000 and $800,000!). happened? But these are superficial changes, really. It turns out that the government had The Panamanians are still the friendly, sold off much of these forestlands to lovely people we remembered, the “pana- ranchers and farmers. They did it without second” is still a useful measure of time consulting the locals—who are miffed. Photo, above: Panamanian (that’s the time between when a light There’s no recourse, and they are still mountaintop that’s been changes to green and when the honking ignored by their government. Fortunately, cleared for ranching. Note the erosion. Photo, right: A Panamanian

cloud forest as it is supposed OPINION PIECES AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR to look. Photos: Tom Carstens. after seeing the disaster unfold, the government has Opinion pieces and letters to the editor represent the opinion of the author, finally stopped the sales. not that of the Applegater or the Applegate Valley Community Newspaper, It’s an old tale: Inc. As a community-based newsmagazine, we receive diverse opinions on governments never have different topics. We honor these opinions, but object to personal attacks enough money and the sale and reserve the right to edit accordingly. Opinion pieces and letters to the of public lands offers a quick and easy are given the chance to be heard. That’s why editor must focus on the Applegate Valley. revenue source, however fleeting. Here in I was heartened by the visit of the secretary Opinion pieces are limited to 700 words; letters are limited 450 words. Oregon, we had our own close call with of the interior to talk with us about the Submissions will be edited for grammar and length. Opinion pieces must Elliot State Forest. And some in the federal Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. include publishable contact information (phone number and/or email government are now clamoring to sell off And it was especially encouraging to address). All letters must be signed, with a full street address or PO Box Applegate Valley tracts managed by the see the recent efforts by our local BLM and phone number. Anonymous letters and opinion pieces will not US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land field office to understand Applegaters’ be published. Individual letters and opinion pieces may or may not be Management (BLM). perspectives, as divergent as they seem to published. But we do have a distinction—our be. (See BLM manager Kristi Mastrofini’s • • • government does attempt to have a article on page 6.) Email opinion pieces and letters to the editor to [email protected] conversation with us. At all levels, officials So, it ain’t perfect, but our public or mail to Applegater, Applegate Valley Community Newspaper, Inc., meet with us to learn our concerns. All officials do us all a favor by continuing to PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530. major actions must first be reviewed dialogue with the lowly citizenry. It shows through a public comment process. We in our public lands, believe it or not. might not agree on the outcomes, but we Tom Carstens • 541-846-1025 20 Spring 2018 Applegater through a caged inlet. If you disguise the How to ‘Leave it to Beaver’ pipe with mud and sticks, the beavers should build their dam back up around it. without losing the farm 2. A trapezoidal fence protects culverts by keeping beavers away from the sound BY TIMOTHY SEXAUER and feel of fast-moving water, which is their cue to build a dam (see Diagram 1). Debris For many millions of years, in what we honored methods, they seek to fix any buildup should occasionally be removed now call the Applegate watershed, beavers “leak” they discover in our fast-flowing from along the fence to avoid prompting have been the senior landscape engineers. hydrological system. Beavers’ efforts to the beavers to build a dam on top of it. Since at least 12,000 years ago, humans reengineer human creations often lead 3. The pipe and fence technique have been living alongside the beaver. In to blocked culverts, flooded basements, combines the benefits of both methods the language of the Takelma, the Applegate or dead fruit trees. The most common (see Diagram 2). Also, debris buildup on SUN, is called “sbink,” meaning Beaver Place. outcome of these human-beaver conflicts the trapezoidal fence is no longer an issue By the time the Takelma were violently is that the human kills the beaver, a with a pipe feeding through it. WATER, displaced by the gold-rush settlers, fur detriment to reestablishing healthy beaver 4. Most beaver kills happen when trappers had already nearly exterminated populations that would help replenish our a beaver takes down the wrong tree. the beaver. As a result, rivers and creeks withering waterways. To protect our favorite trees, Jakob LIFE. flowed faster and wetlands had become When I lived on a property with recommends painting the bottom few feet Jeff & Tami Quinn Hollenbeck meadows, drastically changing the people who were concerned about the of the tree with a mixture of half natural Solar powered pump sys - landscape and ecosystems. resident beaver, a friend introduced me latex paint and half sand. The beaver’s teeth tems are becoming a thing of Settlers brought cattle and grain seed, to Jakob Shockey, restoration director for are its most important tool, and it will stop turning this ancient fertility into pastures the Applegate Partnership and Watershed gnawing immediately upon feeling the grit the future. “LORENTZ” and hayfields and introducing a different Council and owner of Beaver State of the sand. For protecting larger areas, an Solar Pumps can offer inno- hydrological regime. Ancient wetlands Wildlife Solutions. He taught me some electric wire four inches off the ground will vative, cost saving and envi- are now a mosaic of ranches, farms, and tricks to deal with potential conflicts if keep beaver out. ronmentally responsible homesteads with culverts, concrete dams, we are willing to commit to a journey of Jakob says the key is mitigating human- and ditches designed to move water quickly observation and interaction. Here’s a few beaver conflicts so we can retain beavers solutions to your water to where it is wanted and then to the sea. of the more common useful techniques: where they choose to reside. When they pumping needs. This solar Today, as creeks are drying up, the 1. A pond leveler prevents things like are secure in their chosen spot, they will pump is an effective way to beaver population is steadily on the rise, flooded basements. It keeps the water naturally disperse their children farther help reduce your carbon and beavers are still working with the passing through the dam at the desired up tributaries where we most need to ancient plan to slow water and create height for pond level, secretly drawing restore water retention. It is up to us to footprint, and give you more drought-proof wetlands. Using their time- water from the center of the beaver pond educate ourselves and others about the water independence. many benefits of beaver to the land and, Many people think that importantly, the ways that we can non- solar pump systems are ade- lethally deal with human-beaver conflicts. To that end, Mike Callahan, Jakob’s quate for small systems beaver mitigation mentor, recently launched only; however, “LORENTZ” The Beaver Institute™. Beaverinstitute.org Solar Systems can meet the hosts a great deal of information about needs of the biggest house - the ecology of beaver and how we benefit holds and gardens. from it. There is also a free extensive online database of documents and instructional With “LORENTZ” you videos about various conflict mitigation can connect via Bluetooth techniques and flow device construction. and see realtime and historic We have the tools needed to help data from your system. our toothy, furry friends resume their important role in the hydrology and Please call Quinn’s Pump ecology of the Applegate watershed, Service for your free solar without disrupting our human systems. estimate. We would be more Timothy Sexauer than happy to go over your Jakob Shockey situates the cage before untying the float tube [email protected] needs and taylor a system during a pond leveler installation. Photo: Timothy Sexauer. Diagrams: Mike Callahan, Beaver Institute. that best suits your demand. Diagram 1

Water is a geological cocktail so DRINK MORE WATER!

Call us Mon. - Fri. 8 - 5, you’ll have a live person answer the phone that is ready to help you! Quinn’s Well, Pump and Water Filtration is Diagram 2 located at 6811 Williams Hwy. We install, maintain and repair complete water pumping systems, and we offer a complete line of water filtration equipment. Contact our professional staff by phone, e-mail, or visit our office. www.quinnswell.com CCB #192047

541-862-9355Local musicians jam in restaurant Sundays 541-772-7867

Restaurant open 4 - 9 pm, Wednesday - Sunday L odge aLodgend Re sopentaura 7n tdays open a 7 week days a week WednesdayH app yNight H ou Liver fro mMusic, 3 - 5 popenm da itillly 11 pm LocalT musiciansuesday r ejamduc ined restaurant rates on e nontre Sundayes W ednesdayLodge N ight 541-846-6690L ive M usic, op en till 1 1 pm Restaurant 541-846-6082 Wedding/Special Events 541-660-0244 www.applegateriverlodge.com

Applegate River Lodge & Restaurant Applegater Spring 2018 21 Wellington Wildlands or wilderness? BY DAVID CALAHAN

The 1964 Wilderness Act defines is a cleanser and rejuvenator, a good thing wilderness as a place of 5,000 acres overall, and this one served to keep roads minimum, with “outstanding opportunities and loggers at bay for another 70 years. for solitude or a primitive and unconfined In 2001, despite strong public resistance, type of recreation.” the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Under that definition, the 5,711-acre included half of the wildlands in the Ferris Wellington Wildlands (WWL) more than Bugman Timber Sale. But ten miles of qualifies for the protections afforded to a new roads, helicopter logging, marginal “land with wilderness characteristics.” This scattered sites, potentially poor return, a area, now in jeopardy, is worth fighting for. pending lawsuit, and a determined public WWL is visible from Ruch, Applegate, are off-putting to timber companies. BLM and Thompson Creek. Many Applegaters tried to sell Ferris Bugman three times to drive by it regularly. At 3,705 feet, no avail. Wellington Butte stands sentry at the In 2011, BLM identified 5,711 acres Wellington Butte is prominent in this aerial photo of the center of this nine-square-mile intact block as the Wellington Butte Lands with southern side of the Wellington Wildlands area. Photo: Scott Harding. of undisturbed naturalness and diversity. Wilderness Characteristics (LWC). In Comprised of the public lands north of 2013, WWL was proposed as a Primitive for the next phase of the Applegate Ridge the use and enjoyment of the American Highway 238 between China Gulch and Backcountry Area in the Wyden/Merkley Trail (ART), the Center ART, which will people, and as a legacy to pass to our Humbug Creek, with the Forest Creek O&C Act. However, BLM’s recent (August meander through the wildlands to link the children. Economics will again play a role. ridgeline as its northeastern boundary, it is 2016) Final Resource Management Plan recently completed East ART to Humbug If necessary, we may need to convince BLM largely made up of dry, steep south-facing denied the best two of four southern Creek. Continuing on, the West ART will or the timber companies that there will be slopes covered in manzanita, buckbrush, Oregon LWC candidates, WWL and traverse high Applegate slopes all the way too much resistance to log it. madrone, and oaks. At the mountain’s feet Dakubutede (in the Little Applegate). to the Cathedral Hills Trail System south In reality, WWL is a wildland, a roadless lie two shaded seasonal creeks, Long Gulch In both cases BLM argued that there is of Grants Pass. area, and a wilderness. But only Congress and Balls Branch, with year-round springs too much timber. Once they complete BLM is now working to produce the can designate a “Wilderness.” Whatever to sustain its hidden diverse flora and fauna. constructing roads and logging, neither Middle Applegate Timber Sale, which the name, this Applegate gem needs our Each drainage contains approximately 300 area will qualify for future protection. likely will include logging the WWL. protection! acres of giant Douglas firs and ponderosa Therefore, less than one percent of the Currently, management is the biggest David Calahan • 541-899-1226 pines, the largest remaining intact stands 148,000 acres that BLM manages in the threat to the wildlands and, if allowed, will Chair, Applegate Trails Association of low-elevation old-growth forests in the Applegate received LWC status. alter the natural characteristics so that the [email protected] Applegate Valley. What makes the WWL unique today, WWL would never again be considered ATA is a nonprofit organization with the Maybe it was economics that kept old- besides its size, is the intact nature and a wilderness. BLM’s history is burdened primary mission of building a hiking, biking, timers from punching roads into both close proximity to private lands and major with examples of misguided management, and equestrian trail from Jacksonville to canyons to log the scattered patches of urban populations. Medford, Jacksonville, the results of decisions coming from Grants Pass. It is unanimous: we would timber. It was a long way to build roads, and Grants Pass are all less than 30 minutes Washington, DC, and timber-company rather hike through a wilderness than in a and there were much easier pickings away. Designated wilderness areas usually interests. logged landscape. “Thank God, they cannot elsewhere. In 1931 a fierce wind-driven entail a long drive to high elevations and On a local level, our objective will cut down the clouds!” —Henry David fire raced out of Humbug Creek, across the extremely rugged terrain. Additionally, this be to convince BLM that this area is far Thoreau. wildlands, and headed to Jacksonville. Fire incredibly scenic area is the centerpiece more valuable left intact for recreation, for Map by Annette Parsons. 22 Spring 2018 Applegater Rare Baker’s cypress trees ■ PHILANTHROPISTS Continued from page 1 in the Applegate and the room overflowing with BY SUZIE SAVOIE boxes, JCF is overflowing with energy for such projects. The Applegate is home to one of For instance, one program Oregon’s rarest trees, an enigmatic conifer awards grants (generally called Baker’s cypress. Found in only 11 $1,000 to $1,500) to K-12 widely scattered locations in northern teachers in Josephine County California and southwest Oregon, Baker’s for student enrichment cypress has a very restricted range. The only programs. These grants have two populations in Oregon consist of four funded art projects, provided groves along Steve Peak ridge (on Rogue- Chromebooks and calculators, River Siskiyou National Forest land in the sponsored a problem-solving vicinity of Miller Lake in the Applegate team in national competition, watershed in Josephine County) and the and helped start a self-defense most northern Baker’s cypress grove at class. With $70,000 in grants Flounce Rock (northeast of Medford in already awarded, JCF is hoping Jackson County on Medford District this program will help raise Bureau of Land Management land). Josephine County’s graduation Cypress trees generally don’t grow in rates, which are currently among cold or wet climates; however, Baker’s the state’s lowest. cypress is tolerant of cold and snow and Senior and JCF president, grows farther north than any other cypress Devin Pine, measures the in North America. Near Miller Lake, success of the program by what Dale Fisher (left), HVHS graduation coach, receives a Baker’s cypress trees grow at 5,000- to he witnesses in the classroom. student enrichment grant from 2017 JCF 6,000-foot elevations in a mountainous “You can see the excitement on project coordinator, Jasmine Pinkerton. cirque where persistent winter snow is the children’s faces,” he says. the norm. Good clothes, incongruously enough, member Kippy Easley, also a senior, was in Botanist-explorer Milo Baker, who might also help raise graduation rates. charge of Pink Week (sales of pink shirts, found the species in northern California in “The Campus Closet allows students backpacks, etc.), dedicated to patients and 1898, first described Baker’s cypress within to wear clothes that make them feel like survivors of breast cancer. She also helped the home range of the Modoc Indians. This they belong with others,” says Aria Back, a run the golf tournament, which last year is the reason Baker’s cypress is also referred junior and JCF co-treasurer and volunteer raised $5,000. to as Modoc cypress. It is also sometimes coordinator. Milo, who is “looking towards a people- called Siskiyou cypress. A Baker’s cypress tree (top photo) near Miller The Campus Closet contains clothes oriented career,” says, “JCF taught me The botanical name for Baker’s cypress Lake in the Applegate, and a close-up of donated by the community, with grant-writing and other skills and has given is Hesperocyparis bakeri. The genus, Baker’s cypress foliage (bottom photo). unsuitable clothes culled out by JCF me contacts that will help me through “Hesperocyparis,” translates to “western student volunteers. Students identified as college and career paths.” cypress,” and the species name, bakeri, nearby population growing on serpentine at-risk are invited by the appropriate adults Aria says that JCF has given her a honors Milo Baker. soil below the Red Buttes along West Fork into the Campus Closet, anonymously and passion for working with nonprofits. Kippy In the Applegate watershed, Baker’s Seiad Creek, a tributary of the Klamath at times when other students aren’t around. says that JCF helped her overcome shyness cypress trees grow in four distinct groves River. A drive up and over Cook and Green The room looks like a boutique, with prom and to “get out of her shell.” JCF helped along Steve Peak ridge: (1) just northwest Pass above Applegate Reservoir will take dresses hanging from one rack, jackets on Devin choose a teaching career so he can of Fish Lake, (2) on the northeast slope of you to the West Fork Seiad Creek Trail and another, blue jeans on shelves. Students “have an impact on the world.” He says Miller Peak at an off-trail location east of the Seiad Baker’s Cypress Botanical Area. walk out with clothes they feel good about that JCF “teaches the next generation of Miller Lake, (3) at a saddle between Steve The trail is currently not signed, but it is wearing. When they feel like they “fit in,” philanthropists.” Peak and Miller Lake, and (4) on Iron shown on maps. they are less likely to drop out of school. The enthusiasm of the JCF members Mountain. In 1914 US Forest Service The West Fork Seiad Creek Trail used If these two programs answer to JCF’s for the work they are doing is a good mark ranger Bill Fruit discovered Baker’s cypress to extend all the way up to Lily Pad Lake, “education” goal, others aim towards of the success of this unusual nonprofit in Oregon near Steve Peak while clearing just below the summit of Red Butte and community health. The annual vision organization. You can see the excitement a path for a phone line to the old lookout. the Red Buttes Wilderness, but the upper clinic provides community members full in their faces as they feel their impact on The Miller Peak grove has the largest portion of the trail is currently impassable. eye exams, eyeglasses (if needed), and the health, vibrancy, education, and social Baker’s cypress trees in the world. Growing The lower portion of the trail, recently screening for preexisting conditions and life of their community. to heights up to 130 feet, with a trunk maintained by the Siskiyou Mountain diseases, while Project Float establishes Alison Cavaner, program manager, is diameter from 20 to 40 inches, these Club, provides great access into the heart life-jacket loaner stations on the rivers. one of the best indicators of JCF’s success. cypresses are located within the Oliver of the Seiad Baker’s Cypress Botanical Area. Program leader Milo Dolantree, a senior While a student at Hidden Valley she was Matthews Research Natural Area. Oliver Seiad Creek has seen numerous recent and JCF’s executive vice president of active in service-oriented clubs, with Chris Matthews (1892 - 1979), a self-described wildfires, including this summer’s Abney fundraising, says, “It answers to our goals Pendleton as advisor. She graduated from “botanical tramp,” drove around Oregon in Fire. Baker’s cypress is highly adapted of health and vibrancy.” Southern Oregon University in 2013 with his Model A Ford studying the state’s rare to wildfire, especially high-severity fire. For a student organization, JCF a business degree and headed straight for and large conifers. Although he lived in Like knobcone pine, Baker’s cypress spends large figures: $182,515 for the Josephine County Foundation at her Salem, Matthews became enthralled with cones can grow on the trunk and limbs scholarships, $77,370 for grants to county old high school. the Siskiyou Mountains and campaigned of the tree; with the heat of wildfire, the fire departments and search-and-rescue “I was eager to get back to community hard for the designation of a US Forest seeds are released from the cone, aiding operations, $12,551 to help high school involvement,” she says. “JCF gave me a Service botanical area near Miller Lake in reproduction. Baker’s cypress is doing juniors attend a leadership academy in heart for service.” within an area he called the “Miller Lake really well in Seiad Creek because of the New York. To meet such figures, students Diana Coogle Magic Circle.” Within his magic circle, occurrence of recent wildfires that have write grants and hold fundraisers. JCF [email protected] Matthews had found at least half of the 35 created bare soil and direct sunlight, which conifer species native to Oregon, including are ideal post-fire conditions for Baker’s Baker’s cypress. cypress seedlings to germinate. Because ■ AVFD AWARDS Miller Lake can be accessed from of the recent wildfires, Baker’s cypress Continued from page 1 the Miller Lake Trail off Sturgis Creek, actually appears to be expanding its range Here are more awards presented by AVFD. a tributary of Carberry Creek; however, in Seiad Creek. EMS of the Year : William Schmidt a creek crossing requires high-clearance The Applegate is lucky to have Officer of the Year: Daniel Boyajian vehicles to access the trailhead. enchanting Baker’s cypress trees inhabiting Activity Awards Getting to Baker’s cypress trees in the our Siskiyou Mountains! Alarms “Century Club” (100+): Applegate is rugged and difficult. If you Suzie Savoie Dick Rogers (195 alarms) are not an off-trail hiker but would like to Conservation Chair, Siskiyou Chapter George Butcher (151 alarms) see Baker’s cypress from a well-maintained Native Plant Society of Oregon Jeff Hoxsey (109 alarms) trail, the best option is to check out the [email protected] Drills: Rookie of the Year Darin Kamealoha (center) High Drill Award: Jack Lynch (89%) with Operations Chief Chris Wolfard (left) and Captain Greg Gilbert (right). Advertisers! Mary Ziegler Spouse of the Year: Summer Underwood For rates and other Safety Award: Noa Widoff 15 Years: Jeff Hoxsey information, contact: Spirit Award: Jasmine Serabia 20 Years: Tailese Roeloffs, Ron Turpen Rookie of the Year: Darin Kamealoha Tim VanLeeuwen 541-601-1867 Length of Service Awards 25 Years: Rob Underwood, ronaldaturpen 5 Years: Noah Widoff, Gary Sciocchetti @gmail.com Austin Locklear, and 30 Years: Brad Barnes Next deadline: Brian Baird Chief’s Award: Chris Wolfard May 1 10 Years: Dick Rodgers, Mike Kuntz Hall of Flame: Tim VanLeeuwen, (not recognized last year) Chris Wolfard Applegater Spring 2018 23 NEXT GENERATION Activities and community support Next Generation features school news and updates and the talents of our local students. at Applegate and Williams schools All schools in the Applegate Valley are encouraged to submit news, art, writing, photography, and any other creative pieces to [email protected]. Applegate and Williams schools both started the new year with resolution, Ruch Outdoor Community School donations, and other financial support. Provolt Store donated $500 to each school in their resolve to do something to benefit the community. Applegate School news Applegate School has a 24 x 32 foot greenhouse in progress because of the generosity of John and Carrie DiBiasi, who Some past, present, and future Art & Nature After School donated all the materials students stand in the entrance of Applegate School’s new and labor for the project. greenhouse, which will soon be ready to grow milkweed for Beginning this spring the monarchs and other plants for pollinators. Front row, from left greenhouse will be used to right: Corbin Sharp-Thompson, Zeyna DiBiasi, to grow native milkweeds Claire Emmons, and Hamza DiBiasi. Back row, from left to to support the monarch right: Sierra Fimbres, Lily Emmons, and Aiden Fimbres. butterfly population. For Applegate School’s Book Fair, the Applegate Fire Department, Southern Oregon Crane, and Jeff Eighth graders at Ruch Outdoor Community School prepare Vinyard donated funds to for a field trip to Yosemite National Park this summer. Photo: Ryan King. provide needy children with free books. Ruch Outdoor Community School is Life becomes exponentially richer Applegate School’s girls preparing for its end-of-the-year field trip when we step out of our daily routine to basketball program began to Yosemite National Park. Eighth-grade experience something novel. For many of in January. Both the varsity students will be visiting lakes Almanor and the students at Ruch, travel to different and junior varsity teams Tahoe on June 5, then Hodgdon Meadow parts of the world remains a dream of the play games on Mondays and in Yosemite on July 6 -7, and the Trinity future. While we do not have the funds to Thursdays each week. Alps near Mt. Shasta for the last two take students abroad, they may learn many A Level One team nights. This trip underscores the school’s of the same lessons and garner many of the from Applegate School is preparing to participate sustainability curriculum and supports the same experiences by traveling to different Applegate School basketball team, from left to right. in the Oregon Battle of pedagogy of place-based education. biomes in the United States. Northern Front row: Claire Emmons, Hailey Traister, The Yosemite and Northern California California is unique because it offers three the Books competition in and Christina Geary. Field Study will expose students to a distinct biomes: subalpine, temperature March. Middle row: Maria Cross, Zeyna DiBiasi, Freyja Moeves, new and fascinating region of the Pacific forests, and taiga. A group of middle Rachel Peterson, and Izabella Haning. Northwest, introduce them to patterns Prior to and throughout the trip, schoolers at Applegate School Back row: Coach Diana Traister, Natalia Sahr, Lily Emmons, of life-long learning through deliberate students will be engaged in a natural science has been participating in Sierra Fimbres, Kali Linn, and assistant coach Lexi Hill. inquiry, present them with an experiential and social science-based curriculum, Book Club since September. (Not pictured: Abigale Sutton and Autumn Koch.) and engaging educational process, and developed by the science teacher at Ruch For Open House in the reinforce science concepts taught in the School. Students will become familiar with spring, they will present a classroom. We hope that, in ten years, they the history of land-use practices (from the display of various projects will look back on this trip and remember Native American era forward) as well as the that arose from the Book what they have learned. conservation movements that developed in Club discussions. Book With guidance from staff, students will the twentieth century. This curriculum will Club members include make the bulk of preparations for the trip. be applied to studies in the field as students Aerawyn Willson, Coral In addition to learning about basic ecology, explore and learn about biodiversity, Lowry, Hunter Krouse, Lexi natural history, and current land-use issues ecological balances, biotic and abiotic Hill, Lily Emmons, Maria in class, students will plan and shop for factors, and the contemporary complexity Cross, Sierra Fimbres, and the menu, research driving and hiking of natural resource management and Tyler DeMaster. routes, set a rough itinerary for the trip, wilderness protection (with guest speakers In January the Applegate and conduct fundraising activities to cover from the National Park Service and local School staff announced over half of the trip’s expenses. This will rock climbers). the Rotary Students of the promote a natural buy-in and ownership From this experience, students will Year. Recipients of this by the students. Staff will implement gain a greater appreciation for public wild year’s awards are Maria student activities and lessons in the field areas and the recreation activities made Cross, grade eight, and Rotary Student of the Year was awarded to several times a day, and students will record available by them. Students will be able Max Vidlak, grade five. Max Vidlak, fifth grade, their observations, activities, and lessons in to apply the concepts they learn about on Maria and Max spoke at the and Maria Cross, eighth grade. a field journal. this trip to forestry issues and the effects of Rotary Club luncheon on Every other Friday, eighth-grade a changing climate in the state of Oregon February 14, when they were presented January 29. Hidden Valley Market in students venture into the great outdoors and throughout the Pacific Northwest. with their awards. Murphy donated most of the ingredients on hikes to learn about the local bioregion The eighth graders are excited to be able Mrs. Halstead’s second- and third- for this event. as well as attain the peak fitness level for the to experience a very special opportunity! grade class at Applegate School had the Williams School news Yosemite field trip. Hikes will take place at Ryan King, Eighth-grade Teacher most participation in the Applegate Fire Williams School received a $35,000 Applegate Lake, Jacksonville Woodlands, Lori Yates, Eighth-grade Student District’s fire-safety activity and were grant from Southern Oregon Early East Applegate Ridge Trail, Sterling Mine Ruch Outdoor Community School rewarded with a visit to the district’s Learning Hub to start a preschool. On Ditch, Forest Park, and Grizzly Peak Trail. [email protected] headquarters on January 24. Students February 5, two teachers and 20 children enjoyed lunch with some of the firefighters, began a half-day preschool program. The got “rescued” by firefighters in full gear, goal is to better prepare students, both Applegate resident checked out all the vehicles, and even socially and academically, for kindergarten. participated in a medical response call. Cow Creek funded an after-school on Dean’s List Fifth grader Hailey West was selected to arts program that started in December for represent Applegate School at the March Williams School. A spring performance is Central Oregon Community College announced 26 Future Chef’s cook-off event at Hidden scheduled for May. that Applegate resident Samantha Bango has Valley High School. There she will be The second after-school six-week qualified for the Dean’s List. Samantha is enrolled competing at the district level with her enrichment program at Williams School in 12 or more graded credits and received a term Asian fusion food recipe. began February 5. Last fall 25 students grade point average of 3.6 or better. Applegate School’s eighth graders have participated in the program, which begun to hold fundraising events for their included artistic and athletic activities as class trip to Great Wolf Lodge Resort in well as snacks and homework assistance. Congratulations, Samantha! Grand Mound, Washington, in June. The Jean Hall • [email protected] first fundraiser, a taco feed, was held on Photos by Linda Kappen. 24 Spring 2018 Applegater Look who’s reading the Gater! Take us with you on your next trip. Then send your favorite “Reading the Gater” photo to [email protected] or mail to Applegater, PO Box 14, Jacksonville, OR 97530. Photos will appear as space allows.

Photos, top row from left to right: by the Applegater’s expert narration on the most significant Islamic architecture in that country. —While at the Papeete Airport in Tahiti, Linda Yates studies Olympic-level outrigger maneuvers —Dahna Dow leans against the controversial astronomical clock, made from polished black in the Applegater and ponders whether to join this year’s team from Tahiti or catch her flight. granite, in Brno, Czech Republic, and leans on the Gater to help her discover the true meaning — Tom and Kathy Carstens, former residents of Panama, personally treated the Gater to a of this “bullet” shape. cruise on the Panama Canal, for which the Applegater honored them with this photo in the paper. —Dan the Backhoe Man and Danny Black, at the iconic Gullfoss in Iceland, hope to devise Photos, bottom row from left to right: a way to harness electricity from the falls—in spite of unsuccessful attempts by others—with the —Shelley Manning toured the Alhambra fortress and palace complex in Granada, Spain, guided full backing of the Applegater and its step-by-step power-by-waterfall reference section.