Contracts

Our season looks like this... We have 2 contracts- HFP and Tahtsa Timber. Our HFP contract is 1.3 million trees (twice as much as last year) and all based out of the Whitesail- yes we will be operating out of the usual campsite next to the barge landing that is currently a clearcut. Better access to the beach? Less snags to fall on your tent? Less hiding places for capture the flag? The HFP contract looks really simple overall- there are few blocks (11 or so) mostly within 1/2 hr of camp. The land is flat and relatively slash free (with a few glaring exceptions), but it is a bit rockier than last year, so should even out in terms of speed. Tahtsa Timber's contract is 1 million trees, same as usual except for some density changes. We will be based out of Takysie again for Tahtsa's contract.

Our planting season will be 7-8 weeks long, starting the first of May, weather permitting.

The contract itself is now located near Burns Lake, a small town in the central interior of British Columbia. It is interior planting, i.e. relatively easy, with piled and burned or mounded land (with some non-prepped ground). The contracts I bid on this year (HFP and Thatsa Timber) mostly consist of fast, flat ground. HFP's trees are in large blocks so expect large pieces, excellent access. We do LFH planting (most media acceptable except pure sticks, needles, or moss), and high microsite selection is a priority. We also have new red rot specs that should make planting easier, and a 1.6m minimum inter-tree spacing. HFP is strict (but not unreasonable) with their quality and so are we; our reputation depends on it. Thatsa Timbers' contract will emphasize high spots at 1.5m minimum spacing- we'll be doing the checking on this one.