PropagationNation team members had a blast celebrating the autumn season with Lewis County at the annual Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival last weekend! It was refreshing to root for our big dreams to paint the Northwest redwood in such a vibrant and connected community. Sometimes, when we get caught up in the weight of responsibility in stewarding these magnificent trees, we forget that it is the human individuals  – the friends and farmers and neighbors of this place – who are the true stewards of our mission. Onalaska reminded us. 

 

We were lucky enough to be connected to such a lively event through our exceptional team member, Harry Bhagwandin. Harry is a revered member of the Lewis County community and a respected tree farmer among his peers. Harry helped to start the Apple Harvest Festival fifteen years ago to usher in abundance and joy to his town, while building community. 

 

 

He carries with him that same spirit through his involvement with PropagationNation. Throughout the two-day festivities, Harry could be overheard sharing with his friends and community members about why he stands firmly on Team Redwood.

 

He gestured to a toddler-sized boy standing beside a couple who was interested in more information about the trees. “When my grandkids are older, I want them to have access to a healthy forest. I don’t want my legacy to be destroyed,” he said in reference to the combination of changing climate and pests that are currently threatening the ecological stability of many common tree species planted in the Northwest, like Douglas fir and Western red cedar. “Redwoods are essential for forest resilience.” 

 

Redwoods are not only resistant to pests and disease, they are also resilient to fire and drought conditions. And when it comes to tree farming, redwoods are like a super tree – on some sites around the PNW they can grow twice as fast as Douglas firs and after harvest, they re-sprout without additional planting. That means less money and time spent to maintain a sustainable harvest cycle. 

 

Bringing redwoods to the PNW can give our forests a diversity boost, and therefore, a resiliency boost. This benefits both the health of the forests and also the folks who rely on the health of the forests for their means. 

 

Redwoods also can live five times as long as Douglas firs. Harry frequently pointed to a photo of the Waterfall tree, one of the largest Redwoods that stood in California before it was sadly destroyed in the 2020 Castle Fire, and proclaimed, “This tree is older than Jesus!” It’s an amusing statement, but there is truth behind it – the tallest redwood trees are estimated to be over 2,500 years old! 

 

Painting the Northwest Redwood ensures that the trees that have witnessed all of Anno Domini history and then some have a fighting chance to see another 2,500 or more years. 

 

People like Harry are doing the work to make history every day. When we nourish our human communities and work with them to care for our ecological communities, we all win. When we give, nature gives back, again and again.