A healthy, properly managed forest is wildfire resilient. If you own a small private forestland, McClain’s Meadows can help assure this resource is available to future generations.

The logging industry in Oregon has a rich history. But it is too often misunderstood and seen by some as the opposite of sustainability and conservation. This is not accurate. Our goal at McClain’s Meadows is to harvest in such a way that allows a variety of tree species the chance to regenerate, and ensures that the forest’s overall ecological health is maintained, restored, or even enhanced. We use this philosophy on our own 200 acre property in O’Brien Oregon and work to build a permaculture styled “food forest.”

Our selective timber harvests are limited to selective logging and small-scale clear-cutting, which mimics natural disturbances in temperate forests, such as fires or landslides. The forestry operations we put in place as part of a permaculture food-forest started with a clearly mapped management plan that specifies the number of trees that should be harvested per acre, and the frequency at which this should occur – all based on the growth and regeneration rates of the species found in this ecosystem.

It’s important to understand the relationship of earthwork, soil condition, the diversity of native plant life, and sustainability when developing a fire resilient landscape. If you are an owner of a small forestland, it’s essential you understand the importance of managing timber on your property. Managing the forest’s undergrowth, accessibility by building roads and understanding your water resources are even more important.

An example of selective timber harvesting:

Other types of logging practice: