As winter is letting go and spring is starting to warm the earth, Friends of Hoko River State Park/Clallam Bay Sekiu Lions are welcoming volunteer helpers to get the orchard and kitchen garden ready for the growing season.

On Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., some Olympic Orchard Society members will journey from Sequim to the Cowan Heritage Area on Hoko-Ozette Road, just south of Hwy 112 for a work party. OOS members collected scion from Olympic National Park, grafted, brought them up to size, and distributed them to local farms.

In 2017, OOS relocated ten heritage apple trees to the Cowan Ranch. Friends of Hoko River State Park built elk enclosures for each tree and have been nurturing the trees. Winter and elk have impacted the fences, and both trees and fences need attention. The visiting OOS work party will assist in repairing fencing, straightening trees, light pruning, weeding, and offering advice to maintain healthy trees.

The public is invited to join in the work and advice. Also, the kitchen garden, and sustainable agriculture demonstration plots have been tilled a couple of times this winter, and work will begin for planning and planting the 2023 garden. For more information, call 360-963-2442.

Nancy Messmer

Secretary-Board: Friends of Hoko

River State Park

Communications:

Clallam Bay Sekiu Lions

231 Vista Drive, Sekiu WA 98381