Beyond timber: The Coburg Tree Farm’s rise to national recognition

The crisp mountain air vibrated with the rhythmic drone of a chainsaw as Keith Townsend surveyed the Douglas fir plantation, a proud smile etched on his face. Sunlight went through the towering trees, casting long shadows on the forest floor. Coburg Tree Farm is a 277-acre testament to generations of sustainable forestry, a legacy meticulously crafted by his family.

Weyerhaeuser Timber Company, a behemoth in the timber industry, purchased the land in 1900.

Back then, the land was a tapestry of towering old-growth Douglas fir and cedar, giants that had stood sentinel for centuries. Loggers employed by companies like the Far West Lumber Company and the Eatonville Lumber Company descended upon this pristine wilderness, their tools of the trade – cross-cut saws, double-bit axes, and springboards – echoing through the forest. The timber was hauled out on rail lines, a testament to the industrial might of the era, leaving behind a landscape forever altered.

Then, in 1924, a devastating fire swept through the area. Fueled by logging slash, the inferno raced across the landscape, consuming everything in its path. The Coburg Tree Farm area, stripped of its ancient giants, was left to the mercy of the flames.

From the ashes emerged a new chapter. The land, resilient as ever, began to regenerate naturally. A mosaic of Douglas fir, red alder, western red cedar, black cottonwood, and vine maple slowly reclaimed the charred earth.

In 1954, Robert “Bob” Wise, Keith’s grandfather, a man with a vision for sustainable forestry, purchased 160 acres of this reborn forest, christening it Coburg Tree Farm, a nod to his German heritage. Coburg is a village in Germany.

A year later, Bob acquired an adjacent 120-acre parcel, solidifying his commitment to the land.

Recognizing the long-term potential of timber production, Bob put the newly acquired 120 acres in trust for his grandsons, Steve and Dave Townsend, laying the foundation for the Coburg Tree Farm Partnership. This was a turning point, a transition from exploitative logging to a philosophy of stewardship.

Bob, a seasoned forester, understood that the forest needed a guiding hand. He embarked on a mission to nurture the second-growth forest, carefully thinning dead and diseased trees, girdling red alder to give Douglas fir a competitive edge, and selectively harvesting poles for commercial use. He meticulously crafted skid roads and access roads, ensuring responsible access to the timber, and even experimented with selective fertilizing to enhance growth.

The Townsend brothers, imbued with their grandfather’s passion for the land, spent their childhood exploring the forest’s hidden trails, learning the art and science of sustainable forestry from their grandfather. In 1976, Steve and Dave, then in college, joined their parents, Ivan and Elaine Townsend, on spring break for a momentous task: planting 5,000 Douglas fir seedlings. This 16-acre plantation, a symbol of their family’s commitment to the future, would later be affectionately known as the ‘76 Plantation.

In the ensuing years, Coburg Tree Farm welcomed more family members into its fold. Carl and Keith Townsend, Steve and Dave’s brothers, joined the partnership, their individual skills and perspectives enriching the family’s forestry endeavors.

The brothers, carrying the torch passed down by their grandfather, embraced innovation, constantly seeking ways to improve their forestry practices. They divided the farm into 13 management units, each averaging 20 acres, implementing a meticulous schedule of thinning, harvesting, and replanting to ensure a continuous cycle of sustainable timber production.

The Townsend family expanded the Coburg Tree Farm’s legacy by planting a diverse mix of Douglas fir, western redcedar, and red alder, meticulously tending to each seedling. Their dedication to the craft extended to exploring new techniques, such as pair-planting Douglas fir and Sitka spruce, an experiment that yielded remarkable results – the trees grew 75% taller than their netted counterparts in just five years.

Their commitment to environmental stewardship was unwavering. They went above and beyond regulatory requirements, meticulously maintaining their logging roads to minimize erosion, and planting western red cedar along the banks of Krone’s Creek, a seasonal stream that flowed through their property, to enhance bank stabilization and provide shade.

Recognizing the importance of community engagement, the Townsend family opened their doors to the public, hosting educational tours for organizations like the Washington Farm Forestry Association (WFFA) and local conservation districts. They shared their knowledge and passion for sustainable forestry with elected officials and the community, showcasing the positive impact that private landowners could have on the landscape.

The Townsend family's dedication to forestry extended beyond Coburg Tree Farm.

Keith and his wife Yvonne, who had met while planting trees on the farm in 1991, became deeply involved in the WFFA, taking on leadership roles as Co-Vice Chairs of the Washington Tree Farm Program.

Coburg Tree Farm is the National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.

In 2024, the Townsend family’s lifelong commitment to sustainable forestry culminated in a momentous achievement: "2024 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year Award" This prestigious award, bestowed by the American Tree Farm System, recognized their exceptional stewardship, innovation, and unwavering dedication to the land.

As Keith stood amidst the verdant expanse of Coburg Tree Farm, the legacy of his grandfather, Bob Wise, and the tireless efforts of his family resonated around him. The forest, a symphony of life, whispered tales of resilience, growth, and a deep-rooted connection between humanity and nature.

An Award-Winning Tree Farm:

The story of Coburg Tree Farm serves as a beacon of inspiration, a testament to the transformative power of sustainable forestry, a legacy carefully nurtured by three generations of the Townsend family, ensuring that the forest would continue to thrive, providing timber, wildlife habitat, and educational opportunities for generations to come.

American Tree Farm System Certification:

Coburg Tree Farm was certified as Tree Farm number WA-292 by the American Forest Foundation on August 1, 1955. Robert Wise, the grandfather of the current owners, had purchased the land in 1954 and 1955. For the next 11 years, he managed the land by thinning dead and diseased trees, cutting and girdling red alder, and selectively cutting poles.