Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

Sean Hogan interviewed

By — Posted

Sean Hogan, co-founder of Cistus Nursery (Portland, Ore.), has a new book out called Trees for All Seasons: Broadleaved Evergreens for Temperate Climates. Kym Pokorny, garden writer at The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) recently interviewed him in conjunction with that book release. I particularly liked his answer to the question, “Why plant trees?”: An 88-year-old man […]

News reports on storm damage estimate

By — Posted

In the wake of the OAN’s preliminary storm damage estimate of $18-$31 million, which affected both plant stock and greenhouse structures, several media outlets have published stories (some in addition to the initial round of stories last week): The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Associated Press article (Published on Forbes.com) The Times (Tigard, Ore.) Oregon Public Broadcasting […]

The great immigration debate

By — Posted

The Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee played host yesterday to a discussion on U.S. immigration policy. The presenters were Coalition for a Working Oregon Co-Chairman and OAN Government Relations Director Jeff Stone and Oregonians for Immigration Reform President Jim Ludwick. Each gave a 10 minute presentation, and then there was a question-and-answer period. […]

Preliminary damage estimate: $18 million -$31 million

By — Posted

The winter storms of December 2008 were extraordinary for their cold temperatures, as well as the weight they placed on greenhouses and nursery structures. Removal of the snow from structure roofs was not an easy task, thanks to the freezing rain that affixed preceding and succeeding snows in place. The OAN surveyed its members to […]

Nurseryman a finalist for Clackamas County Commission

By — Posted

Jim Gilbert was named as one of five finalists for a vacant position on the Clackamas County Commission. Gilbert is the owner of wholesale grower Northwoods Nursery and its retail/online arm, One Green World, both located near Molalla. Gilbert has twice run for the Oregon House of Representatives as a Democrat, but lost. The commission […]

More storm damage coverage

By — Posted

Here’s another story about storm damage to nurseries: Gresham Outlook – 2.Jan.2009 Previously blogged on this site: Statesman Journal (Salem, Ore.) – 2.Jan.2009 Associated Press – 31.Dec.2008 Oregon Public Broadcasting – 30.Dec.2008 Capital Press (Salem, Ore.) The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) More to come. We’ll post them here when we see them.

Minimum wage now $8.40 per hour

By — Posted

It’s a familiar pattern: new year, new minimum wage. In Oregon, the state-mandated hourly rate is now $8.40, up 45 cents from $7.95 in 2008. Under Oregon law, the wage rises each year, automatically, based on increases in the consumer price index. As one might expect, many papers did stories on the new minimum wage, […]

A picture is worth …

By — Posted

Here are a couple of photographs of the recent ice storm, provided by Carson Lord of Tree Frog Nursery in Silverton, Ore. The first photo is a pine topiary (Pinus sylvesteris), and the second is a laceleaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum). Although these trees are hardy enough to withstand the ice covering them, […]

OAN seeks disaster declaration

By — Posted

The Oregon Association of Nurseries is going to bat for industry members who incurred heavy damage due to recent snow and ice. Executive Director John Aguirre wrote a letter to Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, seeking her support for a federal disaster declaration, which would free up assistance for industry members. […]

Coverage

By — Posted

Update 12/31/08 — Two print edition stories published: Capital Press (Salem, Ore.) The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Originally posted 12/30/08 — The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) has a short article up concerning the storm damage to nurseries. We’ll link to others as they become available.