To introduce landowners and land managers to the various options available to protect their hemlocks, the Hemlock Restoration Initiative, in partnership with the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and the Cashiers Historical Society, will be giving a hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) management workshop at the Zachary Tolbert House in Cashiers, NC.
Workshop Schedule
Thursday, November 11, 7–8:30 pm: Orientation and discussion of background on hemlocks, HWA, and IPM (online)
Friday, November 12, 9 am–4 pm: Hands-on chemical treatment training (in-person)
Workshop Description
An online presentation will be provided the evening before the field session covering the background information relevant to the hands-on training. Topics covered include the ecological importance and value of hemlocks in urban and community forests, the biology of HWA and other hemlock pests, integrated pest management strategies, and the role of the Hemlock Restoration Initiative in North Carolina’s various hemlock management efforts. On Thursday, November 11 from 7 to 8:30 pm, we will hold a live Zoom meeting where we will cover logistics for the field session and answer questions about the material covered in the presentation. The online portion and orientation are required to participate in the field portion of the workshop.
From 9 am to 4 pm on Friday, November 12, we will use the trees present at the workshop site to learn and practice a variety of methods to treat hemlocks available to all landowners in North Carolina. Participants will receive in-person instruction and hands-on practice. We will cover the details of chemical treatment, including how to identify hemlock trees; assess individual tree health and infestation severity; select, mix, and safely apply products; as well as when to seek help from a tree care professional.
Important Details
We ask that participants plan to attend the entirety of the online and Friday portions to ensure that everyone receives complete information.
To participate in the online orientation, you will need a desktop, laptop, iPad, tablet or smartphone running the Zoom Video Conferencing software. Click here for installation instructions for the software.
Participants will be walking off-trail on uneven terrain and handling pesticides. Participants will need to wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes. Chemical resistant gloves and other equipment will be provided. In order to protect staff and participants, face masks and spatial distancing between participants are required. Participants should bring a bag lunch and water for the day.
Participants will take home a small treatment starter kit. NC Pesticide Applicators and ISA members can get credits for attending.
Registration
Registration is currently full. If you would like to be on the waiting list in case of cancellations, please fill out the registration form, but do not submit payment. A registration fee (non-refundable) of $10 per participant can be paid by check or electronically through PayPal. **Please register early. Space is limited.** Once registration is full, we will keep a waiting list to fill any cancellations. To register, visit SaveHemlocksNC.org/registration.
For questions, email education@savehemlocksnc.org or call the HRI office at (828) 252-4783.
We would like to thank the North Carolina SFI State Implementation Committee (NC SFI SIC), along with the NCDA&CS, for sponsoring this workshop. The NC SFI SIC is committed to promoting the sustainable management of forests in North Carolina. The NC SFI SIC supports programs and initiatives that help forward sound forestry practices within the forest products industry and other forestry related entities.
The Hemlock Restoration Initiative is grateful to be able to offer educational programs in this difficult time. Despite the lifting of restrictions, we acknowledge the risk that COVID-19 continues to pose to members of our community. To maintain the safety of our event participants and staff, we requiring that all participants follow HRI’s COVID-19 safety guidelines. Anyone not following the guidelines on the day of the event will be asked to leave. Despite taking precautions, we cannot eliminate all risk of exposure and participants will be accepting some level of risk by choosing to attend. Please review the COVID-19 safety guidelines on our website to ensure that you are comfortable following these guidelines. Note: these guidelines may adjust depending on changing guidance from health authorities.