In 2010, Quesnel Seed Orchard, our second orchard location became a reality. After signing a land lease agreement with West Fraser Mills Ltd., Vernon Seed Orchard Company (VSOC) began fencing the new site in January to prepare for the arrival of the first ramets (trees) in February. For more information about Vernon Seed Orchard Company, go to "About US" of this web site. Vernon's warm winter sent the ramets from our Vernon holding beds to Quesnel in early February. We needed to ship them to Quesnel to hold them in their frozen state for planting in April.

In early April, R.E. Gook & Associates, Quesnel, surveyed the orchard row start and final points for us to begin work on the ground. First, we sight in each row and then pull forestry chain to mark all the tree positions of the orchard. Each position is drilled and the correct ramet is placed at each position for planting. A planting contractor completed the planting in last April. Not all positions were planted the first year. The orchard will be completely planted over the next three years.

Our first orchard is SPU# 12 - Prince George - Lodgepole pine. The size of the orchard is 6500 ramets, which is one of the largest forestry seed orchards in the Province of British Columbia.

The second orchard for development comes in 2011. SPU#17 - Bulkley Valley - Lodgepole pine orchard is nearly all grafted and is ready for first phase delivery and planting in the early spring. The orchard size is 4000 ramets and will be completed over a three year period as well.

With the help of Al Hunter, a retired, West Fraser Mills, Quesnel, Silviculture Forester, we have made great progress in the maintenance and care of the orchard grafts after planting. Thanks to Al and the VSOC crew for their dedication and hard work in this initial year of development.