Tualatin Family Turns Salvaged Hardwood into Profitable Business

Josh Kulla
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Tualatin Family Turns Salvaged Hardwood into Profitable Business

Turning your hobby and passion into a full-time business is not nearly as easy as it might seem. 

For one thing, the importance of the business and marketing skills needed to do so are often overlooked in the process. But, one Tualatin family has made that transition through patience and a lot of hard work. 

Maverick Sawmill Services is the creation of Nick Mooers and his father, Rod Mooers. The company was formed in 2016 as a part-time venture selling milled hardwood slabs and custom furniture. Now, Mooers runs a growing company that is busy branching out its sales across the country and supplying an ever-growing customer base with black walnut, elm, maple, oak and redwood-involved products. 

“I grew up working with my hands and my dad and I have always enjoyed woodworking as a hobby,” said Mooers, who not so long ago was an executive for a large manufacturing company. “Now we have a full finish shop. Half of our business is still slab supply, but we now complete as much of the process in house as possible.  We work with local arborists to bring the problematic trees down and from there we salvage, mill, dry, and build them out ourselves.” 

Mooers grew up in the small Benton County town of Monroe, located on Highway 99W halfway between Corvallis and Eugene. He earned a business degree at Western Oregon University and entered the corporate world. But he always wanted to stick with his rural roots in spite of moving to California for work. He moved back to Oregon in 2010, and these days, he’s found a happy medium that allows he and his family to practice the art of woodworking while also making a comfortable living at it. 

Hardwood slabs are sat out to dry at the Maverick Sawmill shop outside Sherwood. It takes several years to properly dry and cure a slab before it can be used. (JOSH KULLA/TUALATIN LIFE)

It was a gradual process, but this is where his business acumen paid off handsomely. 

After starting a small business in 2016 supplying rough cut hardwood slabs to furniture makers and other customers, Maverick Sawmills always had an eye on expansion. In 2018, after two years of cutting and drying black walnut and other hardwood slabs, they started their push. 

“I joke that it’s like a winery,” Mooers said. “As soon as you mill a piece of wood it’s not ready to build for two plus years. So, the first two years we focused on cutting and building the inventory and making sure we had plenty of stock when the time did come.” 

In 2018 they moved into a larger space in Hubbard and last year into their current space off Morgan Road in Sherwood. 

“We bought a vacuum kiln 18 months ago, and that thing works all day, every day,” he said. “From there, we’ve just been taking on more of the finished projects. Now our specialty is tables, desks, and other live edge looks of various large hardwoods.” 

Unlike many businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic has actually been a good thing for their business. With many people stuck at home, home improvement work has skyrocketed, causing more demand for Maverick products than ever. 

“Most people are just bored and want to do projects,” Mooers said. “The nice part is we’re happy to help with finish work. I like when people take the wood in raw form and say, ‘I want to put my sweat and tears into it.’ I let them know I’m a good resource for assistance and enjoy helping them through the process. Woodworking can be very enjoyable and as most of our clients find out, addicting.” 

A finished black walnut table and bench sit inside the Maverick Sawmill shop awaiting pickup by a customer. Virtually all the furniture made here is created as part of custom orders. (JOSH KULLA/TUALATIN LIFE)

And because Maverick sources its wood from Willamette Valley locations, usually dead or dying trees that need removal, the supply chain has been unaffected. 

“We get them from the stereotypical farmhouse that had walnut trees for shade,” Mooers said. “It’s a big, beautiful tree for sure, but it can get gnarly when it starts dying off. We stick, most of the time, within a 50-mile radius of Sherwood, only taking dead or dying trees and repurposing them.” 

So, as 2021 gets rolling, it’s full steam ahead. 

“We ship down through California fairly often, and we’re currently working on a table for a client in Nevada,” Mooers said. “Now that we have the capability and the material to support doing some of these projects we have been taking on everything we can and continue to branch out.” 

What is the State of Tualatin’s Employment Market?

Jonathan Crane
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What is the State of Tualatin’s Employment Market?

Staffing Agency President comments on local employment trends

Most people assume that when unemployment numbers are lower that it is a good thing, a good economic indicator, but that is not always the case, and certainly not now. Here’s why.

Prior to the pandemic the record low unemployment numbers were in the 3.5% range, which made it very difficult to find people to take the many jobs that were available when the economy was booming, which it was. Businesses had orders but could not fulfill them because they lacked the personnel to get their product out the door. Many local businesses I know of personally wanted to add a swing shift, for example, to handle increased demand but could not get the help they needed to accomplish this.

And now, after seeing unemployment numbers spike during the peak of the pandemic to double digits, (some reports as high as 14%) that number has softened to about 6.2%, but it feels much lower than that because of several factors.

For starters, it is not a myth that many able-bodied, perfectly employable people simply do not want to work as they can make as much or more not working between unemployment benefits, generous kicker checks, and stimulus checks that all add up to make working less appealing and necessary to the lower wage, entry level workers that are in the highest demand category.  

Additionally, just look at certain mega-companies, Amazon being a perfect example, taking massive swaths of lower-wage workers out of circulation with their cool vibe, better than average pay, flexible hours, cool vans, even cooler shirts. (Yes, those things matter to this wage category worker.)  It really does seem like every other vehicle on the road is an Amazon van.  

But seriously, while the politicians love to gloat over low unemployment numbers, it’s actually quite painful to our local economy when they get to these super low levels. Wages have shot up dramatically over the last 2-3 years, and it’s not even making a dent in getting clients the talent they so desperately need.  

Just a couple years ago, $15 an hour for an entry-level job, a relatively low-skill-level production worker, was unheard of. That would have started in the $13 range and you would have had takers. Now we advertise for $15-$17 for the same low-skill level worker and get remarkably few bites.  

And I won’t even get into the quality of these elusive workers. When this young group of laborers, most of whom have never experienced a recession or high unemployment, do not value their jobs as people once did.  

I’ve been at this business for 21 years and have witnessed a staggering change in the attitudes of our entry-level candidates, and it’s not for the better. They could care a less about losing their job because there are hundreds of other jobs at their disposal, and this is not lost on them. They could get a new job on their iPhone at lunch, and many do.

So, these are tricky times. I say these things not to be discouraging, because the economy appears to be roaring right back for so many.  We are in a boom time that appears to be sustainable for so many of our local businesses. However, I am throwing caution into the wind as far as the impact of super low unemployment, as it is a mixed bag and might not be all you think it is. Like so many things, balance is key, and I’m hopeful we’ll find it in our work base soon.

Rotary Awards a High Honor

Diane Bonica
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Rotary Awards a High Honor
Tualatin Rotary

It’s awards season! Everywhere you look, folks are being celebrated for their achievements in music, film and television. Oscars, Emmys and Grammys are well-known trophies of excellence. Rotary, too, has a grand award. The Tualatin Rotary Club selects members of our community and honors them with a Paul Harris Fellow Award. The recipients are men and women who have assisted others and benefitted our community and people all over the world. 

Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary International. He established the humanitarian organization in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois. The Paul Harris Recognition was initiated in 1957. It represents a $1,000 donation given to the Rotary Foundation in the name of a club member or in honor of a community advocate for justice and service. Many notable figures have been awarded a Paul Harris Fellow Award, including Mother Teresa, President Jimmy Carter, astronaut James Lovell and Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine. 

The mission of the Rotary Foundation is to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty around the globe. To date, the foundation has contributed over $4 billion in life-changing and sustainable projects. 

This year, The Tualatin Rotary Club selected Chris Lieuallen as the newest Paul Harris Fellow. Chris has been an exceptional teacher for English Language Learners in the Tigard-Tualatin School District. He consistently goes above and beyond expectations to ensure the success of his students. 

In the Intercambio program, he trains high school students to mentor eighth-graders at Hazelbrook and Twality middle schools. The high school mentors take struggling students and give them the encouragement and skills to succeed in high school. Chris is now seeing former mentees becoming mentors at the high school level.

Lieuallen also reached out to Rotary and formed a collaboration with membership to enhance career choices for his students. Tualatin Rotary members visit Intercambio classes and offer advice and hands-on experiences to the students. Job shadow opportunities and interviewing techniques have also been provided. The partnership with Rotary has been beneficial to both the students and Rotarians. 

Jeff Smith, former principal at Tualatin High School, asked Lieuallen to attend a Rotary Luncheon. Chris accepted, but stated that he needed to make sure that it would not interfere with tutoring math students during lunch. Lieuallen is often available for drop-in student help, guidance as a soccer coach, his expertise as a student tutor, and as an attendee at many school events. 

“Chris is known for giving students a voice, encouraging their leadership, understanding different cultures, setting students up for success, breaking down barriers and teaching to the needs of each individual,” Smith said. 

When COVID-19 arrived, everything about schooling changed. The Intercambio class that relied on a family mentoring model was moved to an onscreen activity. Personal encounters and class bonding were at risk. Lieuallen reinvented how mentoring could take place, and eighth-grade help has been ongoing. High school students realized that power lies in the attempts to make things happen. With Lieuallen as their guide, the program has thrived.   

The Tualatin Rotary Club presented Lieuallen with the Paul Harris Fellow Award. He joins the ranks of other community members who have been relentless in helping others. He may not ever win a Grammy, but his contribution to our world is just as grandiose in the eyes of the Tualatin Rotary.  

For more information about the Paul Harris Fellow Award visit: www.rotary.org/en/history-paul-harris-fellow-recognition.

If you would like to learn more about the Tualatin Rotary Club visit the website at www.tualatinrotary.org. New members are always welcome.

A Bridge to Nowhere?

Alex Thurber
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A Bridge to Nowhere?

In the world of national politics there are many times when politicians have winced while talking about a “Bridge to Nowhere.” Perhaps the most famous was an Alaska project to replace a ferry to an island with 50 residents. The ferry ran on a regular schedule. The Gravina Island Bridge would have cost around $400 million to replace the ferry, but cooler heads prevailed over time and it was never built.

We are facing a similar situation here in Tualatin. As the president of the Byrom Community Involvement Organization (CIO), I try and stay on top of the Basalt Creek development area. It is a large and complex project with elements being controlled by Tualatin, by Wilsonville and by Washington County. There has been a great deal of discussion around the first housing development on the northern side of the project by Norwood Road, and much discussion about tree and other habitat loss, road noise and, of course, traffic.  

Traffic is a constant source of concern in seemingly every conversation I have in Tualatin. I live right off Boones Ferry Road and can certainly attest to the issue of a seeming solid line of cars. And now that we are starting to emerge from our Covid-19 cocoon, the cars and trucks are back. Part of the Basalt Creek development includes the extension of SW 124th and the Basalt Creek Parkway linking Tualatin Sherwood Road to Grahams Ferry Road and ultimately to I-5.

What many of our residents may not realize is that there are additional plans for the Parkway which include a five-lane bridge across the beautiful Basalt Creek ravine area and thus extending the 124th link all the way to Boones Ferry Rd. There is an additional plan to extend this even further across I-5 with road connections on the east side of the freeway, but that project is still a long way out and definitive funding hasn’t been identified yet.

I have some serious concerns about the bridge, as do many of my neighbors. First off, it will be a five-lane bridge designed for heavy truck traffic across a pristine natural area. It is also currently designed with a four percent grade, which is significant for heavy trucks. In fact, one of the plans is to have the light between the bridge and Boones Ferry have a sensor to prioritize or support turning truck traffic. How this will work in practice, considering the heavy traffic already on Boones Ferry, is something I have not been able to understand. In addition, the bridge will be expensive – around $31 million.  

But my biggest issue is that, like the Gravina Island Bridge, the Basalt Creek bridge is not needed. We already have Day Road connecting Grahams Ferry to Boones Ferry to I-5.  Rather than ruin a pristine area of Tualatin and build a bridge, we should be spending a smaller amount of that budget on improving and widening the existing roads to cover the additional traffic. This is also a much less complex solution. While previous Tualatin and Wilsonville city administrations agreed on this current plan, there is certainly no unanimity on the current Tualatin City Council, and the affected neighborhoods are absolutely against this, as am I.

Basalt Creek Parkway Plan Raises Questions

Josh Kulla
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Basalt Creek Parkway Plan Raises Questions

Tualatin City Councilors object to traffic, environmental impacts

A planned extension of the Basalt Creek Parkway is drawing criticism from City of Tualatin officials who say it will severely impact residents along Lower Boones Ferry Road. 

Under current Washington County Department of Land Use and Transportation plans, the new road would extend the Basalt Creek Parkway from Grahams Ferry Road east to Boones Ferry Road. It would feature a 700-foot-long bridge over Basalt Creek and connect its eastern end with Boones Ferry Road just south of Greenhill Lane. 

County officials say the estimated $31 million project has long been planned for the area as part of the steady growth of both Tualatin and Wilsonville. A road at this location has been identified as part of a wider connector between Interstate 5 and Highway 99W since at least 2003. That concept was solidified by the Basalt Creek Transportation Refinement Plan adopted by the City Council in 2012. 

“This is an urbanizing area, but there wasn’t really much of a transportation system,” said Erin Wardell, a transportation planner with Washington County. “So, part of this is building that system, building multiple routes and building redundancies. Day Road also needs to be rebuilt someday.” 

Wardell noted that the project has been a part of the Basalt Creek Transportation Plan since 2013 and was subsequently added to the county’s Transportation System Plan. These things were done following joint planning work carried out by both Tualatin and Wilsonville. 

“The longer-term vision is for there to be an overcrossing over I-5 here and at Day Road,” Wardell said. “Tualatin, Wilsonville, the county and Metro, they all agreed that this is where that roadway is going to land and that we agree on this future vision for the area.” 

Despite that, Tualatin City Councilors are skeptical of the most recent plan, which they say would bring excessive traffic to neighborhoods along Boones Ferry Road. 

“It’s very controversial here, it’s very unwelcome by some people and there have been some issues with managing the road buildout,” Councilor Bridget Brooks said at the Council’s Feb. 22 meeting. She noted that flooding, stormwater, dead trees, fish passage and other environmental issues have also been raised as potential problems. 

The Basalt Creek Parkway would connect Grahams Ferry Road with Boones Ferry Road using a 700-foot long bridge over Basalt Creek. Critics of the $31 million plan say it would have an adverse impact on stormwater runoff and fish passage, as well as on traffic. (COURTESY/WASHINGTON COUNTY)

“I’m not understanding why we have a road that will dump onto Boones Ferry,” Councilor Valerie Pratt added. “It’s going to be a mess. I’m not understanding the thought process.” 

Russ Knoebel, Principal Engineer at Washington County, admitted that numerous concerns have indeed been raised by residents in recent years, with one of the biggest being stormwater runoff. 

“We have heard a lot of concerns from the neighbors,” Knoebel said. 

At this point, the project is well into design and engineering work. Public engagement is ongoing, Knoebel said, and will include open house events in summer 2021 and early 2022. 

Next steps will include a final design that will need approval from the Oregon Department of Transportation, as well as securing construction funding. In addition, because the proposed roadway crosses a sensitive wetland, permits are needed from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. 

But the biggest hurdle may yet be public opinion. 

“I know a lot of work has gone into this. but I feel like this is a big project and I want to do the right thing for our community,” said Councilor Christen Sacco. “I want to feel good about that. I am concerned about these environmental impacts and the other impacts that were brought up today.”

Simple Do’s and Don’ts to Keep your Pet Safe from Pesky Fleas and Ticks Year-round

Macrina Ruzzo
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Simple Do’s and Don’ts to Keep your Pet Safe from Pesky Fleas and Ticks Year-round

Having your pets on flea and tick prevention is strongly recommended to keep them happy and healthy all year round. Unbeknownst to pet owners, fleas and ticks can be the central cause of many health concerns other than local itchiness and skin irritation. Fleas have been linked to allergies and anemia, as well as passing on troublesome intestinal parasites to your pet like tapeworms. Ticks take the transport of disease to the next level by spreading life-threatening illnesses such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. 

DO pick the best flea and tick prevention for your pet!

Topical or Oral? Oral flea and tick prevention is great for cats and dogs that do not have food/skin allergies or GI upset. Oral medications are also great for pets that spend a lot of time outdoors and swimming! If you do choose an oral medication, make sure to give it with a small meal or snack to ensure your pet does not experience stomach upset. Topical prevention is a great alternative for pets who are not good candidates for oral medication. 

DO keep your pet on flea and tick prevention year-round to prevent the transmission of any disease!

Winters are becoming warmer, and the odds of fleas and tick eggs dying during this time are becoming smaller. Treating your pets with a preventative year-round ensures they are kept safe (and remain healthy) from those pesky fleas and ticks.

Do treat your entire home if you find fleas on your pet!

Fleas do not live on pets. They only hop onto them when they need a snack! (GROSS) If you have found fleas on your pet, even one, the likelihood of them living in your carpet and upholstery is high. 

It is recommended to treat all the pets in your home and treat the environment too! Products like Knockout Area Treatment by Virbac are easy and safe to use on carpet and furniture, and even pet beds!

DON’T bathe your pet for up to 48 hours after applying topical flea medication.

Topical flea medication is absorbed through your pet’s skin and needs this time to become effective. 

DON’T administer your flea and tick medication incorrectly.

Flea and tick preventatives can be not only ineffective but dangerous if administered incorrectly. Always check the label or ask your veterinarian if you have questions about dosing or administration. 

DON’T administer flea and tick preventative to your cat if it is labeled for a dog. 

Canine flea and tick prevention is much stronger than flea and tick prevention for cats. If a feline accidentally has had canine prevention applied, please contact your veterinarian immediately as this could end up an emergency if not treated quickly.

City Finances Remain Sound Heading into New Fiscal Year

Josh Kulla
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City Finances Remain Sound Heading into New Fiscal Year

The City of Tualatin is doing better than expected financially, given the economic challenges posed over the past year by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A combination of federal assistance, increasing property tax revenues and a reduction in some costs over the past 12 months have combined to keep the City in healthy financial shape as it prepares for the upcoming 2021-22 fiscal year in July. Some revenues have predictably fallen due to the pandemic, including lodging tax and gasoline tax revenue, not to mention income from recreation and corporate sponsorship of live events. But a corresponding increase in other areas, including water revenue and alcohol tax revenue, have worked to partly cancel out those losses.  

“I’m not really sure yet at this point where we’re going to net out with the bottom line,” City Finance Director and Assistant City Manager Don Hudson said at a March 8 City Council workshop meeting. “But we do have strong reserves, so I’m confident no matter how we end up, we will still end the year in a sound financial position.” 

One of the main drivers of the City budget is property tax revenue. This is actually increasing, thanks to a continued rise in assessed values as people continue to move to Oregon and increase the demand for housing. 

“I can say with property tax revenues, we are looking like what we expected,” Hudson said. “We are seeing a little bit of a trend where people are not paying everything up front in November. But collections are still strong.” 

At the same time, revenue from building and development has fallen over the past year. However, Hudson noted this is not entirely unexpected. 

“Last year development was happening, and some was put on hold by the pandemic,” he said. “So, our budget was a little high based on where we sit today, but not where we sat a year ago.”  

City department heads were set to finalize their budget numbers by the end of March. The first Budget Committee meeting is scheduled for May 10. A second meeting is scheduled for May 25 and a third for May 26, if needed. 

The City Council, meanwhile, is scheduled to hold its annual budget hearing on June 28, where it will formally adopt a budget for the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.

Timberwolves Take on the Best of Southern Oregon

Henry Kaus
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Timberwolves Take on the Best of Southern Oregon

Tualatin High School’s varsity football team, after facing an unlikely opponent, came away with their first win of the season under the Friday Night Lights.

Tualatin originally scheduled their second game at Lake Oswego, a championship finalist last year, but switched opponents after several Lake Oswego athletes contracted COVID-19 from an out-of-school gathering. So, Tualatin continued at home against the Southwest Conference member, North Medford, which made the four-hour trek from Southern Oregon.

This game would be vastly different than the previous – no first-game jitters, a bit more practice and two returning key players for the Timberwolves: wide receiver Peter Burke and running back Malik Ross. Both are dual-sport athletes and simultaneously play on the varsity men’s basketball team.

“They had some basketball commitments and we’re sharing athletes,” Head Coach Dan Lever said. “I’m about providing opportunities, and we’re in an interesting situation. So, I’m not going to deny kids opportunities.”

Also among the differences, athletes’ family members were in attendance, and with a crowd came the festivities. Tualatin’s sports announcer returned, as well as music over the loudspeakers between plays.

So, with everyone settled in, the game began. But points weren’t to be scored until late into the first quarter.

The clock struck 3:16, and the Black Tornadoes held possession. The Wolves managed to keep the offense on their 15-yard-line until a fourth down and one yard to go. North Medford opted to run, hoping for at least a one-yard-carry. To their success, the gamble paid off. On the following play, from the 20-yard-line, North Medford threw long for a 45-yard completed pass and eventual touchdown, resulting in their initial seven-point lead.

In response, Tualatin launched an identical strategy only 16 seconds later. On the first play of their possession from the 29-yard-line, Tualatin quarterback Jackson Jones launched a 50-yard pass to junior Cole Prusia, who outran two North Medford linebackers for the score to tie the teams at the end of the quarter.

Dominic Borges (#7) kicks for the final field goal of the night, finalizing the 41 – 28 win. (HENRY KAUS/TUALATIN LIFE)

These opponents kept each other in check. Dawning quarter two, Prusia connected with Jones for a 20-yard score. Three minutes later, North Medford, in another mirror play, tied the game once again at 14 – 14 with a 20-yard touchdown pass. This back and forth continued.

Starting on the 28-yard-line, Tualatin junior Kevin Hale took a pass from Jones and booked it through a bombardment of North Medford athletes. Despite a face-mask penalty and two attempted tackles, Hale pushed his way out and ran for 40 yards. With the penalty pushing them forward another few yards, Ross received the next hand-off and landed himself over the line for a 21 – 14 lead.

This, once again, was only temporary. With just 14 seconds remaining in the half and half a yard to go, the Black Tornadoes gained another seven points.

Truly, this seemed like anyone’s game, but in the second half, the Wolves finally sent North Medford right back to Southern Oregon defeated.

Hale and Burke both scored touchdowns in the third quarter with Burke’s coming on a 54-yard carry.

Down by 14 going into the final quarter, North Medford shortened the gap to seven, but with 3:16 remaining, Prusia’s third touchdown of the game provided the final margin in a 41 – 28 Timberwolves win. This improved Tualatin’s record to 1-1 season on the season, while North Medford’s fell to 1-1.

The game contrasted with their season opener, when the Wolves lost to West Linn 37 – 6. In a week’s span, they turned themselves around.

“Just cleaning stuff up, getting rid of the first game jitters,” Lever said. “We haven’t had a jamboree or anything to polish things up for, so really just settling down, calming down and just getting back to some of the things we do.”

Statistically, Jones led the way, completing 65 percent of his passes for 360 yards. Prusia, meanwhile, ran for 169 yards with three of Tualatin’s five touchdowns.

Despite the shortened season, the team is still grateful for the chance to play.

“We’re just so happy to be out here playing football,” Lever said. “And I can’t look at one player or one person and say that was the difference, it was a really good team win on short prep time.”

Easter Bunny Returns to Tualatin, Helping the Oregon Food Bank

Brad King
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Easter Bunny Returns to Tualatin, Helping the Oregon Food Bank

The Easter Bunny is making a safe return to Tualatin and the Community Park, 8515 SW Tualatin Rd., Tualatin, on Saturday, April 3, 2021. The same place he’s been coming to for 47 years for the famous Tualatin Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt. Except for this year, due to the effects of COVID-19 and to keep everyone safe, he’ll be joining the Tualatin Lions to raise funds for the Oregon Food Bank and safely pass out Easter candy to kiddos age 8 and younger.

The Tualatin Lions Easter Food Bank Fundraiser, in partnership with the Easter Bunny, will take place on Saturday, April 3, 2021, from 10 am to 2:30 p.m. The Lions will accept drive-through donations, including cash, checks and credit/debit cards. The Oregon Food Bank cannot accept public food donations at this time, but they will make every donated dollar multiply several times to provide quality food for people in need.

In what are considered “normal times,” 14% of Oregonians experience “food insecurity,” which refers to a lack of available financial resources for food at the household level. However, during the pandemic, that level has risen to 25% and up to 30% in BIPOC populations. Many factors have caused this increase in food insecurity in Oregon communities, including unemployment, under-employment, increased insurance costs, increased housing costs and the looming threat of illness. The Tualatin Lions and the Easter Bunny aim to make a dent in this situation on April 3.

The Tualatin Lions Club has supported the work of the Oregon Food Bank and all of its partner food pantries in the region for years. And, they know the impact of hunger and food insecurity in the region and all over Oregon. Children need good nutrition to keep learning to their potential; parents need good nutrition to keep providing for their families, and seniors need good nutrition to stay healthy. The Lions’ motto is “We Serve,” which is a way to let the friends of the Tualatin Lions join in serving their communities and fighting hunger.

The Tualatin Lions invite anyone who has ever hunted Easter Eggs or brought their children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren to Community Park since 1973 to hunt Easter Eggs, to return to Community Park between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 3, 2021, and look for the Tualatin Lions, scouts from Troop 530, the Venture Crew and Easter Bunny, (there will be signs pointing the way) and safely donate to help hungry Oregonians right through the driver’s window of your vehicle. And bring those kids because Easter Bunny is bringing sacks of Easter candy, just like he always does.

Eye of the Plant-Holder

Hannah Cashman
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Eye of the Plant-Holder

My mother and I like to take strolls through the garden center. We start down at the coffee bar and meander our way through the projects and new products, taking mental note of things that we can start working on. We prefer to do this early in the morning, long before people decide it is time to garden. Most mornings, I have no intention of working in the garden, but rather I become a soundboard for my mother to bounce ideas off before I go to work. Some mornings, if she is particularly lucky, I help out before my shift starts. We do small things — designs, displays, and on occasion a designer planter. Sometimes, we do big things, like planting hanging baskets for the cities or creating fairy garden displays. Things you would never really notice but make a huge difference when we are done. 

I find the best part of our work is the ability to accomplish these projects before or after the normal rush arrives. As much as I love gardening, I find myself breaking into a nervous sweat anytime I am approached by someone who has questions. Even though, most times, I can struggle through an adequate answer.

One particular morning last month, I was in a bit of a hurry, I had no time to be taking a stroll through the nursery. I simply needed to get my coffee and be out of the way. There are days where projects start a little later, and my hope is to return home before anyone stops to ask me a question. I find the best way to accomplish this is to walk with a quick passion. My true purpose of hiding must have been clear, as I was approached by a confident customer. She asked to speak to someone who had “an experienced opinion” with so much polite conviction that I had glanced behind my shoulder to make sure she was talking to me. Her request, while nicely stated, make it abundantly clear that I was not the right person to answer her questions (and she was right). She needed a professional gardener. With some relief, I trotted off to find my father. Secretly, I was just a smidge disappointed, but I knew my lack of knowledge would be reflected the minute I opened my mouth. There is a certain reward knowing the answer to someone’s question, and an even greater feeling to provide great customer service, even on a busy day. 

That evening, I found myself wondering what she needed to know. Was it something I could have helped her with after all? If it had been summer, and she was curious about annuals, I could have given her the same advice as any other garden rebel, yet here, in the blossoming of spring, I was lost. I found myself wondering, what does it take to have an experienced opinion? Was it dependent on success rate, knowledge, or even repetitive mistakes that I could learn from? 

In my circles, I am the local plant expert. I have had a relative amount of success (although I have also had my fair share of failures). My years of experience with hanging baskets and homegrown gardens have made me the best resource for my friends who are just entering the plant world. All of my experience is due to my parents and their passion for plants. Over time, I concluded that my garden knowledge is simply more expansive than my peers because I have tried and failed more than they have. 

I buy plants with the expectation that someday, they will die. At that point, I will be able to pick out a new plant and try again. Maybe then, my plant will die slower, and eventually, I will have a happy, thriving plant (at least one). So, if a lack of experience, or a proverbial green thumb, is holding you back from becoming a garden rebel, I encourage you to try again. There is a plant for everyone; you just have to find it. With every plant, you become more experienced than the gardener behind you. I cannot be disheartened when I cannot answer your plant quandaries, and you cannot be discouraged when your orchid dies yet again. Pick something new, and learn a little more. After all, plant experience all depends on the eye of the plant-holder. 

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