A unique new business is taking root on university hill.
The UNBC Forestry Club has been given 3.4 hectares of forest just north of the campus for a Christmas tree farm which will produce trees for sale starting 2023.
Eventually, more than 10,000 seedlings will be planted in the area.
“We are going to plant a few spruce… but primarily it’s going to be Douglas-Fir.” Club Co-President Anna Tobiasz said “It’s a nicer tree, I don’t know if you have ever felt a spruce but it’s a little bit prickly – so not the nicest in your living room.”
Another 14 hectares will be set aside for agroforestry such as berry picking, birch sap, mushroom picking and other research.
Right now, the land is mostly brush.
“That’s one of our big obstacles starting off, is going to clear the land.” Tobiasz said “So we are going to get lots of students out here for some manual brushing – axes, saws and chainsaws for the heavier stuff.”
Money raised from the sale of the trees will help forestry students attend field school, among other things.
“For scholarships and also to fund some of the opportunities that we take advantage of with the International Forestry Student Association.” Tobiasz said referring to several international trips some students take during their studies.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
