Oregon State Forest Plan Doesn’t Deliver
Last week it became clear that the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has a big problem on its hands. The 70-year Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) the agency spent years developing will decimate the agency’s budget, do significantly more economic harm to surrounding communities than was previously reported, and shutter many large and […]
Cruising for Timber…and Dinner in Oregon State Forests
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) managed State Forests are a particularly important source of timber for Hampton’s sawmills. ODF harvests a portion of these lands to provide revenue for schools and other public services and cover the cost of forest protection and recreational access. State Forest timber sales are planned and advertised by ODF. Each harvest […]
Hampton Lumber Marks 80 Years in Business
This month, Hampton Lumber is celebrating 80 years in business. We’re thrilled to reach this milestone and to mark this achievement, we’re honoring the foundational values that got us here; commitments to people, stewardship, and community. To celebrate and honor our past we are looking to the future and acting accordingly. We are commemorating this […]
Tidings of Joy & Optimism
We are closing out our second year living and working in a global pandemic and while it hasn’t been easy, as a company I think we’ve found our stride. Our internal protocols have been largely successful at keeping people safe and our facilities operational. That said, we are certainly not immune to challenges and tragedy. […]
Oregon Private Forest Accord: A New Dawn for Forestry in Oregon
After nearly a year of scientific review and negotiations, timberland owners and environmental groups have reached a historic agreement to overhaul Oregon’s forest laws and create significant new protections for salmon habitat in Oregon’s private forests.
Unpacking Lumber Prices
Lumber prices are making headlines across North America and for good reason—over the past year, the price of lumber has increased dramatically. A global health crisis, policy interventions, and basic supply and demand issues have created shortages of a number of critical materials. Supply chain issues have affected many products from steel to microchips. Commodity producers are […]
2020: A Year in Review
Where to start? 2020 will undoubtedly go down in history as a year most people would like to forget. One steeped in uncertainty, fear, anger, and division and marked by tragic and terrible events. It has tested communities, workplaces, healthcare systems, personal relationships, and the social fabric that connects us all. It will likely take […]
New Plan for Oregon State Forests Puts Local Communities in Jeopardy
Oregon State Forests are multi-use working forests, managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to provide the “greatest permanent value” for surrounding counties, which includes harvest, recreation, and conservation. At roughly 700,000 acres, these lands represent just 4 percent of all forestland in Oregon but they are enormously important to north coast communities. Around […]
COVID-19 Crisis: Our Inherent Connections Revealed
It’s been over two months since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. and nearly two full weeks since Governors in Oregon and Washington ordered people to stay at home. Restaurants have closed or reduced services. Amusement parks and theaters are closed and leisure activities have been cancelled. Schools and state and national […]
COVID-19 Crisis: Taking the Long-View
Of the lessons learned in my years working in the Pacific Northwest timber industry, the most significant has been the importance of taking the long-view. This way of thinking is an inherent part of an industry that takes decades to bring a product to market and requires large-scale investment in infrastructure, time, and people to […]
