Where forests are born

I was very surprised and happy to learn that right here in Coeur d’Alene there is a nursery where millions of tree seedlings are grown every year to support reforestation efforts!

Since 1960, the US Forest Service has run the Coeur d’Alene Forest Nursery which maintains 130 acres of irrigated seedbeds, along with 25 greenhouses.

From the seedbeds, over 16 million seedlings can be produced annually, while the greenhouses can grow an additional 4 million containerized seedlings annually.

Customers include national and tribal managed lands undergoing reforestation in northern Idaho, Montana and North Dakota.

The Nursery is located at 3600 Nursery Road right here in Coeur d’Alene.

The KEA board visited the nursery recently to learn more about the operation and see how KEA volunteers could help in seed cleaning and seedling planting.

Nursery Superintendent Aram Eramian walked us through the facility showing us the seed cleaning process and walked us through several of their greenhouses.

The sheer volume of seeds and seedlings is almost overwhelming. Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another greenhouse full of seedlings, you would walk into yet another greenhouse full of seedlings!

Aram specifically mentioned a need for volunteers in March for planting Whitebark Pine seeds. Whitebark Pines are currently listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act so getting more of these trees planted is critical and help is needed!

One of the main greenhouses full of conifer seedlings. Not just confiner seedlings but also native Alder, and Dogwood among others.

Keep an eye on the KEA website for updates on the Nursery’s volunteer needs.