Hands On Fire Ecology w/Kai Hoffman-Krull
Join us for a day exploring winter land tending with fire at scale in Quilcene with Kai Hoffman-Krull, a local restoration ecologist!
It is often said that “time heals all wounds.” But what if, for our second and third-growth Douglas-fir forests, time alone may not be enough? What does it actually take to “grow” a healthy old-growth forest? In this class, we will detail some of the significant changes in forest ecology since colonial contact, most notably the cultural exclusion of fire. We will explore methods for forest restoration that can return biodiversity and complexity to our Olympic Peninsula forests, and explore tools for soil and forest health. There will be a chance to dive into a range of methods including biochar production and prescribed fire that can integrate with forest thinning to restore forest ecosystems and enrich soil. Participants will receive hands on opportunities to learn fire techniques, as well as resources for gaining further fire experience!
This event is part of Willow Week 2026, the first Annual Hemispheric Willow Festival!
Across the cool temperate North, people and other animals will be cutting withies, weaving, stripping bark, planting sticks, chewing on cambium, building beaver dams, making medicine, burning, regenerating, considering their watersheds and paying homage to the humble willow in every way they know how. The whole world is invited to celebrate Willow Festival by tending their local willow patch, stabilizing stream banks, cleaning water, organizing parties and workshops, and more!
About Kai
Kai is the Restoration Manager at the San Juan Islands Conservation District, and is a certified NRCS Natural Resource Planner after studying forestry and literature at Yale University. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the Western Washington University College of the Environment, and has coordinated research projects in agriculture and forestry with the University of Washington, University of Montana, and Oregon State University in the San Juan Islands since 2014. He has co-authored peer-reviewed articles in Biogeochemistry and Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment, and has written extensively for publications such as Growing for Market, Civil Eats, New Society Publishing, The Sound Consumer, Rodale Institute, and Stone Pier Press. Kai is also a certified US Forest Service C-Level Sawyer and a certified US Forest Service C-Level Sawyer Instructor/ Evaluator in chainsaw bucking and ground processing.
AccessibilityThis event will happen rain or shine. Folks of all abilities welcome, but there will be an opt-in, hands on, physical portion of the class. There is no indoor bathroom access, but there will be a simple composting toilet at the site.
Register Here