Forterra NW

On October 17th, we were delighted that teams from Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty company, King County Parks, and local community members joined us for our Forterra Friday at Duwamish Hill Preserve - a 10.5-acre protected site in Tukwila with great historical, cultural, and ecological significance. The preserve is a former industrial storage yard and garbage pit that was saved from industrial development through a community partnership between Forterra, the City of Tukwila, and Friends of the Hill in 2004. After many years of hard work by volunteers, the Duwamish Hill Preserve was officially opened to the public in 2010.  Together, we cleared more than 7,000 square feet of blackberries, expanding the area we already cleared at previous Forterra Friday events. Some dug quietly; others shared stories of farming, gardening, and how they connect to land in their communities. Even with just minutes left in our two-hour event, volunteers were still hard at work, determined to pull every root. For many, it was their first time at the preserve, and a few chose to stay afterwards to walk around the site and really experience the park. Pulling blackberries to create space for native plants wasn’t just work; it was part of keeping the story of the Hill alive for future generations. The following day, Duwamish Alive hosted a bigger planting to carry that work forward. Thank you, Swire Coca-Cola, USA, for sponsoring this event and for all the volunteers who made this possible.

Across Coast Salish and Columbia Plateau homelands, Tribal leaders speak in the language of seven generations - a living teaching about carrying responsibilities forward to children yet unborn. In the Pacific Northwest, it’s a teaching that still feels urgent today. Every seed Forterra plants, every stream we restore, every young mind we inspire, all of it carries forward through time, shaping the world that our great-grandchildren’s great-grandchildren will inherit. Whale Scout, a recipient of Forterra’s Community Restoration Grants, is helping that ancient idea come to life. Whale Scout's Seeds to Sky after-school program for high school students is restoring the Sammamish River shoreline. Young people are learning about salmon, orcas, and the deep connections between land, water, and people. They aren’t just learning science. They’re learning legacy. As one of our treasured donors, your gifts make Forterra's support of programs like Seeds to Sky possible. Your support for Forterra has nurtured a chain of renewal - from whale to salmon, from salmon to river, from river to forest, from youth to the generations still to come. As we work to help plant the future season after season, our daily needs are growing fast. We’re committed to ensuring that this cycle never stops, so we hope you might consider helping us today with a donation. What you plant today will feed the salmon, shade the river, and inspire the young people who will one day protect it all. This will be how seven generations grow, and this Giving Tuesday you can be part of that legacy. Donate today >>> https://lnkd.in/gtvk_eww

Along the Yakima River, where branching channels of water knit together, a land came home again this year. Frog’s Home, 180 acres of cultural and ecological meaning, was permanently preserved and returned to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation through the generosity of our supporters. A sacred place was reunited with its people, the river remembered its name, a land heard again its first language, and a story now unfolds written again by the ones who first told it. When you support Forterra you open the door to homecomings like this. Such work takes patience and care – paths cleared, doors unlocked, a welcome kept warm. By donating, you keep the light burning. From all of us at Forterra, thank you for believing in a Pacific Northwest where people and place find their way back home. May your Thanksgiving holiday be filled with shared belonging and joyful homecoming. Make a one-time donation today >>> https://lnkd.in/gtvk_eww

November’s Forterra Nature Discovery™ centered on the remarkable adaptations that allow owls to thrive. Much like we had to prepare for a damp and blustery Saturday afternoon at Morse Wildlife Preserve with boots and hats, owls are equipped with specialized tools for silent flight, sharp sight, and extraordinary hearing. We didn’t spot any owls this day. But we did encounter a red-legged frog tucked beneath damp leaves, an array of fungi in both vibrant and earthy hues, all in a landscape of bright yellow and orange leaves from maples, cottonwoods and alder carpeting the forest floor. The day’s wildlife sightings continued to delight: a Pileated Woodpecker revealed itself flying over the canopy, a curious Eastern cottontail hopped into view below the lookout tower, to the awe of our younger attendees, and a deer quietly observed us from their camouflaged spot among the trees. Our walk concluded with a special moment as a single raven perched high atop a towering evergreen croaked and chuckled—its presence a gentle reminder of nature’s mystery and grace. We’re so grateful for the energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm of everyone who joined. Thank you for braving the weather and sharing in a day of discovery!

Thank you, Carbon Washington for the wonderful opportunity to engage with you on the power of people and place.

Eleven staff members of Conner Homes—one of Seattle's longest-standing home builders—arrived on a mission. In just two hours, they planted 70 native plants at Crystal Springs Park in Tukwila and mulched every single one. This was an amazing feat for their first volunteer event with Forterra. Folks learned about tug tests—how to ensure a plant is properly buried—and one volunteer shared why it matters: a bunny had pulled a lilac right out of the ground at their home. Folks learned about plants and about mulching in rings, not piles. All while having fun and giving back. But here's what really stuck with us: the kindness. These folks helped put away every tool, then stayed for another 20-30 minutes just to chat. They asked thoughtful questions. They laughed. You could feel how much Conner Homes cares. Thank you, Conner Homes, for being part of restoring Crystal Springs Park. You’re welcome back anytime! 

"Even in darkness, the forest connects, the future grows" In dark forests illuminated only by moonlight something miraculous is slowly spreading beneath the forest floor. Threads of life, invisible and intricate reach through soil connecting roots to roots, trees to trees, life to life. These networks, built by this hauntingly beautiful 'Fly Agaric' mushroom help entire Pacific Northwest forests share what they need to survive. Water. Nutrients. Resilience. Forterra grows in the same quiet way - building the living connections that hold our region together. From wildlands to working forests, from salmon streams to city greenspace, together we’re strengthening the natural systems that sustain us all. When you give to Forterra you help roots deepen, forests thrive, and communities grow stronger together, and monthly gifts help the Pacific Northwest’s living network thrive for generations to come. So today consider becoming part of the network that endures, our monthly donors - our ‘Forterra Stewards’. Here’s to Halloween and to the miracle of gifts given in the dark. Donate Today > https://lnkd.in/gtvk_eww See the impact you’ll make as a Forterra Steward > https://lnkd.in/gS3Vie9p

Forterra's Property Manager, Jacob Stone, recently attended "Fungi Fun," a Forterra Nature Discovery™ walk led by naturalist Ryan Johnson of Firecraft NW. Here's Jacob's report (it's a great read): Did you know there are more types of mushrooms than all the species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals combined? On this Forterra Nature Discovery™ walk at Maxine G. Morse Nature Conservancy, we approached identifying mushrooms from multiple angles, from the individual characteristics, their role in the ecosystem, and from the ecological conditions they are found in. We learned how spores are released from gills, pores, teeth, and other mechanisms to allow for reproduction. We learned about skirt and volva, which protect the delicate fruiting body as it emerges from the ground. These characteristics, along with spore color, are the initial indicators used when identifying mushrooms. Mushrooms play three major roles in ecology; connecting plants through their mycelial network, decomposing organic matter, or acting as parasites. Each of these roles are vital in our ecosystem, and choice edibles can be found in all categories. This forest is dominated by Douglas fir, which has known relationships with over 1000 mushrooms. The Dryer's polypore (pictured on slide five in the images), fills two ecological niches: it acts as both a parasite and a decomposer. In addition, this mushroom is a great fire starter and can even be used to safely carry fires from one location to another as its pores slowly burn. Thank you, Ryan, for a great day! Check out our upcoming Forterra Nature Discovery™ events in November and December >>> https://lnkd.in/g3gFSk-C

The Pacific Northwest is home to the forests, farms, rivers, and communities we cherish. Together, we can ensure these places thrive, today and for generations to come. We're inviting you to become a Forterra Steward, a new way to make your impact last all year long. Forterra NW chose 'Steward' for our monthly supporters because, to us, it means a nurturing, dependable guardian. By giving monthly, you'll join a community of people committed to protecting the lands and communities that make this region extraordinary. As a Forterra Steward, you'll: - Provide reliable, sustained support for conservation and community resilience. - Be part of a network of people who care deeply about this place. - Help ensure that the Northwest you love continues to flourish. Your support as a Forterra Steward helps care for the lands we love — today, and for the future of the planet we borrow from our children. Make an impact as a Forterra Steward >>> https://lnkd.in/gS3Vie9p

This was a big event for Forterra – our first planting at the lower level of Crystal Springs Park. As part of their Week of Care, 21 Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines volunteers joined us in stewarding Crystal Springs Park in Tukwila. The park is an urban oasis tucked between Southcenter Mall and SeaTac Airport, providing habitat for coyotes, owls, pileated woodpeckers, songbirds, blue jays, salamanders, hawks and eagles.      The day kicked off with some exciting trivia about Alaska Airlines - did you know they were the first to land using GPS, and the first airline in the U.S to sell a ticket entirely online?       Throughout the day, the volunteers were inquisitive and engaged, asking thoughtful questions about everything from plant placement and identification to the impact green spaces have on disenfranchised communities.     We had fun, too! The fifth step of any planting is to name the plant, and someone christened their sword fern after a coworker’s sourdough starter! Not to mention, they were a fantastic group to hear travel stories from.      At the end of our events, we like to circle up and reflect on lessons learned. One volunteer remarked, “I had no idea I could J-root my plants. I’ve been planting way too quickly in my garden. If I learned anything today, it’s that I should slow down and really be careful with what I plant."     In total, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines planted all 83 native plants we had brought along, from salal to vine maple.      Thank you, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, for joining us and planting with such care.