Every year, ONDA volunteers plant thousands of willow, cottonwood, and other shrub and tree species to help restore habitat in eastern Oregon. In reality, the work begins months earlier when volunteers go to the nursery to collect the sticks that will later be planted.

To harvest sticks, volunteers will use loppers and snips to cut 4-foot long sections of willow and cottonwood, and then bundle them for easy transport to a cooler for planting later in the year.

The work is not particularly physically demanding, it just requires a good-sized group of folks to harvest the large volume of sticks we need.

No experience necessary, you’ll be an expert in minutes!

Often it is surprisingly spring-like, a nice afternoon spent chatting as we snip branches off sticks. It also can be cold, and the work repetitive, so it is important to come prepared with proper clothing, and switch between various tasks.

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