TKC recently hosted a Timber Harvester Training in Red Devil. The five-day training, which was made possible in part by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service, was part of the workforce development component of our Harvest to Home project. 

Harvest to Home (H2H) is TKC’s holistic housing project which aims to provide affordable housing and reduce overcrowding in the Middle Kuskokwim Region by building homes using timber harvested from TKC lands. 

The goal of the Timber Harvester Training was to equip our Shareholders with the skills and knowledge needed so they can safely and efficiently harvest timber, but also qualify for jobs in the timber harvesting industry including positions with our Harvest to Home project. 

Led by Jeff Hermanns of Forest and Range Solutions, the training included sessions on safety and emergency response; mapping and orienteering; introduction to basic first aid techniques; chainsaw operation and maintenance; timber falling and bucking; forestry regulations, harvest unit layout; and silviculture (the science of growing trees and managing forests). 

Participants were solicited from the TKC region and we intentionally selected individuals with interest or work experience in the timber industry, and as with all TKC projects, a Shareholder preference was employed. The training was limited to six participants to ensure each participant received one-on-one training and mentoring. All six participants that attended successfully completed the training.

Additional workforce development trainings for H2H will be planned in the coming months. Trainings will be focused on key areas of the project which not only includes timber harvesting, but also sawmilling and timber frame home construction. 

TKC and TKC Fish Wheel are in the early phases of constructing a timber frame home manufacturing facility in Red Devil, which will produce the wooden components for the homes.