California Tree Farms of the Year 2001
Aletta and George Hollister of Comptche, California, in Mendocino County, are mother and son who operate the Hollister Tree Farm, growing and harvesting redwood and Douglas fir timber for forty years.  George does most of the work on the tree farm which was certified in 1977.  Their timber stand is mostly redwood and Douglas fir with some hardwoods.

Aletta and George harvest some timber every year on a selective basis. They have planted over 40 acres with a mix of redwood and Douglas fir following hardwood control and removal.  Approximately 100 acres have bee treated for release from hardwood competition.

The Hollister Tree Farm is a display case of positive results of 40 years of active and ambitious forest management.  The Hollister’s set policy for the direction of their management years ago, and have proceeded to carry it out themselves through active hands-on personal involvement.  Nearly every micro site on the property reflects the intentional application of some specific management practice.

The Hollister Tree Farm differs from the average Tree Farm in the amount of work and number of management practices that have been actually carried out on site.  Aletta and George can show a record of solid personally-involved performance spanning many years.  A guiding policy has been to harvest only the “interest” (growth) which the forest produces, without diminishing the “capital” (base growing stock level).  Even though several million board feet have been harvested during the Hollister ownership, present timber growth and volume is greater than when acquired.  Trees of high growth potential are retained, while trees of low growth potential are more likely to be harvested.

Aletta is a retired Postmaster of Comptche and George is a logging and timber falling contractor.  Both Aletta and George are active members of the Farm Bureau and Forest Landowners of California.  George has bee President of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau and served as President of Forest Landowners of California from 1988 to 1990.

Aletta holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1946 and was the only woman in her class to receive such a degree.  George is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a B.S. degree in Wood Technology, and also holds a B.S. degree in Forestry from Humboldt State University.