When the trees started falling in Little Boston in 2006, we were concerned. For those who drive past the site on a regular basis, watching the clearcutting start and then spread like an ugly scar across the North End was difficult, even heart wrenching.

After all, here was a gorgeous stand of trees that the environmentally minded Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe had purchased and it was being felled.

“We’ll replant,” tribal officials pledged.

It was easy to be skeptical. All too often promises are made an broken on such deals.

When we heard the reason behind the blight, we shook our heads. Buying 390 acres of land and then clearcutting a chunk of it to repay the loan which was used to buy the property in the first place?

Sounded pretty slick.

Sounded like the environment would be taking a backseat to private interests in North Kitsap again. And it appeared to the skeptics that with the money and land in hand, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe really had no reason to replant the area at all.

Officials there kept their word though, not just to the community but to their natural surroundings. Sounded too good to be true, but it wasn’t. It’s even better in fact.

Not only are seedling trees being replanted at the site, but twice the minimum will be taking root at the clearcut. Their growth will be marveled at for years and years to come.

You don’t have to be Peg Tillery to appreciate watching a tree grow. It’s an amazing process and is just the kind of “growth” that is a welcomed sight here in North Kitsap.

Hopefully, it always will be.