Planting a Tree: One Small Step Anyone Can Take
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The public demand for trees overwhelmed planners of the inaugural Big Plant tree-planting blitz last spring. As a result, communities, service clubs and Door County nature and environmental organizations have prepared to meet some of that demand this April and May, but they anticipate more people will want free trees than can receive them.
Roy Thilly serves on the board of both the Climate Change Coalition of Door County, which sparked the countywide Big Plant effort, modeled after The Big Read; and Door County Land Trust, which distributed more free trees to county residents last year than any other local organization.
“In each instance, we were supposed to be there for the whole morning for the tree giveaways,” Thilly said, but “the trees went within one hour.”
The Climate Change Coalition encourages people to plant trees and native plants on their own if they cannot attend a giveaway event.
Last year, the Land Trust gave away about 1,000 native trees and plants, and it will give away twice that many this year, thanks to supporters’ donations. Still, Cinnamon Rossman, director of development for Door County Land Trust, said she expects to run out quickly again.
“Please note that demand for free trees and plants is very high, and supplies are limited,” the Land Trust advises. “Come early, and be prepared to wait in line. A limit of three items per household is requested.”
Door County Land Trust Tree and Plant Giveaways
Door County Land Trust has announced four events – the same number as last year – to give away native trees and pollinator plants on the following Saturdays:
• April 30, 10 am – 12 pm, YMCA Healthy Kids Day (one tree or plant per child, or a maximum of three per family), 1900 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay
• May 7, 9-11 am, Stabbur Beer Garden, 10698 N. Bay Shore Dr. in Sister Bay
• May 14, 9-11 am, Main Street Market, 7770 Hwy 42 in Egg Harbor
• May 21, 9-11 am, Southern Door School, 2073 Cty DK in Brussels
Countywide Tree Distributions and Other Tree-planting Events
The Nature Conservancy has been doing tree plantings around Earth Day for many years, with help from volunteers and schoolchildren, and last year, the organization planted about 7,000 trees during the blitz, including 6,000 saplings in one preserve.
The Climate Change Coalition reported that 19,000 small trees in “grow plugs” and larger trees were planted last spring by 40 organizations and individuals. As of early April, coalition coordinator Nicole Matson did not know how many groups were planting trees, or how many trees would be planted through this spring’s effort.
“Right now,” Matson said April 4, “we’ve collaborated with over 50 organizations to help plant 9,500 trees – and counting – in Door County.”
• The Village of Egg Harbor – a Green Tier Community – was reserving trees for a major April 23 giveaway for its residents, and those trees sold out prior to an April 8 deadline. A tree giveaway will take place at Egg Harbor’s Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church St., on April 23, 10 am, as part of a four-day Every Day Is Earth Day celebration being held April 21-24 in several county venues.
• The Climate Change Coalition is promoting a Swing into Spring event at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1756 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay, as part of an Earth Day celebration on April 22, starting at 5:45 pm, with dinner by Smokin’ Tom’s Team BBQ and music by the Swingin’ Door Big Band.
• The Wild Ones of the Door Peninsula will distribute trees – and urban forester Don Gustafson will demonstrate the proper way to plant them – on April 24, 2-4 pm, at Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay.
• Baileys Harbor will have a tree giveaway again this year for the Big Plant on May 7, 9 am – 12 pm, at the town hall, 2392 Cty F.
• Crossroads at Big Creek will host a public tree planting May 14, 9:30-11:30 am, at its headquarters, 2041 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads will provide tree-planting tools, but it urges volunteers to wear appropriate shoes and clothing that can get dirty.
• The Door County Environmental Council will lead a public planting event June 11, 10 am, at Sunset Park, 747 N. 3rd Ave. in Sturgeon Bay.
Why It’s Important to Plant Trees
For one thing, the county is steadily losing certain types of trees to disease and pests, such as the emerald ash borer.
But tree planting does much more than replace trees that die. Crossroads staff and volunteers note that tree planting is one simple solution toward mitigating the impacts of climate change because “trees sequester carbon, provide oxygen, protect coastal communities, absorb pollutants, filter our air and anchor plant and wildlife biodiversity.” The Climate Change Coalition adds that trees provide protection to groundwater, streams and soils, and they provide shade to reduce air-conditioning needs.
Thilly said it’s important for people to take many steps to save energy, cut pollution and attempt to slow down climate change. Those steps can range from turning off lights when not in use, to installing LED bulbs, to using light timers or motion lights, to considering solar energy or a hybrid or electric car.
Minor steps by the masses can have an effect collectively, and planting efforts are also an important part of the mix, Thilly said.
“It isn’t going to solve climate change, but reforestation is an important tool in our strategy for climate change,” he said. “You have to do a lot of things.”
A Few Native Trees and Plants for Door County
Door County Land Trust will give away the following native trees and plants during four events this month and next (see the related story):
• Trees: Northern white cedar, balsam fir, red pine, white pine and white spruce; six to 10 inches tall in two-inch plugs; must be planted on the day of the giveaway.
• Pollinator perennials: Dogtooth daisy (Helenium autumnale), prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya), common ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) and blue/woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata).
