Two Municipalities Offer Free Tree Seedlings

WOODBINE – In an initiative designed to support a number of environmentally related causes to celebrate Earth Day April 22, Woodbine was the distribution center for local municipalities as well as borough residents for a seedling giveaway program April 18.
The first cause was tied to “New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign” that was established to improve the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy that left many communities throughout the state and in Cape May County with dead and damaged trees.
Per the rationale, as to the implementation of the campaign, “Trees create defining features of many neighborhoods as well as give numerous benefits to residents. Through the N.J. Tree Recovery Campaign, community residents can replant those missing trees.” The supporting partners of the campaign are the N.J. State Forestry Services Community Forestry Program and State Forestry Nursery, the N.J. Soil Conservation Districts, Sustainable Jersey and the Arbor Day Foundation as well as a several private sector companies.
Seizing this opportunity, Woodbine applied to the program and received around 2,000 seedlings to distribute to county residents for free through municipal giveaway programs. The seedlings were delivered to Woodbine April 16 and a number of local area environmental groups and commissions came to pick up their requested allotments including from Dennis, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Cape May and even from Down Township in Cumberland County.
The seedlings received were bare root and ranged in size from one to four feet in length, depending on species. Woodbine received about a dozen varieties and the types it distributed to its own residents included sweet gum, chestnut oak, persimmon, red maple and Virginia pine.
Campaign required that Woodbine store the seedlings in a cool, damp location prior to distribution and that informational materials be made available free of charge regarding planting and care within 10 days of receiving them.
To participate in the program, each local community needed to obtain approval from government officials to receive and distribute tree seedlings such as from an elected official (e.g. mayor, council) or authorized department representative to support the community’s participation in this program.
Then the community needed to identify a local group (municipal department, board, nonprofit, or other organized group) to organize and distribute the tree seedlings and also needed to provide a plan for how the tree seedlings would be distributed to residents.
Bradley Bianchino, 7 years old and a first grader, came to the seedling giveaway with his father, Ray. “I’m excited to get these small trees and now we’re going home to plant them,” he said. It’s a good thing to do for the environment.”
A group of Green Team members who are also local business owners and members of the Woodbine Chamber of Commerce were on hand to support the giveaway including Lisa Fisher, Carol Saduk and Jobeth Sherby.
“We’ve been doing seedling giveaways for a number of years, before it was for Arbor Day in April and now we’re fortunate to have these seedlings from the State Forestry Service and it’s a great thing to do for our community,” said Fisher.
“We are planning to do a Green Fair in conjunction with the Woodbine car show in October as well as a community garden and this seedling activity is a way to also tie in a program to support Earth Day and keep Woodbine and N.J. green,” added Saduk.
DENNISVILLE – The Dennis Township Environmental Commission took advantage of the state’s offer to proactive municipalities to distribute these tree seedlings on a gratis basis to residents. The commission, headed by Council member Albert DiCicco, set up its seedling beachhead at the Dennis Township Museum April 18.
A number of volunteers from the commission were on hand to pack up the seedlings for residents and also give tips on their proper planting and care. The variety of trees that were available at the Dennis seedling giveaway included chestnut oak, loblolly pine, silky dogwood and white pine.
The museum was an ideal location for the seedling program since its long history is representative of the rich past Dennis enjoys. It is housed in the old schoolhouse, which was built in 1874 on land bought from Charles and Sophia Ludlum for $250. The schoolhouse served as the township’s municipal building until 1994 when the new facility was constructed.
In tandem with its support of Earth Day, officially commemorated April 22 around the world, the DTEC sponsored a litter pick-up along Hagan Road in Clermont with enthusiastic volunteers earning free slices of pizza and another opportunity to grab additional seedling for their hard work April 18.
“I’m here to give back to the community,” said long-time Dennis resident Frank Hoff and DTEC supporter. “It’s great to see how we can use this program to improve the ecology of our township,” added Alma George. Both Hoff and George are experienced farmers and so having their on-site expertise was invaluable to learning tips to ensure the success of the seedlings’ survival.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.