EcoEKY: Green News from Eastern Kentucky

From the London Sentinel Echo:

Memorial, family trees bring much-needed Releaf

By Tara Kaprowy
Staff Writer
Published: April 29, 2008 10:22 pm

Skip Little has his own green space in London now. On Wednesday, Little’s family members, friends and members of the new Releaf London committee gathered at A.R. Dyche Cemetery to plant a yellow wood tree in honor of the former attorney, who died 10 years ago.

Getting more leaves growing in a meaningful way in Laurel County is the goal of the new committee, a subset of the London Downtown organization. Ultimately, they want to expand London’s urban forests.

People can donate $150 to the committee and get a tree planted in memory of a loved one or even as a family tree.

The tree — which will be hand-selected according to the habitat where it will be planted — will be marked with a permanent hang tag.

“The plaque will identify the tree and the name of the family,” committee member Chris Robinson said.

The donation will pay for the cost of the tree, the cost to plant it and guarantees the tree’s survival.

The idea for the committee was spawned thanks to feedback given to London Downtown by America in Bloom, a nationwide beautification program that judged the city last year.

“Urban forestry and environmental awareness were our two lowest scores,” Robinson said. “Releaf London is a way of developing an urban forestry plan.”

Robinson said committee members are in the process of assembling a recommended tree list.

“We want to make sure the trees are in a proper location for the growing conditions they need and the space they need,” Robinson said.

Robinson expects trees like yellow wood, kousa dogwood, pin oak and flowering cherries to be on the list.

“These are good, easy to love trees,” Robinson said.

Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.

from the Harlan Daily Enterprise:

JOHN MIDDLETON/Harlan Daily Enterprise
Wal-Mart assistant manager Ross Everage presented a check in the amount of $500 to Harlan County 4-H agent Raymond Cox during the annual Earth Day festivities Thursday.


Trees distributed as part of Earth Day celebration

By JOHN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer
Published:
Friday, April 25, 2008 1:15 AM CDT

Residents from around Harlan County traveled to Wal-Mart on Thursday to pick up trees that were given away as part of an annual Earth Day celebration.

Hundreds of people waited in line outside of the building to receive one of the hundreds of black oak, red oak, black walnut, redbud and white dogwood trees that were donated by the Harlan County 4-H Club, Harlan County Conservation District, Kentucky Division of Forestry and Wal-Mart.

“We have tree seedlings here to give to everybody,” said Susan Mavinidis of the Harlan County Conservation District. “We are hoping they will go home and plant them and beautify their home and Harlan County.”

Raymond Cox, a 4-H agent with the Harlan County Extension Office, said he was happy to see the trees given to citizens who will plant them around the county.

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“We will be giving away about 1,000 trees today,” Cox said. “If they take the trees and set them out in their community, we will have some more of these beautiful trees that you see around on these mountains.”

During the event, Wal-Mart donated a $500 check to the Harlan County 4-H Camp.

“We raised $500 that we are going to donate to 4H camp to kick off the tree event,” said Wal-Mart assistant manager Ross Everage. “We wanted to participate with them this year and actively be involved in the event.

“We hope it will show people that Wal-Mart is trying our best to be a part of the community here in Harlan.”

Wal-Mart also raised $550 that was used to purchase trees for the event.

“People can plant these trees around their homes and restore the environment,” Everage said. “We want to do our best to give back to the community.”

Bob Kelly of the Kentucky Division of Forestry said the trees that were given away would help the county in the future.

“This helps our tree production through the years,” Kelly said. “It’s good for the environment.”

In addition to the trees, a Yard Machine riding lawnmower was given away. The mower was won by Donnie Ray Lewis, of Evarts.

Officials said the were pleased with the turnout for the event.

To conclude the festivities, a tree was planted behind the Wal-Mart building. Everage said employees will look after the tree as it grows in the upcoming years.

from the Ashland Daily Independent:

Trees by the sack

Wurtland students prepare seedlings for ‘Project Earth’

By MIKE JAMES
The Independent

Published: April 24, 2008 10:43 pm

WURTLAND — A white pine seedling isn’t much to look at, being only a few inches long with scraggly brown roots.

But they grow fast enough that in a few years they’re head-high. Executives from the duPont plant in Wurtland came to Wurtland Middle School on Thursday with enough of the seedlings for all 330 students, plus their teachers, and a few more for an outdoor classroom the students plan to construct.

“We hope they’ll take them home and plant them. We’re trying to be a good neighbor,” said plant manager Tim Albert. “These kids are the future. Some of them are the folks that will work at the plant in a decade or so.”

Dupont purchased the trees from the Kentucky Division of Forestry and donated them to the school. The seedlings come in bags the size of feed sacks, 100 to the bag.

Students helped teachers separate the seedlings and carefully wrap the roots in wet paper towels.

“This is a good way to learn how to put a diaper on a baby,” said Skyler Nichols, a sixth-grader.

He is looking forward to taking a tree home to plant, because he still has the one he received in a similar giveaway when he was in second grade. That tree now is between eight and 10 feet tall.

“I like this idea because it helps put out more oxygen,” Skyler said. “Since people cut down all kinds of trees, this is a good way to replant them so they don’t all disappear.”

Some of the trees will end up in the outdoor classroom, which is the brainchild of Wurtland’s seventh- and eighth-grade community problem solving team, said team adviser Lori Newman. Dubbed “Project Earth,” the classroom was conceived as a tool to raise awareness of environmentally friendly practices, she said.

It will include habitats for butterflies and bluebirds, planting beds for vegetables or botanical projects, an erosion station to demonstrate the effect of water dripping on limestone, and lots of flowers, shrubs and trees.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.

from the Middlesboro Daily News:

Photo: Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock recently signed an Arbor Day Proclamation which urges all citizens to participate in the observance of Arbor Day by planting trees to beautify our Commonwealth and to focus attention on our great natural resource — our forests. Pictured with Judge Brock is District Forester Jared Calvert (left) and Bell County Forest Ranger Lem Johnson (right). (Photo submitted)

Celebrate Arbor Day 2008

By Jared Calvert/District Forester

Published:Monday, March 31, 2008 10:28 AM CDT

PINEVILLE — Arbor Day in Kentucky is traditionally celebrated on the first Friday in April. This year, Kentucky will observe Arbor Day on Friday, April the 4th. Arbor Day was first celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1874.

J. Sterling Morton first came to Nebraska as the editor for Nebraska’s first newspaper and noticed that the state was void of trees. As a naturalist, he emphasized that trees were needed as windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot sun. After widespread awareness of the need for trees to be planted was spread other States made Arbor Day a legal holiday during the 1870’s, and Arbor Day has been celebrated every year since its enactment.

Currently, the Kentucky Division of Forestry works with landowners, schools, and conservation districts within individual counties to keep the tradition of Arbor Day alive.

The Division of Forestry promotes Arbor Day through the donation of trees to schools and local conservation districts. In addition, the division works with local county judge executives and elected officials to promote the observance of Arbor Day in their county. The division also offers assistance to private landowners to help them decide what the proper trees will be to plant on their property and to elect an appropriate area to plant the trees.

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Upon request, private landowners who wish to plant large amounts of trees over large acreage can use the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s mechanical tree planters that can help speed up the process of planting trees on their land if the conditions are right. In addition, the division offers high quality seedlings for sale at low prices to private landowners.

This spring the Kentucky Division of Forestry has high quality hardwoods and conifer seedlings available. The following species are currently available and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis: Shortleaf pine, Virginia pine, silky dogwood, persimmon, black locust, mixed hickory, black oak, bur oak, cherrybark oak, northern red oak, overcup oak, pin oak, shumard oak, southern red oak, swamp chestnut oak, white oak, pecan, and black walnut. Most tree species are $15 per 10 trees or $25 per 100 trees. This price includes tax and shipping.

The Kentucky Division of Forestry urges you to play your part this year in planting trees in observance of Arbor Day. For more information about the state nurseries or to obtain an order form, visit the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s website at www.forestry.ky.gov or contact your local Kentucky Division of Forestry office in Pineville at (606)337-3011.

Jared Calvert is the Southeastern District Forester for the Kentucky Division of Forestry. Contact him via e-mail at jared.calvert@ky.gov.

from the Floyd County Times:

City to hold Arbor Day observance at Stonecrest

by JACK LATTA
Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, April 2, 2008 1:06 PM CDT

PRESTONSBURG — City officials announced this week that the city’s landscaping department will be hosting its annual Arbor Day Festival this Friday.

According to Brent Graden, the city’s economic development director, the festivities will begin promptly at 9 a.m. at the Stonecrest Golf Course.

The landscape department, in conjunction with various groups, plans to plant thousands of redbud tree seedlings.

“We want the whole town to show up,” said Landscape Manager David Crisp. “We think trees really add to the community and it is our responsibility to make this community the best it can be. So come out with your boots on and plant a tree with us on Friday.”

The work is expected to begin at 9 a.m. and last until 4 p.m. with landscape crew, volunteers and honored guests taking part in the event.

According to officials, following the day’s activities, a “proper tree planting demonstration” as well as a cookout and possible live music have been planned to begin at 5 p.m. at the downtown city stage.

“We want people to realize that we have to do our part to support Mother Nature,” said Crisp. “So love your earth and plant a tree.”

The Prestonsburg Landscaping Department was recently honored by the Floyd County Extension Office in recognition of being one of the most outstanding cooperating organizations in the state.

Officials say that all interested parties should report to the Stonecrest golf clubhouse with good shoes and long pants. Refreshments and food will be provided during the day.

Any questions should be directed to Brent Graden at City Hall at (606) 886-2335.