The Free Tree Program

First there were 600 bald cypress seedlings: slender young deciduous trees that take up just about four cubic feet of space.

Then there were 6,500 Austrian pine: 3-4 year-old evergreens that occupied about 130 cubic feet of storage.

All of these living entities came from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Marietta Nursery.

Finally, there were 3,000 Colorado blue spruce, Douglas firs and Norway spruce: boxed 1-2 year old conifers that occupied another 130 cubic feet of storage. These had arrived from Bosch Nurseries in Michigan.

Then, five to seven Rotarians and their assembled equipment engaged in sorting and re-arranging these items for 6,000-plus Arbor Day recipients (students in 20-odd pre-school elementary and middle schools of Buckeye Trail, Cambridge, East Muskingum and Rolling Hills School Districts).

Imagine the cubic footage required for these additional activities and you can begin to picture the considerable space required in order to carry out this phase of the Cambridge Rotary’s Free Tree Program. Little wonder that this service project is deeply in debt to the Southgate Kmart and its manager, Tim Mitchell, and his staff of employees for putting up with and providing hospitality and congeniality during a significant period of time for preparation and an indispensable requirement for refrigerated storage. The 40-degree hibernation and root-moisture protection demanded by these living organisms prior to their distribution and planting in a viable condition has again been provided very generously in this facility and Cambridge Rotary and its Environmental and Ecology Committee are truly grateful for the gracious sharing of these needs by Southgate Kmart.

Sufficient clement weather the Saturday morning following Easter Sunday allowed a group of Boy Scouts and some of there advisers to plant another 300 bald cypress seedlings in the marshy area along Southgate Wills Creek, an event that may someday prove to be a significant act of reforestation in that area and diminish considerably the periodic flooding that detracts from the value of that portion of our city-owned terrain. Such is the goal of the planting, if only the reality of foraging deer and alternate periods of drought do not destroy such an outcome in this isolated and remote sample of a circle of life.

Cambridge Rotary Environmental and Ecology Committee also shared some 3,000-plus evergreens (Austrian pine, Colorado blue spruce, Douglas firs and Norway spruce) with hopeful landscapers amongst the general public. As mentioned in a recent writing on this subject, we are also indebted to a number of individuals and local commercial enterprises and civic organizations for financial and in-kind support for these activities, which circumstance permits the adjectival “free” character of our endeavors. The organizations were specifically identifed in that article, as they are in the current flier that accompanies our seedlings. The reader is refered to these items, and any who might be interested are again invited to join our support system by submitting suggestions and contributions to “Free Tree Program,” in care of Cambridge Rotary Club, P.O. Box 662, Cambridge, OH 43725.