Reforestation: free or cheap tree programmes

Post Reply
PeasIntheRain
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu 30-Dec-2021, 12:57
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 14 times

It sounds like a lot of us are working with a bit more space and are seeking to restore ecosystem function in addition to growing food. So, in case this is useful to others... here are some projects I know about; I'd love to hear about other ones.

There are several active programmes now to provide individuals or communities with free or very low-cost tree seedlings to support reforestation efforts. Most -- but careful, not all -- are focusing on locally native species, which are the best in terms of survival in local conditions, local ecosystem function, and long-term sustainability (not invading, and so on).

Canada:
Search 'city name' and 'free tree'. Here's the form to request a streetside tree in Vancouver: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-deve ... trees.aspx

Trees Canada has a newsletter with information about tree grants for individuals and communities: https://treecanada.ca/

#OperationReleaf phase 1 is closed but it remains to be seen if they'll run it again, or something similar: https://treecanada.ca/operationreleaf/o ... ecover-bc/

Search 'shelterbelt' and your province. Some provinces don't have active free programmes any longer but sometimes the concept is continuing with self-sustaining nurseries. For example, here one option for Alberta from a private nursery but with lower-cost seedling bundles: https://prairieshelterbeltprogram.ca/shop-seedlings/ Another private option, bit pricier: https://treetime.ca/alberta-shelterbelt-program.php


USA:
https://www.nwf.org/Trees-for-Wildlife/Request-Trees (for 2023)

Local conservation districts are a great resource in general and some have native plant sales for district locals. Here's an example from Clallam County WA, just across the strait :) and very much in 'our' area, useful even if you're not there but are looking for species ideas: https://clallamcd.org/plant-sale

Of course, there are others but proceed with caution. For instance, Arbor Day foundation provides trees in the USA but they are a nationwide network and do not send local species (their vision and marketing is also problematic: e.g. reforesting prairies, anti-fire without nuance, etc.).


For those earning an income from land,
there may be additional options including investment grant programmes (you put in a percentage, the grant provides the rest). For instance, the BC Fruit Tree Growers Association has guidelines for accessing fruit tree grants; see their membership categories. https://www.bcfga.com//page.php/Replant ... pageID=189

In the USA, USDA grants may be available to those with at least USD $1,000 of income from their land.


Getting involved to provide seedlings:
I'm making the assumption that most of us enrolled in the course are operating with the privilege to give, not just receive. There are ways to get involved to help raise/propagate native seedlings and give them back to those with fewer resources. Starting from the project types above is one way 'in'.

That concept also extends to vegetable seedlings. The vegetable seedling give-away that the city of Victoria ran in 2020 was pretty inspiring, and the city page has a list of active programmes: https://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residen ... -city.html so you could see how you might be able to share your seedlings or service through those mechanisms.

Grow the joy!
TomF
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed 05-Jan-2022, 20:33
Location: North Vancouver
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 15 times

That you for all the links. Good to know. I have not looked into this. I have a forested back yard and we put down a ton of cedar mulch in our perennial garden beds to cover the soil and keep weeds down in the front yard. Now I have a lot of cedars coming up in the garden beds from the mulch and have been transplanting them to pots and some to my neighbours yard. I plan to do some guerrilla transplanting into our local parks along with some compost amendments this spring. I have a lot of Fir, Cedar, Vine Maple and some Big Leaf Maple seedlings coming up in the back yard too. I leave most until they get too big as the volunteers know best when conditions are right. Then move to air pruning pots.

The only things I pull back there are invasive like Norwegian Maple, Holly and Laurel. I have about 300 Norwegian Maple seedlings each spring from the last big Norwegian Maple remaining in the yard. They would out compete all the natives If I let them. (My Norwegian has a Big Leaf transplant near the base that will replace the other when is has a couple more years on it. I will have some good maple fire wood after the Norwegian goes) So yes, any local tree projects should always be natives.

I do not have the time to go bigger that sharing locally and the odd guerrilla planting trip to local parks.
User avatar
CoastRichard
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue 28-Dec-2021, 20:30
Location: Gibsons
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times
Contact:

Thanks Tom. Appreciate and will explore the channels for giving back.

starting point for reforestation organizations looking to build capacity, or plant urban scale, or plant rural at scale is the Canadian federal 2B trees program site.
https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/2-bil ... tml#assess
Post Reply

Return to “General Chit-Chat”