Ashland Soil & Water Conservation District to give free tree seedlings to Ashland County students

It’s an annual tradition: each year Ashland County second graders receive a free tree seedling to celebrate Arbor Day as a gift from Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). However, with Ohio schools closed through May 1, that won’t be possible in 2020. So, instead, Ashland SWCD will be offering free tree seedling to all Ashland County students during their annual tree sale pick up on April 19-20.

The seedlings will be available while supplies last from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, April 20 at the Ashland County Service Center, 1763 State Route 60 in Ashland. The office is located just north of the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center.

“With students and families spending more time at home, this is a great opportunity for families to spend time time outdoors celebrating Arbor Day and the importance of trees together,” said Jane Houin, Ashland SWCD district program administrator. “It’s really important to our SWCD board and staff to give back to the community, so when we knew the current situation would notallow us to go into the schools and provide trees to the second graders, we wanted to come up with an alternative way to provide our county’s students—and our community—with the gift of trees.”

Planting trees not only allows families to enjoy time outside together, but trees provide many environmental benefits as well. Trees help clean our air by removing pollution from the atmosphere and producing oxygen. In fact, one large tree can provide a day’s worth of oxygen for up to four people, Houin said.

They also reduce erosion, help improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat, save energy and even increase property values. In fact, forestry and the production of forest products are considered one of the nation’s essential industries even during this health crisis.

In addition to the free seedlings available during tree sale pick up, Ashland SWCD will also provide a free apple tree seedling to all 107 Head Start students at the Ashland Kroc Center and Sullivan locations. The district recently received a grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts to promote urban agriculture and education in the county with particular emphasis on working with Head Start students.

With Head Start centers being closed along with schools, Ashland SWCD is providing regular learning packet materials including the seedlings to ensure the students still learn about conservation while school is closed. Ashland SWCD Urban and Education Specialist Becca Vales is even recording #TeachingTuesday videos to share on the district’s Facebook page. Topics so far have included hatching both chicks and butterflies, and more videos will be included on how to plant and care for their tree seedlings.

Just over 600 tree seedlings will be given away over the two days, so supplies are limited. Examples of available tree species that will be given away include crabapple, redbud, plumtree, dogwood, black chokeberry, hazelnut, oak, persimmon, apple, coralberry, willow, buckeye, hackberry, and maple.

Limited quantities of tree seedlings are still available to order online at www.AshlandSWCD.com for those who would like additional seedlings, but seedlings should be ordered in advance.

For additional information, visit thedistrict’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AshlandSWCD