News

Going Green is as easy as 1-2-Tree

Naples, NY- February 12, 2009- Advice and tips on how to go green are being published, posted and talked about everywhere today. Going green is no longer for a select few but now for the masses. However some of the best ways to go green may seem too costly or time consuming to adapt into your life. One easy and affordable solution to get you on the path to being green is to plant a tree. It’s a simple one-time activity that results in years and years of benefits.

The Nature Conservancy has recognized that planting a tree, especially ones native to your climate, is one of the easiest things an individual can do to help our climate. That is not the only benefit of planting a tree though. Trees help save money by lowering energy costs both in cool and warm weather by 20-50% and property values can raise an average of 10% when mature trees are on the property according to the USDA Forest Service. Trees have also been shown to help reduce stress.

Anyone, anywhere can plant a tree whether you have acres or just a planting pot. With so many choices you just need find the tree that is right for you. “When choosing a tree consider soil type and available space. A butterfly Bush or beautiful Rose of Sharon for your potted garden or a Black Cherry or Red Oak to shade your back yard.” advises Monette Goodridge, CEO of Meadowview LLC, who has sold trees for reforestation and conservation projects for the past 25 years.

Late fall and early spring are the best times of year to purchase and plant a tree, although this will vary slightly depending on where you live. In general planting season is during the cool weather months. The Northeast would be April, May and October, the Southeast would be March, April and November and the Northwest would be March, April and October.

Interested in getting your kids involved? This is a great project to do with your kids one spring afternoon. It's easy, fun and something you are never too young or old to do. Every Arbor Day thousands of children plant tree seedlings through out the United States in school yards, Community and State parks and national forests providing them a sense of community and offering them a part in greening their future world.

The easiest and most cost effective way to buy and plant trees is to purchase them bare-root. This means the soil has been removed from the root system. This allows for cheaper shipping and it makes the trees easier to plant, since they are shipped and planted while still dormant. “I would recommend bare-root to everyone because it ensures a better rate of survival.” Says Monette.

So get out and plant a tree today before the opportunity passes you by.

American Chestnut Sales Support NYS Envirothon

Naples, NY- February 26, 2009- Envirothon is an event that New York State has been
participating in since 1990. The event started in Pennsylvania in 1979 as an Environ-Olympics, and eventually transformed into the Envirothon. The event has now grown into a national event where 44 states and 7 provinces compete in five environmental categories (soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, and wildlife) for scholarships. Envirothon strives to heighten students’ interests in the environment, to make them more aware of environmental issues throughout their lives.

Meadowview has dedicated itself to supporting the NYS Envirothon program by promising to donate $1.00 for every American chestnut seedling that is sold. “We recognize the importance of environmental education. Through programs such as NYS Envirothon our country’s youth gains the knowledge to maintain and improve our nation’s natural resources.” Commented Jeanie Sloat newly appointed CEO at Meadowview.

This program is also in place to promote the sale of American chestnuts, which suffered blight in 1904-1950. The species was virtually eliminated from forest lands by an Asiatic blight fungus imported in the late 1800s. The American chestnut foundation has made great strides in producing blight free trees through a process of backcross breeding with the blight free Chinese chestnut. The first blight free seedlings are now being planted on our national forest lands. Once “King of the forest” the American chestnut is typically now found only as a small stump sprout, rarely reaching 20 feet in height, according to the American chestnut foundation. Meadowview operations manager Stephen Doudt ensured, “Our seed comes from trees which have made it to seed baring age in the wild. But seed is scarce and we take great care in planting, growing, harvesting and shipping these seedlings.”

“This campaign brings awareness to both the importance of the survival of the American chestnut and the environmental education of our youth.” Noted Meadowview CFO Monette Goodridge. To purchase an American chestnut tree from Meadowview and support the NYS Envirothon visit http://www.treesandseeds.com/americanchestnut.html.