4-H Million Trees

4-H members, families, project groups, community clubs, afterschool clubs, school enrichment programs, and camps are invited to participate in 4-H Million Trees. The project was conceived after a Pacifica (CA) 4-H member decided to do something to combat global climate change.
4-H Million Trees flyer (PDF)

The Vision
1,000,000 new trees planted by 4-H youth across the United States and Canada!

• Native trees will add beauty and heritage to urban, suburban, and rural communities across the nation.

• Improved local air quality

• New trees absorb runoff, and bring groundwater to the surface

• Shade from these trees can help cool buildings, reducing air conditioning electricity needs, and eliminating pollution and carbon emission associated with this power generation

• Offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion by absorbing and sequestering about 48,000,000 million pounds of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year

• New trees replace trees lost to deforestation worldwide

• 4-H youth learn they make a difference and can change the world both individually and as a group

When to Plant
Tree planting may take place anytime. Late winter/early spring is an ideal time to plant trees – middle of the summer is not a good time. Whenever it can be done – is the right time.

Special dates for tree planting activities:

• Missouri Arbor Day: April 3, 2009

• Earth Day: April 22, 2009

Where to Obtain Trees

• Local nurseries, lawn & garden businesses

• Arbor Day Foundation (12 seedlings free with annual membership of $10)

• Missouri Dept of Conservation, George O. White Forest Nursery (seedlings)

Free Trees

• Missouri Department of Conservation
  http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/nursery/seedling/
  An agreement with the Missouri Department of Conservation allows 4-H members & groups to receive seedling trees at no cost.

• 4-H member or group must register online with 4-H Million Trees

• On the seedling order form write (or attach a cover sheet) that states “Requesting free trees that will be used in the 4-H Million Tree Project”

• First come-first served

• Missouri ReLeaf
  http://www.moreleaf.org
  Free or reduced cost larger trees

• Project CommuniTree
  Free, 3-gallon trees - for planting on public or not-for-profit land in Missouri.

• Project ReLeaf
  Reduced-cost trees (balled & burlapped, 5-10 ft. tall) available each spring and fall for planting on public or not-for-profit property.

• Priority ReLeaf
  Free, grant-funded trees available each spring and fall for planting on public or not-for –profit property in financially underserved communities in St. Louis City and St. Louis county.

Where to Plant Trees

• In your backyard

• On your own land

• A rural neighbors land

• In a city park, along a city street, public conservation area, school grounds, other public owned property (requires working with local authority)

Additional Information and Resources

4-H Million Tree website
http://www.4hmilliontrees.org

MU Extension Publications
Available online or in print form from your county MU Extension Center.

• Before You Order Tree Seedlings
  http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/forestry/g05006.htm  http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/forestry/g05006.pdf  
  Printed copies $1.00 Publication - G5006

• How to Plant Forest Trees (seedlings)
  http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/forestry/g05008.htm 
  Printed copies $.25 G5008

• Selecting Landscape Plants: Shade Trees
  http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hort/g06800.htm 
  http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/hort/g06800.pdf Printed copies $.75 G6800

• Selecting Landscape Plants: Flowering Trees http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06805.htm 
  http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/hort/g06805.pdf 
  Printed copies $.75 G6805

• How to Plant a Tree
  http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06850.htm http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/hort/g06850.pdf
  Printed copies: G6850 $.50

• Trees of Missouri
  http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/specialb/sb0767.htm
  Printed copies: SB767 $.8.00

Missouri Department of Conservation

• Forestry Web Page
  http://mdc.mo.gov/fores

• Tree Seedling Information
  http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/302.pdf

• 2008-2009 Seedling Order Form
  http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/316.pdf

• Select the Right Tree
  http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/269.pdf

• Standard Tree Planting Detail
  http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/302.pdf

Arbor Day Foundation
http://www.arborday.org

• Backyard Woods – 44 pgs color @ $4.95 OR online in PDF format.
  http://www.arborday.org/backyardwoods/guide.cfm
  
  Backyard Woods encourages landowners to make their own backyard woods as productive and enjoyable as possible. Information to get you started on developing your own Backyard Woods, activities for the entire family, and more. Specifically targeted for landowners of 1 to 10 acres.