Planting Update

We are a couple of days away from the planting date. Approximately 2500 seedlings arrive on Friday. Community volunteers will plant on Saturday, 9:00 AM at the Good Counsel site. The MSU Environmental Club will plant in North Mankato Saturday as well, meeting at 30 Sandi Ct. at 9:00 AM. MSU athletes will complete the North Mankato planting Sunday at 1:00 PM meeting at the 30 Sandi Ct. site. (The corporate plantings by Lindsay Sash and ADM along County Rd 90 will be next week.)

Rain is forecast on Saturday but we will still plant unless it is a complete washout so come dressed appropriately. Also, check your E-mail before leaving to plant on Saturday and Sunday in case we have to postpone due to weather. If no message is sent, we WILL plant. Any questions, contact me at this address. Thank you in advance for your help with this yearly community project!! — Tom Hagen

Million Tree Project Update - Tuesday, April 7, 2009

It has been a long, hard winter and a cold spring so far, but the seedlings are on order and the planting date is set at April 18, 9-12 AM. This year we will be doing an inter-planting of seedlings on last year's two sites, both at Good Counsel and the North Mankato site off of highway 14. By late fall last year, the dry weather conditions coupled with some rodent damage caused us to consider adding a few trees to the existing sites. In addition, this year ADM has adopted a site on the southern bypass (Hwy 90) and will be doing that planting. Some additional help may be needed there so watch for updates. Because of the difficulty in getting to the North Mankato site, we are hoping to reserve it for the MSU athletes who we hope participate again this year.

As in last year's planting, dress warm, bring a garden clippers if you have one to trim roots if necessary, bring a shovel or spade for the planting, gloves, and water or food if you will need it. Remember there will be no bathroom facilities at the site.

You will also want to monitor your e-mail the day of the planting as it might be postponed because of bad weather. (Sunday afternoon the 19th of April would be the alternate day.) Contact me at this e-mail address to let me know if you will be able to plant on the 18th and how many planters you might be bringing. If Saturday the 18th doesn't work for your group let me know that too as we might be able to arrange a separate day for you if any seedlings remain after Saturday.

Lastly, with the economic difficulties the country is facing, contributions to plant trees have, of course, declined. If and when you are able we would appreciate any tax deductible contribution you might be able to make in order to continue this effort into the future. Send contributions to:

Centenary Million Tree Project
c/o Centenary Methodist Church
501 South Second St.
Mankato, MN. 56001

Tom Hagen

Spring Planting 2009

It is difficult to imagine that spring will finally come when considering the length of this long, cold winter, but the Bend of the River Million Tree Project will soon be preparing for the 2009 planting season. To begin with, an overview of last year’s results is appropriate. As of June last year, all the seedlings looked very good. Most of the seedlings planted had put out leaves and it looked like it would be a great year. The dry weather that followed June, however, took its toll. (Mankato was nearly 18” below normal in precipitation for the year by the time of freeze-up.) The seedlings weathered the dry conditions, but the mice, voles and rabbits that the dry weather produced in large numbers, took their toll. By fall, many of the seedlings had been chewed off or girdled. However, with this winter’s snow pack there is a good likelihood that many will come back from the roots this spring.

That brings us to this year’s efforts. In the shadow of the worldwide economic downturn we have decided to scale back a bit on what we might attempt. We still have some funds left from last year’s drive, and, of course, for those of you still employed and doing well, we would appreciate continued contributions!

Make checks payable to Centenary MTP and send to:
Million Tree Project
c/o Centenary Methodist Church
501 S. Second St.
Mankato, MN 56001

We will use our funds to interplant the two sites from last year, trying some slightly larger 2-year stock to be placed among last year’s seedlings with the hopes for a better growing season. Again, we’ll need volunteers to help in the planting scheduled this year for April 18. We’ll also need some volunteers to help with thistle control on both sites in June-July.

In addition, Home Depot is working on the possibility of doing a corporate planting, perhaps along county Hwy 90. If you are interested in helping with the planting or thistle control this year please respond to this e-mail so that we can keep our list current. I’ll keep you informed as to the progress as the season progresses.

Lastly, a special thank you to Malda Farnham for her untiring service last year in organizing and planting and thistle control. She will be unable to assist this year and her help will be sorely missed. I am in need of an additional person(s) to step up and help keep the project moving ahead. Anyone out there who might have some time to commit this spring please contact me through this e-mail address!

Thank you for your continuing interest in the Million Tree Project.

Tom Hagen