Free tree seedlings will be available to South Orange residents in the month of April as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign. The South Orange Green Team is participating in this program which helps communities replace trees damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.
Residents can sign up via SignUpGenius. Since there is a limited quantity, the Green Team suggests you sign up soon.
Once you’re signed up, you can pick up your tree seedlings between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, at the Gazebo on Sloan Street (near the South Orange Train Station). Seedlings, available on a first come, first served basis, also come with instructions on how to store, care for, and plant them. The guides help residents choose the right place on a property to plant a tree while keeping in mind the tree’s full-grown future size. Residents should plant the seedlings within two days after pick-up in order to prevent the roots from drying out.
Interested residents can also find more information on the South Orange Village website under “Tree Recovery Campaign.”
The goal of the Tree Recovery Campaign is to distribute over 500,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents over the course of the next five years. It is a joint effort between South Orange, New Jersey State Forestry Services, New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts, Sustainable Jersey, Arbor Day Foundation, Brothers International, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, and FedEx.
For a list of all distribution locations across the state, visit www.forestry.nj.gov or www.facebook.com/newjerseyforests.
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