1M Trees
Trees selected for planting must be chosen carefully to grow well in each climate zone. Therefore, it is very important that each club works hard to identify the right trees for each location. We believe that planting trees that are both native to the region and locally adapted is the best way to insure survival.
4-H in the U.S. is part of the Cooperative Extension of the land grant university in each state. The Cooperative Extension generally has agents who are botanical experts and are pleased to share their knowledge, particularly with youth interested to learn. There is a very useful site where you can click your state on the map and obtain contact information for your state 4-H leaders at 4hstateleaders.org/4HStateContacts.aspx. Use the links on your state 4-H website, or contact your County Rep/Agent to find the Extension specialist in your county who can help.
Many counties have master gardener programs where knowledgeable individuals contribute to their communities. We encourage 4-Hers seeking local botanical knowledge to learn about and take advantage of their county's master gardener program. Check your county website for more information.
With the support of Dr. Cathann Kress, Director, Youth Development, National 4-H Headquarters, 4HMT has partnered with The Arbor Day Foundation, one of the world's largest tree advocates and information sources, to allow 4-H clubs and units to become ADF members at a special annual rate, and obtain 12 trees to plant for this project. Please click on this special link, arborday.org/4h, become an Arbor Day Foundation member now, and quickly and simply receive a dozen trees by mail. Additional trees can be obtained from Arbor Day for a reasonable rate. If you live in an area where these trees will thrive, this can be a very cost-effective way to get your trees. Please note that the bareroot saplings available from ADF are best suited to the Midwest and Eastern regions of North America. Few trees native to California and other Western and Southwestern states are available from this source. ADF will send most trees while they are dormant until approximately 5/12/08, after which they have to wait until the fall. Since we are now past this date, orders can still be placed, but ADF will not be able to ship the saplings until they become dormant this fall. The arborday.org website is a fantastic source of information about trees. A press release on the 4-H/ADF partnership will be posted online: [[htt://csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/newsroom.html]]. Alternatively, it is possible that the University Extension agent in your county has access to or can suggest local sources of seedlings, saplings, or young trees that could be transplanted into locations selected by each 4-H entity. This is a good way to be certain the tree species planted are suitable for your climate. In addition, youth can learn proper care for the trees from the agents.
4-Hers who have the interest to propagate their own seeds can help to reduce costs, while extending the learning experience of the project. Plus, raising a tree from a seed is hugely satisfying. We highly recommend that individuals with a green thumb, or ones that want to try something new, get seeds for suitable tree species, and try their luck. Again, expert advice is available for the asking from agents and specialists at your county 4-H office, or through the Cooperative Extension service.