Riparian buffer tree planting at Quarry Park, Charlottesville. Photo by VMN – Rivanna Chapter.
Each year, Vaughan-Bassett and Belfort furniture companies “purchase” thousands of seedlings from VDOF, to offset the trees used in their furniture manufacturing. These seedlings are then made available free for public education/planting projects, beginning in January. Species include loblolly, shortleaf, and white pines, and mixed hardwoods. Examples of past projects include plantings at schools, parks, and community sites, and seedling giveaways for youth or the general public as part of an educational program or public event. If you have a project in mind, your point of contact is your local VDOF forester. Check http://dof.virginia.gov/locations/index.htm to find yours. Reserve your seedlings early, as these usually run out by spring. Happy planting!
Thanks for sharing. I’ll post this on the Virginia Naturally face book page. Also, I’m doing a story about Project Plant It in the next VaN newsletter. I’ll include your tree give-away in the newsletter too.
Thanks, Sheila!
Glad to see you’re giving back the environment. Do you have any pictures of how the seedlings are dong now? It would be very interesting to see the difference.
Hi Tom, I haven’t seen a recent picture of the buffer at Quarry Park, but I believe the Rivanna Conservation Alliance was the lead organization in that particular planting project, so maybe they have something!
Hi Michelle, Thanks for the reply. I was able to track down a good picture! Much appreciated 🙂
Are there seedlings available for classroom teachers in the spring? I would love seedlings for my Kindergarten class. I’ve done Project Plant it through Dominion Energy in the past and the kids LOVED getting seedlings to plant.
I recommend contacting your local VDOF forester (see http://dof.virginia.gov/locations/index.htm) to see if they are doing any seedling giveaways.