Green Side Up
By Kathleen Preece
There is a familiar saying among those who manage for, and invest in the woodlands of Minnesota. It goes like this: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
It was the best of times, and it continues to be the ‘second’ best of times. Private citizens across the central and northern tier of the state are continuing their tradition of planting trees – despite the sorry state of the economy and despite the price of taking care of the earth.
Monte Draper began planting trees 25 years ago in Beltrami County, admittedly to supplement his income as a photographer. He bid on public and private contracts for the opportunity to plant tree seedlings during that narrow space of time in the spring when conditions are right to begin new life. And then something clicked: “How many trees can I plant in my lifetime? “Monte asked himself.
He continued to bid on tree planting contracts each spring. A few years ago, he reached the ½ million mark. And he is still planting. Monte admits that the price has been high: three cases of lyme disease, two knee surgeries, and an average weight loss of 15 pounds during planting season. But there is meaning to this life.
“Now I see sites that I planted 5 to 10 years ago and they have become forests; I can say ‘those are my trees.’ Psychologically, all of those trees are Monte’s, whether they are on public or private land.
Richard Chernugal has created forests in his lifetime, too. This pharmacist and owner of MedSave Pharmacy in Bemidji, began planting trees in 1976, focusing on windbreaks for farmland he owns around Bemidji and west toward the prairies. He talks about the benefit of those shelterbelts, and about his plantings near water to reclaim soils, and the aesthetics of the pincherry and chokecherry shrubs he has planted along driveways to his farms. Mostly Richard talks about “the next generation.”
“If I plant one tree this year, it has a one-year start on tomorrow. I cannot wait for the economy to do these things.”
Jerry Stensing, a forester with the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District runs a vigorous tree and shrub seedling sale through his office located in Bemidji. He knows Monte, and he knows Richard. And he knows by name most of the 450 other folks who come to the “tree shed” each spring to pick up their orders.
Jerry reports that, although the total volume of tree sales were down 40 percent this spring, the number of folks buying trees had increased.
Bemidji-ian Dan Bergsvan was standing in the SWCD seedling pickup line on an early Saturday morning in May. Dan was picking up his order of 50 shrub species to replant an area a pipeline clearing had taken trees. He also intended to plant some trees around his hunting shack.
Wendell Affield was not far behind Dan in line. His 20 apple and five plum trees were purchased in response to a rekindled interest in orchards and in grafting trees.
“Fewer trees are going into the ground because of the economics of purchasing seedlings and transplants. But just as many folks who have green thumbs are chanting, ‘green side up,’” Jerry claims.
The Beltrami SWCD did note a marked change in sales with only one tree species: the ash. Last year, ash seedling sales totaled 3,000; this year, 200 were sold. Jerry attributes the decline to fears of the recent Emerald Ash Borer movement on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border. This non-native beetle feeds on and destroys all ash species.
Dave Olsen sells trees from his greenhouses located in blustery west central Minnesota in the transition zone between forest and prairie. Dave claims his trees “grow up tough” because of the challenging geographic environment he raises them in. Dave’s company, North Central Reforestation, Inc. has been specializing in growing containerized tree seedlings for over 30 years. He echoes Jerry’s report that, although the number of tree seedling sales was down this spring, the actual number of customers went up.
Bill and Cathy Sayward of Itasca Greenhouse, have been in the tree-growing business for over 26 years in Itasca County. The Saywards have geared their business to meet ‘green needs’ on a national and sometimes global basis. Their seedlings are used at weddings and funerals, to promote businesses, celebrate numerous holidays, and have been used in promotions by Disney and Eddie Bauer.
Bill attributes their robust tree seedling sales this year to their national networking and ability to reach a wide audience. Bill admits that “some of the bigger contracts were down,” but that he is not seeing a huge change from last year.
Minnesota is home to two state-run nurseries: the Badoura Nursery near Akeley, and General Andrews near Willow River on the east side of Minnesota. Craig Vansickle, Badoura Nursery manager reports that sales were down 40 percent in both nurseries, as well as in Wisconsin nurseries with whom Vansickle compares growth and sales data.
Last year, Badoura sold 8.5 million seedlings; this year the nursery sold five million. Craig does not see any change in people’s desire to plant green. He blames lackluster sales on the fact that cost-share programs that supplement private landowners’ pocketbooks when it comes to purchasing trees have fallen by the wayside. “The Farm Bill is a disaster for tree planting,” Craig admits. Craig is referring to the federal program that traditionally offers a variety of programs landowners can enroll in for financial assistance in their natural resource conservation efforts.
Nelson Henderson was another tree planter. He was an immigrant from Ireland who came to North America during the Great Hunger of 1845-49. He told his sons: "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
Apparently, there are a lot of Minnesotan’s not worried about the shade, and who have found meaning to life in planting tomorrow’s forests.
---------
Photo Explanations:
Photo #1 - Tree and shrub seedlings are bundled and put on shelves, in preparation for the rush of landowners coming to pick up their orders from the Soil and Water Conservation District.
Photo #2 - Soil and Water Conservation District Forester poses with landowner/tree purchaser Wendell Affield on the SWCD seedling pick-up day. SWCD worker Aaron Poxleitner is in the background.
Photo #3 - A Soil and Water Conservation District employee bundles trees in preparation for pick up by a landowner.
READER RESPONSES:
"Great story and so timely as we begin our second year as new tree farmers!" -
Margaret Haapoja
There is a familiar saying among those who manage for, and invest in the woodlands of Minnesota. It goes like this: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
It was the best of times, and it continues to be the ‘second’ best of times. Private citizens across the central and northern tier of the state are continuing their tradition of planting trees – despite the sorry state of the economy and despite the price of taking care of the earth.
Monte Draper began planting trees 25 years ago in Beltrami County, admittedly to supplement his income as a photographer. He bid on public and private contracts for the opportunity to plant tree seedlings during that narrow space of time in the spring when conditions are right to begin new life. And then something clicked: “How many trees can I plant in my lifetime? “Monte asked himself.
He continued to bid on tree planting contracts each spring. A few years ago, he reached the ½ million mark. And he is still planting. Monte admits that the price has been high: three cases of lyme disease, two knee surgeries, and an average weight loss of 15 pounds during planting season. But there is meaning to this life.
“Now I see sites that I planted 5 to 10 years ago and they have become forests; I can say ‘those are my trees.’ Psychologically, all of those trees are Monte’s, whether they are on public or private land.
Richard Chernugal has created forests in his lifetime, too. This pharmacist and owner of MedSave Pharmacy in Bemidji, began planting trees in 1976, focusing on windbreaks for farmland he owns around Bemidji and west toward the prairies. He talks about the benefit of those shelterbelts, and about his plantings near water to reclaim soils, and the aesthetics of the pincherry and chokecherry shrubs he has planted along driveways to his farms. Mostly Richard talks about “the next generation.”
“If I plant one tree this year, it has a one-year start on tomorrow. I cannot wait for the economy to do these things.”
Jerry Stensing, a forester with the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District runs a vigorous tree and shrub seedling sale through his office located in Bemidji. He knows Monte, and he knows Richard. And he knows by name most of the 450 other folks who come to the “tree shed” each spring to pick up their orders.
Jerry reports that, although the total volume of tree sales were down 40 percent this spring, the number of folks buying trees had increased.
Bemidji-ian Dan Bergsvan was standing in the SWCD seedling pickup line on an early Saturday morning in May. Dan was picking up his order of 50 shrub species to replant an area a pipeline clearing had taken trees. He also intended to plant some trees around his hunting shack.Wendell Affield was not far behind Dan in line. His 20 apple and five plum trees were purchased in response to a rekindled interest in orchards and in grafting trees.
“Fewer trees are going into the ground because of the economics of purchasing seedlings and transplants. But just as many folks who have green thumbs are chanting, ‘green side up,’” Jerry claims.
The Beltrami SWCD did note a marked change in sales with only one tree species: the ash. Last year, ash seedling sales totaled 3,000; this year, 200 were sold. Jerry attributes the decline to fears of the recent Emerald Ash Borer movement on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border. This non-native beetle feeds on and destroys all ash species.
Dave Olsen sells trees from his greenhouses located in blustery west central Minnesota in the transition zone between forest and prairie. Dave claims his trees “grow up tough” because of the challenging geographic environment he raises them in. Dave’s company, North Central Reforestation, Inc. has been specializing in growing containerized tree seedlings for over 30 years. He echoes Jerry’s report that, although the number of tree seedling sales was down this spring, the actual number of customers went up.
Bill and Cathy Sayward of Itasca Greenhouse, have been in the tree-growing business for over 26 years in Itasca County. The Saywards have geared their business to meet ‘green needs’ on a national and sometimes global basis. Their seedlings are used at weddings and funerals, to promote businesses, celebrate numerous holidays, and have been used in promotions by Disney and Eddie Bauer.
Bill attributes their robust tree seedling sales this year to their national networking and ability to reach a wide audience. Bill admits that “some of the bigger contracts were down,” but that he is not seeing a huge change from last year.
Minnesota is home to two state-run nurseries: the Badoura Nursery near Akeley, and General Andrews near Willow River on the east side of Minnesota. Craig Vansickle, Badoura Nursery manager reports that sales were down 40 percent in both nurseries, as well as in Wisconsin nurseries with whom Vansickle compares growth and sales data.
Last year, Badoura sold 8.5 million seedlings; this year the nursery sold five million. Craig does not see any change in people’s desire to plant green. He blames lackluster sales on the fact that cost-share programs that supplement private landowners’ pocketbooks when it comes to purchasing trees have fallen by the wayside. “The Farm Bill is a disaster for tree planting,” Craig admits. Craig is referring to the federal program that traditionally offers a variety of programs landowners can enroll in for financial assistance in their natural resource conservation efforts.
Nelson Henderson was another tree planter. He was an immigrant from Ireland who came to North America during the Great Hunger of 1845-49. He told his sons: "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
Apparently, there are a lot of Minnesotan’s not worried about the shade, and who have found meaning to life in planting tomorrow’s forests.
---------
Photo Explanations:
Photo #1 - Tree and shrub seedlings are bundled and put on shelves, in preparation for the rush of landowners coming to pick up their orders from the Soil and Water Conservation District.
Photo #2 - Soil and Water Conservation District Forester poses with landowner/tree purchaser Wendell Affield on the SWCD seedling pick-up day. SWCD worker Aaron Poxleitner is in the background.
Photo #3 - A Soil and Water Conservation District employee bundles trees in preparation for pick up by a landowner.
READER RESPONSES:
"Great story and so timely as we begin our second year as new tree farmers!" -
Margaret Haapoja
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