Joanne Williams
Editor
(Courtesy photo – This white flowering dogwood is one of dozens of trees, shrubs and the like available through the annual tree sale.)
With 15,000 or so trees around, one or two are bound to fall.
That’s approximately how many trees there will be to wrap and prepare for the annual Eaton Conservation District tree sale.
Ordering wraps up online Monday, March 30 (eatoncd.org/store) but plans are in place for dozens of shifts for dozens of volunteers to fill to help wrap and prepare this year’s order.
What type of trees? Conifers, shrubs, small (think sugar maple), large (think red maple), fruits, and berry.
Volunteers are needed from Monday, April 6 through the end of the sale. The eatoncd.org website has a volunteer sign up spot. Those without online access can call at 517-543-1512, extension 5. Last year, about 60 folks helped with the preparation and at the sale.
“Our tree wrapping volunteers span all ages and backgrounds but the thing they have in common is that they all enjoy the experience of supporting nature and spending time with others in community service,” said Rachel Cuschieri-Murray, executive director, Eaton Conservation District.
The annual sale began in January. Orders large and small are placed and then, have to be prepared for distribution, which is Friday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Eaton County Fairgrounds. If you did not pre-order trees, there will be some available on the pickup days.
Since 1946, the Eaton Conservation District has been planting and providing tree sales. That means millions of trees.
“People like our tree sale because they can buy a bundle of bare root trees very affordably. That allows them to buy more. Also, we sell native trees and shrubs that are difficult to find anywhere else,” said Cuschieri-Murray.
“Spruces and pines are our biggest sellers,” she said. “They can be as inexpensive as 100 for $99. This year, the most popular deciduous trees seem to be the oaks.”
Keeping new trees alive can be a challenge, so this year, Justin Brummette, owner of Big Kid Tree Worx, will offer a workshop on nursing those trees along. He will present information and be available for questions on Friday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kardel Hall at the fairgrounds, 1025 S. Cochran in Charlotte. Brummette is a certified arborist.
He will be talking about the proper care and planting of trees, and helping people not “put the right tree in the wrong place.” Some people may think planting a tree is led by common sense, but “folks don’t know what they don’t know,” Brummette said. He is happy to help guide them along.
Brummette said he just “fell into” his profession, which he thinks started when his grandpa handed him a chain saw at age 8 to help cut wood for the fire.
He has respect for the trees he climbs and services. “You can’t grow a 100-year-old tree in less than 100 years,” he said so you only “have one shot” at the proper care and maintenance of the work entrusted to you.
Preservation is key, after all.
Speaking of which, the Eaton Conservation District is also collecting memorabilia for its 100-year time capsule. Bring some information along or call for more information.
