The decades-old program, Penny Pines, sponsored by NGC in coordination with the US National Forest Service, helps replant trees in national forests where wildfires have occurred. The program’s new name is Plant-A-Tree. The minimum donation of $68 has changed to $50 to purchase seedling trees to replant in burned areas in our national forests.
The Penny Pines (Plant-A-Tree) Program began in California, in 1941. Under the initial sponsorship of the San Francisco Sportswomen’s Association; and later, school children of San Mateo County Schools, the first contributions purchased seedling trees planted in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northern California.
The basic contribution to the program was $68.00. Why this amount? Back in 1941, seedlings cost about a penny each, and 680 seedlings were used to plant a typical acre. Site preparation and planting costs were met through regular Forest Service funds.
The program was so successful that money contributed toward purchasing seedlings soon exceeded Forest Service funds available for site preparation and planting. In 1964, the original cooperative agreement was rewritten to state that funds contributed under the program could be used for the entire reforestation project rather than for only the purchase of seedling trees.
From 2021-2023, NGC garden clubs and individuals purchased 3,038 plantations. The next two years will hopefully see just as many plantations purchased, if not more.
Purchasing a plantation is a wonderful gift for a birthday, baby shower, anniversary or wedding. It is also a great way to honor a garden club member. The purchase form has a place to name the individual you are honoring. (In Honor of___ or In Memory of___) You can also name the national forest where you would like the seedlings to be planted.
Mail your check (made out to NGC Plant-A-Tree) and purchase form to AFGC Plant-A-Tree Chairman, Ann Krsiean. The form has instructions and a mailing address to submit your donation and is found at https://azgardenclubs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Penny-Pines-Form-Revised-20231121.pdf
Helping restore burned areas in our national forests is a special project National Garden Clubs has sponsored for decades. The seedling trees provide soil protection, watershed protection, soil stabilization, future timber, shelter for animals, and beauty for all of us to enjoy.
By Karen Bowen
Karen is the Pacific Region Butterfly Chairman and member of Yuma Orchids and African Violet Society.
Photo 1 D. Gardner Forest Foundation
US Forest Service employees go into burned areas of our national forests to plant seedling trees.
Photo 2 US Forest Service
Each year, extensive areas of our national forests are destroyed by forest fires.
Photo 3 US Forest Service
It takes decades for burned forests to regrow. NGC Plant-A-Tree program provides seedling trees for the Forest Service to use in their reforestation efforts.
Photo 4 Garden Club of Cape Coral
Many garden clubs pass around a donation jar at their meetings to collect funds for the Plant-A-Tree program. Did your club purchase any plantations this past garden club year?
