The following interview with Greg Book a native tree planter and volunteer that helped distribute over 16,000 trees through a PA Interfaith Power & Light initiative first appeared on the PA IPL website on June 11, 2024.
Spring here at PA IPL was trees, trees, and more trees! Together, we distributed over 16,000 trees.
These trees were planted in people’s backyards, public parks (with permission), and even a few faith-based organizations!
Recently, Katie Ruth, Executive Director of PA IPL, asked Greg Book, a long time planter and volunteer with the native tree program, to answer a few questions. Here’s what he had to say about the PA IPL native tree planting program:
-- What inspires/inspired you to plant native trees on your property?
My wife and I have had a mother’s day tradition for years now, where we have planted trees and or plants around our properties instead of gifts of flowers, etc. A couple years ago she heard about this program through her work and we ordered 25 in the spring instead of buying any.
-- Why do you volunteer as a distribution host and choose to plant native trees through this program?
I believe the technical term is voluntold. In other words, my wife more less volunteered me (which happens fairly often, but it’s ok, I really do love it).
We noticed quickly upon placing our first order through IPL w/ Greg Williams that there was no pick up location in York County, we have the space and figured if we added another pick up location maybe it would entice more people to order and plant some trees if they could pick them up closer to their house, work, etc.
At our pickup location we’ve temporarily homed anywhere from about 250 to as many as 1000+ trees, stakes and tubes.
-- How does planting native trees connect to your faith or spirituality (if it does)?
I think regardless of anyone’s personal faith or spirituality, the practice of trying to leave the earth in a better place than when we were born, should strongly hit home with everyone. We’ve spent a lot of years on this earth not worrying about the future of the planet itself, planting trees is just one easy way to try and help for future generations.
-- What have you learned through the practice of planting and tending to native trees?
I’ve learned to research the tree species a little better prior to planting, based on varying soil types, wetness requirements, sunlight requirements, etc.
The first year I planted a handful of trees in an area that was not suited well for them, needless to say, they did not do very well. We have some wetter areas, very dry areas, and varying soil types on our property from shale to almost clay.
Getting the right varieties in the right areas has equaled much greater success for us, with less effort required.
We started with about 25 trees / plants the first year we partook in the program and at the end of this past spring’s planting season, we’ve hit about 230 or so on our 3 acres.
My goal is to turn about half of it back into a natural / wooded area and there is no better way to do it than with native species.
-- What advice would you give to people who are interested in planting trees?
DO IT!!! Every little bit helps. I find it very rewarding to know that I am giving back to the planet. Is it hard work sometimes?
Yes, but I have never once regretted planting trees or the work that goes into caring for them. Just this week as I was preparing to mow between some of my plantings, in order to spread wood chips around them, for easier upkeep.
I noticed a large amount of volunteer red oak trees had sprouted in the areas of tall grass around some of our plantings.
As I removed / mowed the grass, my oldest son was laying cardboard around the tree tubes (thanks Amazon Prime) and spreading the wood chips on top, while my youngest son helped me carefully pull and pot 20 of the oaks to try and grow for planting either this fall or next spring.
Sharing this time with my children teaching them to give back to the planet is priceless!
-- What are the unique benefits of this program? Would you recommend it to others?
The unique benefits of this program are that regardless of where (soil type, moisture level, sunlight conditions, etc.) or how big or small your property is, I would be almost willing to bet that there is a native tree / plant species on this list that would work for you!
Oh…. and it’s free!!! A program like this that supplies trees / plants, tree tubes and oak stakes, at no cost seems almost too good to be true, but it’s not, it is 100% real and true.
I recommend this program to almost anyone / everyone I talk to anytime planting / gardening comes up in conversation.
Fall Tree Planting Program
Interested in being notified for trees this Fall? Add your name to our waitlist list here.
If you have questions about the program, please reach out to Ruth, our Volunteer Creation Care Coordinator creationcare@paipl.org .
We hold immense gratitude for the folks in the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and Chesapeake Bay Foundation for providing the infrastructure that makes this program possible.
Funding received from the Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Program provided additional support for our programming.
A big THANK YOU to our growing community of volunteer planters and hosts who each season make the impossible possible to get more and more trees into the hands of folks who need them!
Visit the PA Interfaith Power & Light website for more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can be involved.
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