Planting for the future

Watching a tree grow is like watching the passage of time.
Living amongst the forests of East Texas, it is easy to take trees for granted. But the abundance of clean air, beauty and availability of wood products for a thriving forestry industry are possible because of the variety and quantity of trees all around us.
On Thursday, Jan 10, the Cherokee County Soil & Water Conservation District distributed 1000 Shumard red oak seedlings to 4-H members, county FFA clubs, master gardeners, members of the Trinity Neches Forest Landowners Assoc and students in Cherokee County. This marks the tenth year the Cherokee County S&WCD has purchased and given out hardwood seedlings to anyone interested in investing in the forests of the future.
These baby trees will be planted in many different places by many different hands. Several have been planted on the Alto High School campus by Alto FFA and a new forest was born last year on the Troup school campus as part of a joint effort between Troup FFA and 5th graders.
This year students at Christ the Redeemer Christian School in Rusk received an impromptu lesson in silvature and tree planting from Texas A&M Forest Service forester Jacob Crowley and soil & water conservationist Becky Whisenant. The ideal site was determined, the soil was checked and the seedlings were carefully transferred to their new home on the school campus, to be nurtured by the students.
The soil & water district, with offices in Rusk, is committed to working toward the goal of ensuring perpetual mixed pine and hardwood forests in the eastern region of our great state as part of its broad goal of conservation of natural resources. This commitment requires a plan of action of which the annual seedling distribution is a part.

If you would like to participate in planting forests of the future, contact the office at cherokeecounty@swcd.texas.gov or call (903) 683-4669 ext 111.