Green Interchange is offering Tennesseans an opportunity to plant tree seedlings in their yard and community during their “Plant a Tree for Tennessee” event on April 24. Participants who’d like to plant trees may reserve them by April 18, then pick up their tree seedlings on April 24 at one of thirteen designated sites operated by volunteers.
Pickup locations are primarily in Middle Tennessee and include: Ashland City, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Cookeville, Cunningham, Dandridge, Gallatin, Gatlinburg, La Grange, La Vergne, Lebanon and two sites in Nashville. Trees must be reserved in advance; the sites will not receive extra trees.
The goal is to plant nearly 10,000 trees across the state. “Planting a tree is one of the best things Tennesseans can do for the community. Trees provide benefits for our economy, health, and quality of life,” said John McFadden, CEO of Green Interchange.
“Donations from participants will help Green Interchange with our mission of planting trees in highway interchanges and other public spaces to offset carbon dioxide and beautify Tennessee,” said Mr. McFadden, “The program is a partnership with the Tennessee Environmental Council and is helping to advance a goal of planting one million trees across the state.”
All tree species are native to Tennessee and include Redbud, Tulip Poplar, Sycamore, Red Mulberry, Native Sweet Pecan and many others. Tree seedlings are 1-3 feet tall depending on the species. The seedlings are bare-root, which means they do not come in a container, and Green Interchange is asking participants to bring a bag with them to cover the roots when they pick them up. This will reduce waste.
Participants will plant their trees on April 24 or 25, if possible, which is right after Earth Day on April 22. The participants will be sharing pictures on social media tagging Green Interchange and using the hashtag #PlantATreeTN. Tree planting instructions can be found on the Green Interchange website.
COVID safety protocols will be observed during the event on April 24 and prior. Masks and social distancing are required for all participants including Pickup Location volunteers. All participants are asked to adhere to government guidelines and best practices. The Pickup Locations are all outdoors and additional guidelines are in place to ensure a safe experience.
Plant a Tree for Tennessee, www.greeninterchange.org/plant-a-tree-for-tn, is a project of Green Interchange in partnership with Tennessee Environmental Council, www.tectn.org.