ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Pickup for the Delta Conservation District’s Annual Tree Sale began Friday afternoon.
Conservation District staff, board members, and volunteers distributed trees to buyers at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. This is the Conservation District’s first time implementing a drive-through format, and Manager Heather LeDuc says it’s been a great success so far.
“We had people that got here early, and we just decided to go with it,” said LeDuc. “A lot of people told me that they were really happy with it. It’s worked really, really well.”
The trees were sourced from four nurseries. Of the three Michigan nurseries, one is located in the Upper Peninsula. The fourth nursery is in Minnesota. LeDuc says each plant is perfectly suited to the local climate. To ensure the trees continue to grow successfully after replanting, the root masses were wrapped in wet straw to keep them moist during transportation.
The Conservation District sold about 50,000 trees and shrubs this year. Although the money hasn’t completely been counted yet, LeDuc says the district is “definitely in the positive” and believes this year’s sale has been even more successful than last year’s.
She says the Annual Tree Sale will help the Delta Conservation District expand its community programming. Planting trees is also beneficial for the environment.
“It helps the earth,” said LeDuc. “It helps our climate with pollution, all of that wonderful stuff that we need to have that balance with nature. For the district, this is our major fundraiser event, so it helps us to be able to pay our staff and keep the lights on so that we can get out and keep promoting great programs. We’re very thankful for the support of the community.”
The Delta Conservation District has tips for planting trees and shrubs at deltacd.org/tree-sale. Those who purchased trees can pick them up by the Goat, Sheep, and Dairy barn at the fairgrounds between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.
