Free trees offered to celebrate Arbor Day

The New Jersey Tree Foundation is offering free 2-year-old trees (1 to 2 inches tall) to celebrate Arbor Day 2009 in New Jersey. Schools, local governments, tree groups, nonprofit organizations, Scout groups, and any volunteer organization may apply for the free trees. All planting must occur on public lands, be done by volunteers and maintained for two years. A variety of evergreen and deciduous trees will be available. For further information or to request an application, e-mail Lisa Simms at njtf1@juno.com. Applications may be downloaded online at www.newjerseytreefoundation. org/FreeTrees.asp. The deadline for application materials is Feb. 13.

In 11 years, the N.J. Tree Foundation's Celebrate Arbor Day program has planted over 98,000 trees in parks, schools and public spaces across New Jersey.

There are many ways the trees can be used to beautify a neighborhood. Trees can be planted in a vacant lot to create an urban forest, planted as a windbreak for a community garden or at a school, planted in a nursery, or trees can be planted randomly throughout a park, school or cemetery.

The New Jersey Tree Foundation is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion, enhancement and development of urban and community forestry activities in New Jersey through education, volunteerism, community outreach, partnerships, and grants. The Tree Foundation is committed to providing exceptional forestry programs, services and opportunities to New Jersey's cities and towns.