The New Jersey Tree Foundation, in partnership with DEP’s New Jersey State Forest Service, is offering free two-year-old trees (1’ – 2’ tall) to celebrate Make A Difference Day in New Jersey. A variety of evergreen (Norway spruce) and deciduous trees (Green ash, Tulip poplar, Sweet gum and Silky dogwood) will be available.

The following conditions are mandated by the New Jersey Tree Foundation and must be met by all tree applicants and recipients:

• Trees may be planted only on public land (parks, school grounds, cemeteries, public golf courses, etc.);
• Trees will be available in October and must be planted on Make A Difference Day;
• Groups may not sell or give away trees;
• Projects and work must be done by volunteers;
• Groups must complete and submit annual report forms to the New Jersey Tree Foundation by the required dates;
• Groups must maintain the planted trees for a minimum of two years after the trees are received; and
• One member of the group must attend a Tree Planting Event Training Session to receive free trees. (The training sessions will be held in September. Groups who do not send a participant will not receive free trees.)

In addition, the two-year tree maintenance commitment and program must include:

• Periodically checking the condition of the trees;
• Providing water for the trees;
• Removing vegetation that is interfering with the growth of the trees; and
• Pruning dead limbs and mulching trees when necessary.

The New Jersey Tree Foundation is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, enhancement and development of community forestry activities in the state of New Jersey. The goals of the Tree Foundation are to disseminate the importance of community forestry activities to a broad range of participants, expand urban, suburban and rural forestry activities, promote volunteerism and strengthen relationships between the private and public sector of forestry experts through innovative programs and projects.

Highlights

• There are unlimited ways that trees can be used to beautify a neighborhood. They can be planted in vacant lots, used as a windbreak for a community garden or at a school, added to a nursery or planted randomly in a park or cemetery, or as part of a playground.
• A minimum of 10 trees and a maximum of 1,500 trees can be applied for. For orders of 500+ trees, applicants will be responsible for picking up the trees at a state nursery in Jackson, New Jersey.
• The deadline for submitting an application is in August.

Targeted Audience(s)
Schools, local government, tree groups, nonprofit organizations, scout troops and volunteer organizations

Additional Information
New Jersey Tree Foundation
Lisa Simms, Programs Director
501 East State Street
P.O. Box 404
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0404
Phone: 609-984-3856
Fax: 609-984-0378
E-mail: NJTF1@JUNO.COM