Donate American Libery Elms To A City Or College Through Matching Tree Grant Program
DONATE AMERICAN LIBERY ELMS TO A CITY OR COLLEGE THROUGH MATCHING TREE GRANT PROGRAM Recently, a landscape garden designer discovered a way to plant more disease-resistant American Liberty Elms than he was counting on and benefit his community at the same time.
Bob Harvey, owner of Edelweiss Design, Inc., lives in southwest Minneapolis, an area of the city where 1,100 American elms were lost to Dutch elm disease (DED) in 2003, and the loss for 2004 may be 1,300. That area was hardest hit, while the entire city lost 14,000 this past summer. It’s been the worst elm loss, Harvey says, since a slightly higher count one year in the 1970s.
Harvey chose six elms for landscaping at a client’s new home and learned he’d receive another 20 to donate to the city of Minneapolis.
“Anyone can use our Matching Tree Grant Program,” says John P. Hansel, founder of the nonprofit Elm Research Institute (ERI) in Keene, N.H.,. “An individual, landscape designer, developer, any business, institution, or civic organization, anyone purchasing an elm or elms with caliper of two inches or more, is eligible for free trees under our formula.”
The formula is simple: ERI provides a free elm with a trunk one inch in caliper (diameter) for every inch of caliper purchased. The buyer then donates the free trees for planting in public places.
ERI’s Matching Tree Grant Program offers elms with caliper of one to ten inches. Elms with one- and two-inch caliper are available now, growing in containers and ready to ship. Elms three to ten inches caliper, growing in ground at ERI, are also available now for an additional charge for being bagged in burlap.
However, if a purchaser wants to order ahead for the years 2005 to 2008, elms three to ten inches caliper will be available then in containers. Loading and freight charges for all orders are extra and depend on quantity. The purchaser also pays shipping charges for the free trees.
The program allows discounts of ten to 20 percent for full payment received in advance of shipping. Details are in the grant information, available on request.
When the free trees are donated to a municipality for planting on public property, they are a tax-deductible gift. All of the elms carry a lifetime warranty against DED.
ERI says the Matching Tree Grant Program will continue while supplies of elms last. For more information, phone Elm Research Institute, 603-358-6198, visit online at click here, or write to 11 Kit Street, Keene, NH, 03431.
Joseph Lubin, 17, bought three elms for his Eagle Scout community service project in Highland Park, Ill., and received four additional free trees to donate to his project of plantings along a bike path.
Steve Polakowski, grounds foreman at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., ordered two elms for the campus. Now he has six more to plant along a main street where the passing public will see them.
Bob Harvey, owner of Edelweiss Design, Inc., in Edina, Minn., chose six elms for landscaping at a client’s new home and learned he’d receive another 20 to donate to the city of Minneapolis.
“Anyone can use Our Matching Tree Grant Program,” says John P. Hansel, institute founder. “An individual, landscape designer, developer, any business, institution, or civic organization, anyone purchasing an elm or elms with caliper of two inches or more, is eligible for free trees under our formula.”
The formula is simple: ERI provides a free elm with a trunk one inch in caliper (diameter) for every inch of caliper purchased. The buyer then donates the free trees for planting in public places.
Aspiring Eagle plants elms A junior at Highland Park High School, Joseph Lubin had decided on American Liberty Elms for his Eagle Scout project after visiting ERI’s website, www.libertyelm.com. “Elms are gorgeous trees,” he says. The goal of his project is to plant 25 or more American Liberty Elms along the Robert McClory Bike Path, which runs less than a mile from the intersection of Bloom Street and Waukegan Ave. to the high school grounds. “The trail needs some shade,” he says. With funds he raised, he bought two, two-inch caliper elms and a one-inch caliper elm. ERI’s match, for the two-inchers, yielded four free one-inch caliper trees. Instead of just the three trees he’d planned on, he had seven, ranging in height from eight to 12 feet, and he already had the perfect public place to donate the free trees. Scouts from Troop 324, members of the high school ecology club, and friends helped him plant all seven along the path in early December. Since then, he’s been raising funds for more tree purchases and for a plaque to place at the head of path to recognize his project and its donors. His enthusiasm is reaching beyond the bike path, so he’s contacted parent-teacher organizations at schools, hoping to interest them in starting a regional nursery of American Liberty Elms. “A lot of people will see them on the bike path,” he says, “but I’d like to have them more widespread.” His vision for the future? “Big, gorgeous archways” of elms. “These trees do grow quickly. I’d like to walk under them.” A venerable elm, new elms The Seton Hall University campus has an American elm, 80 to 100 feet tall. “People stop and look at it,” says Steve Polakowski, grounds foreman. “They’re pretty surprised to learn it’s an elm. There aren’t many of them down in this area.” In terms of adding trees to the 55-acre campus, that usually happens when there’s loss of a tree. “It’s a pretty tight campus” in terms of space, Polakowski says. In the fall, he bought two American Liberty Elms as replacements, each three inches in caliper “We thought it would be nice to get a couple more elms. I didn’t realize we would be rewarded with six more trees,” he says. “I thought it was great. I mean, plant materials are expensive, but for the beauty of the plant, it’s well worth it. To get something for free, it was a real bonus, it was icing on the cake.” He planted the free trees along a main drag, South Orange Avenue, that borders the campus. “As they mature, they’ll be in view of the public.” Re-elming Minneapolis Landscape garden designer Bob Harvey lives in southwest Minneapolis, an area of the city where 1,100 American elms were lost to Dutch elm disease (DED) in 2003, and the loss for 2004 may be 1,300. That area was hardest hit, while the entire city lost 14,000 this past summer. It’s been the worst elm loss, Harvey says, since a slightly higher count one year in the 1970s. “There’s still a real dominance of elms in the landscape,” he says, “but they’re coming down, even those that survived DED in the late seventies. People are in disbelief. It’s a crisis.” But residents’ consciousness has been raised, too. Having lived around elms, they know of their esthetic and environmental impact, Harvey says. It’s a good time to plant the disease-resistant elms. “While we’re planting these new elms,” he says, “we can protect the elms we have, with education, sanitation, having a neighborhood elm watch.” Harvey has used disease-resistant American Liberty Elms for elm replacement since the late 1980s, when he planted them at the Carnegie Library in St. Paul to replicate the original landscape design there. Harvey talks about elms, with their high canopies, providing a “framework” for architecture and allowing space for landscaping and gardens underneath them. At a client’s new Tudor style home, he wanted the landscape design to reflect the grandeur of the architecture. When he suggested American Liberty Elms, the client said, “Absolutely.” Harvey ordered two four-inch caliper and two six-inch caliper elms. “They look fabulous,” he says. Matching those 20 inches of caliper, ERI sent along 20 free 1-inch caliper trees, which Harvey is donating to the city of Minneapolis. For someone who wants to see the re-elming of Minneapolis, “It’s the beginning, starting out with 20,” he says. “A lot of these elms . . . will be placed strategically in areas where shade is of the utmost need and there’s a high profile of view for the trees at intersections, corner lots, prominent places.” Some will go to a park at Lake Harriet, at the band shell, where a 9-11 event is held each year. Range of sizes ERI’s Matching Tree Grant Program offers elms with caliper of one to ten inches. Elms with one- and two-inch caliper are available now, growing in containers and ready to ship. Elms three to ten inches caliper, growing in ground at ERI, are also available now for an additional charge for being bagged in burlap. However, if a purchaser wants to order ahead for the years 2005 to 2008, elms three to ten inches caliper will be available then in containers. Loading and freight charges for all orders are extra and depend on quantity. The purchaser also pays shipping charges for the free trees. The program allows discounts of ten to 20 percent for full payment received in advance of shipping. Details are in the grant information, available on request. When the free trees are donated to a municipality for planting on public property, they are a tax-deductible gift. All of the elms carry a lifetime warranty against DED. ERI says the Matching Tree Grant Program will continue while supplies of elms last. For more information, phone Elm Research Institute, 603-358-6198, visit online at www.libertyelm.com or write to 11 Kit Street, Keene, NH, 03431. Recently, a landscape garden designer discovered a way to plant more disease-resistant American Liberty Elms than he was counting on and benefit his community at the same time.
Bob Harvey, owner of Edelweiss Design, Inc., lives in southwest Minneapolis, an area of the city where 1,100 American elms were lost to Dutch elm disease (DED) in 2003, and the loss for 2004 may be 1,300. That area was hardest hit, while the entire city lost 14,000 this past summer. It’s been the worst elm loss, Harvey says, since a slightly higher count one year in the 1970s.
Harvey chose six elms for landscaping at a client’s new home and learned he’d receive another 20 to donate to the city of Minneapolis.
“Anyone can use our Matching Tree Grant Program,” says John P. Hansel, founder of the nonprofit Elm Research Institute (ERI) in Keene, N.H.,. “An individual, landscape designer, developer, any business, institution, or civic organization, anyone purchasing an elm or elms with caliper of two inches or more, is eligible for free trees under our formula.”
The formula is simple: ERI provides a free elm with a trunk one inch in caliper (diameter) for every inch of caliper purchased. The buyer then donates the free trees for planting in public places.
ERI’s Matching Tree Grant Program offers elms with caliper of one to ten inches. Elms with one- and two-inch caliper are available now, growing in containers and ready to ship. Elms three to ten inches caliper, growing in ground at ERI, are also available now for an additional charge for being bagged in burlap.
However, if a purchaser wants to order ahead for the years 2005 to 2008, elms three to ten inches caliper will be available then in containers. Loading and freight charges for all orders are extra and depend on quantity. The purchaser also pays shipping charges for the free trees.
The program allows discounts of ten to 20 percent for full payment received in advance of shipping. Details are in the grant information, available on request.
When the free trees are donated to a municipality for planting on public property, they are a tax-deductible gift. All of the elms carry a lifetime warranty against DED.
ERI says the Matching Tree Grant Program will continue while supplies of elms last. For more information, phone Elm Research Institute, 603-358-6198, visit online at click here, or write to 11 Kit Street, Keene, NH, 03431.
Joseph Lubin, 17, bought three elms for his Eagle Scout community service project in Highland Park, Ill., and received four additional free trees to donate to his project of plantings along a bike path.
Steve Polakowski, grounds foreman at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., ordered two elms for the campus. Now he has six more to plant along a main street where the passing public will see them.
Bob Harvey, owner of Edelweiss Design, Inc., in Edina, Minn., chose six elms for landscaping at a client’s new home and learned he’d receive another 20 to donate to the city of Minneapolis.
“Anyone can use Our Matching Tree Grant Program,” says John P. Hansel, institute founder. “An individual, landscape designer, developer, any business, institution, or civic organization, anyone purchasing an elm or elms with caliper of two inches or more, is eligible for free trees under our formula.”
The formula is simple: ERI provides a free elm with a trunk one inch in caliper (diameter) for every inch of caliper purchased. The buyer then donates the free trees for planting in public places.
Aspiring Eagle plants elms A junior at Highland Park High School, Joseph Lubin had decided on American Liberty Elms for his Eagle Scout project after visiting ERI’s website, www.libertyelm.com. “Elms are gorgeous trees,” he says. The goal of his project is to plant 25 or more American Liberty Elms along the Robert McClory Bike Path, which runs less than a mile from the intersection of Bloom Street and Waukegan Ave. to the high school grounds. “The trail needs some shade,” he says. With funds he raised, he bought two, two-inch caliper elms and a one-inch caliper elm. ERI’s match, for the two-inchers, yielded four free one-inch caliper trees. Instead of just the three trees he’d planned on, he had seven, ranging in height from eight to 12 feet, and he already had the perfect public place to donate the free trees. Scouts from Troop 324, members of the high school ecology club, and friends helped him plant all seven along the path in early December. Since then, he’s been raising funds for more tree purchases and for a plaque to place at the head of path to recognize his project and its donors. His enthusiasm is reaching beyond the bike path, so he’s contacted parent-teacher organizations at schools, hoping to interest them in starting a regional nursery of American Liberty Elms. “A lot of people will see them on the bike path,” he says, “but I’d like to have them more widespread.” His vision for the future? “Big, gorgeous archways” of elms. “These trees do grow quickly. I’d like to walk under them.” A venerable elm, new elms The Seton Hall University campus has an American elm, 80 to 100 feet tall. “People stop and look at it,” says Steve Polakowski, grounds foreman. “They’re pretty surprised to learn it’s an elm. There aren’t many of them down in this area.” In terms of adding trees to the 55-acre campus, that usually happens when there’s loss of a tree. “It’s a pretty tight campus” in terms of space, Polakowski says. In the fall, he bought two American Liberty Elms as replacements, each three inches in caliper “We thought it would be nice to get a couple more elms. I didn’t realize we would be rewarded with six more trees,” he says. “I thought it was great. I mean, plant materials are expensive, but for the beauty of the plant, it’s well worth it. To get something for free, it was a real bonus, it was icing on the cake.” He planted the free trees along a main drag, South Orange Avenue, that borders the campus. “As they mature, they’ll be in view of the public.” Re-elming Minneapolis Landscape garden designer Bob Harvey lives in southwest Minneapolis, an area of the city where 1,100 American elms were lost to Dutch elm disease (DED) in 2003, and the loss for 2004 may be 1,300. That area was hardest hit, while the entire city lost 14,000 this past summer. It’s been the worst elm loss, Harvey says, since a slightly higher count one year in the 1970s. “There’s still a real dominance of elms in the landscape,” he says, “but they’re coming down, even those that survived DED in the late seventies. People are in disbelief. It’s a crisis.” But residents’ consciousness has been raised, too. Having lived around elms, they know of their esthetic and environmental impact, Harvey says. It’s a good time to plant the disease-resistant elms. “While we’re planting these new elms,” he says, “we can protect the elms we have, with education, sanitation, having a neighborhood elm watch.” Harvey has used disease-resistant American Liberty Elms for elm replacement since the late 1980s, when he planted them at the Carnegie Library in St. Paul to replicate the original landscape design there. Harvey talks about elms, with their high canopies, providing a “framework” for architecture and allowing space for landscaping and gardens underneath them. At a client’s new Tudor style home, he wanted the landscape design to reflect the grandeur of the architecture. When he suggested American Liberty Elms, the client said, “Absolutely.” Harvey ordered two four-inch caliper and two six-inch caliper elms. “They look fabulous,” he says. Matching those 20 inches of caliper, ERI sent along 20 free 1-inch caliper trees, which Harvey is donating to the city of Minneapolis. For someone who wants to see the re-elming of Minneapolis, “It’s the beginning, starting out with 20,” he says. “A lot of these elms . . . will be placed strategically in areas where shade is of the utmost need and there’s a high profile of view for the trees at intersections, corner lots, prominent places.” Some will go to a park at Lake Harriet, at the band shell, where a 9-11 event is held each year. Range of sizes ERI’s Matching Tree Grant Program offers elms with caliper of one to ten inches. Elms with one- and two-inch caliper are available now, growing in containers and ready to ship. Elms three to ten inches caliper, growing in ground at ERI, are also available now for an additional charge for being bagged in burlap. However, if a purchaser wants to order ahead for the years 2005 to 2008, elms three to ten inches caliper will be available then in containers. Loading and freight charges for all orders are extra and depend on quantity. The purchaser also pays shipping charges for the free trees. The program allows discounts of ten to 20 percent for full payment received in advance of shipping. Details are in the grant information, available on request. When the free trees are donated to a municipality for planting on public property, they are a tax-deductible gift. All of the elms carry a lifetime warranty against DED. ERI says the Matching Tree Grant Program will continue while supplies of elms last. For more information, phone Elm Research Institute, 603-358-6198, visit online at www.libertyelm.com or write to 11 Kit Street, Keene, NH, 03431.
