With one week left to sign up, more than 750 volunteers have already registered to participate in 50K Tree Day, a statewide tree-planting event taking place on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. Central/11 a.m. Eastern. Interested individuals are encouraged to sign up to participate through next week at tectn.org/50ktreeday.
Homeowners, businesses, and groups of any variety will receive free trees for their property or community, and are being asked to plant them during the planting hour on the 21st.
"More than 750 volunteers and dozens of organizations participating makes this the largest single volunteer effort in the history of our organization," said John McFadden, CEO of Tennessee Environmental Council, founded in 1970. "And we have a lot of trees to plant, so we invite people to keep signing up on our website."
Event organizers are looking for individuals and groups to get involved. Here's how:
1) Sign up to volunteer at a site in your county.
2) Sign up to pick up four, eight or 12 free trees to plant at your home or business.
3) Sign up your group to host a planting event and assemble your own team of volunteers in your community.
4) Identify a tree-planting location in your community.
Tree pickup and planting locations are being added daily. To participate or read the latest updates visit tectn.org/50ktreeday.
50K Tree Day is being coordinated by Tennessee Environmental Council, Cumberland River Compact, Tennessee Stormwater Association, Tennessee Department of Agriculture -- Division of Forestry, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the following partners: Harpeth River Watershed Association, Keep Tennessee Beautiful, Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee's Wild Side, US Dept. of Agriculture-Forest Service, National Wildlife Federation.