Greenfield nursing homes and local first graders observed Arbor Day on April 29 by planting and receiving trees.
Betty Jackman, chairperson of Greenfield Village Council as well as the local Tree Commission, was accompanied by Greenfield staff members Margaret Mobley and Holly Ellinger on visits to Edgewood Manor, 850 Nellie St., and Hearth & Care, 238 S. Washington St. Staff members and residents joined in the celebration by having trees planted on their properties as part of a tradition that has been going on for several years.
In addition, the Greenfield contingent provided approximately 200 first graders in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District with Douglas fir seedlings as part of Greenfield’s Arbor Day Observance.
While visiting the schools, Jackman showed students the proclamation she had signed proclaiming April 29 as Arbor Day in Greenfield. In addition to presenting each first grader at Buckskin, Rainsboro and Greenfield Elementary Schools with a seedling, Jackman and company talked about the importance of trees, which provide many benefits and help beautify the community. Trees are a renewable resource and provide food and shelter for many types of wildlife. Trees give off oxygen, provide a cooling shade canopy, and many varieties produce tasty fruit.
Greenfield has been recognized as a Tree City USA community for the past two years due to its observance of Arbor Day, the presence of a Tree Commission, and compliance with other criteria that show the community values trees. The Tree Commission hopes to plant trees in the business district this year as part of its continuing efforts.
The history of Arbor Day dates to April 1872 in Nebraska City, Neb. when J. Sterling Morton encouraged the planting of trees. As a result, approximately a million trees were planted in Nebraska. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt issued an Arbor Day proclamation to the school children of the United States, pointing out the importance of trees and encouraging the teaching of forestry.
For more information, visit www.arborday.org
Article submitted by Greenfield City Manager Ron Coffey.
