With assistance from a $2,500 NIPSCO Environmental Action Grant, Highland Community Foundation is once again providing free trees to homeowners via a Community Canopy Project, an Arbor Day Foundation program that helps expand the tree canopies of cities and towns across the United States. The trees will provide a multitude of community benefits including air pollutant absorption, storm water filtration, carbon sequestration and energy conservation along with helping homeowners lower energy bills through strategic planting.
Highland homeowners can reserve their free trees, beginning September 3, 2019. Once again 100 trees are available and will be distributed on a first come-first served basis. Highland residents will be allowed one tree, and in the event that trees are still available on September 17th, a second tree may be obtained. An online tool will help participants plant trees in the most strategic location near their homes to enable maximum environmental benefit and help estimate annual money savings that will result from planting the trees.
Homeowners can reserve their tree if they pledge to plant, water and care for them in the location provided by the online tool. The species of trees to be offered tentatively include: Blackgum; Red Maple; Dogwood; Serviceberry; and, Red Bud.
More details will be provided about this program within the next 7-10 days.
