P L E N T Y SUMMER 2019 Plenty Summer 2019-joomag copy | Page 46

tolerate the increasingly wet conditions as well as several beneficial pollinator host species to add. The farm owners, along for the hike, were agree- able to all ideas floated except Dick Thoms, firmly and with a wry smile noted: NO BOX ELDERS. He relays that elder bug’s prodigious swarms through the years had greatly dimmed their initial affec- tion for that tree. Yet, Bev Thoms added that the farm, secured by several preservation easements, was a natural for the program as their desire was to protect the Little Monocacy, provide for greater biodiversity and up the Reserve’s already impressive game in helping the region address the climate crisis. Within several weeks of the site survey, local landscape contractor and native planting special- ists, Gardens by Garth, had staked the planting site. Garth Seely’s planting plans mirror natural forest growth patterns while providing good space for mowing as needed between rows. The trees (sturdy 5-6 footers), and woody shrubs from Maryland’s Schott’s nursery were delivered to higher dry ground adjacent to the barn, intriguing curious sheep: food or foe? The white deer tubes and stakes lay ready for placement. Aftercare of the young forest, including protection from deer damage and encroachment from invasive plants will be key to the programs’ success. A stiff dry wind pushed and pulled at the grouped pots of hundreds of sycamores, red maples, river birches, redbuds, tulip trees, black willows... the tender leaves held fast as their homes along the river bank were made ready.  Caroline Taylor, MCA’s executive director writes: “Last minute update: The pilot planting of nearly two acres is completed and, happily, we have over 90 acres of stream corridor acreage offered to host the next generation of climate stabilizing forests in the Ag Reserve.” Re-Leaf’s mission: support the County’s important plan to meet the challenges of climate crisis. Planting and nurturing healthy forests along waterways will: n n n n n Better protect water quality, Manage storm water flow, Provide habitat,  Promote biodiversity, and Increase capacity for carbon sequestration (trees capture carbon in the atmosphere, which is key to tackling climate change). The International Union for the Conservation of Nature notes: Forests are one of the most important solutions to addressing the effects of climate change. Forests absorb approximately 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide, one-third of the CO 2 released from burning fossil fuels, every year. Re-Leaf the Reserve is made possible through a partnership between Montgomery Country- side Alliance (MCA) and the Montgomery County M o C o A l l i a n c e . o r g Planning Department. Since 2001, MCA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has promoted sound economic land-use and transportation policies that preserve the natural environment, open spaces and rural lands in Montgomery County’s Agricul- tural Reserve for the benefit of all Washington Metro- politan area residents. The Montgomery County Planning Department is part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and works to improve quality of life by conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for current and future generations.  To learn about opportunities to enroll, sponsor or volunteer at Re-Leaf the Reserve and other tree pro- grams, visit: Mocoalliance.org. PLENTY is part of an exciting reforestation effort though PrintReleaf, an organization in partnership with our magazine’s printer, Publication Printers in Denver, CO. PrintReleaf calculates our paper consumption and the equivalent tree quantities of paper consumed and collects appropriate funds to help reforesta- tion organizations around the world plant the appropriate number of trees. Our consumption for this issue will go to plant 92 trees on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota where the local workforce of Native Americans is trained to care for and plant tree seedlings. There is a large designated area within two historical fire areas (totaling 20,000 acres) to plant, which allows for room to expand reforestation efforts there in the years ahead. 46 PLENTY I SUMMER GROWING 2019