Davey Tree Flipbooks

T rees don't have to be living for some of their benefits to exist. In fact, one particular gardener from California has discovered trees give back to the environment even after their roots have been lifted from the earth below. For several years, Davey's PG&E North Shasta crew has donated many loads of wood chips to the Sacramento River Discovery Center, a facility dedicated to enhancing the public's education of resources that define the Sacramento River watershed. "We built the garden to show how native plants can be used to conserve water," explains Executive Director Bobie Hughes, who has entered her third summer working for and incorporating water retention practices at the Discovery Center. "The use of wood chips is very beneficial to water retention," Hughes adds. While a proper watering regimen is important to maintain, particularly during the hot summer months, wood chips help the soil retain moisture and continue plant growth. "By mulching with wood chips, we're reusing a natural product with many nutrients that helps the young, living plants." Davey's wood chip donation also benefits a portion of the garden where Hughes and her volunteers are testing permaculture practices— natural methods that help build soil fertility. Local alpaca and llama farmers provide animal byproduct as fertilizer as well. Melons and vegetables, such as squash, benefit from such efforts and ultimately help increase a healthy inventory for a community food share project that educates and feeds low income families and the homeless. Volunteers harvested approximately 500 pounds of fresh vegetables last year, which helped feed the hungry within the community. Jake Harper, general foreman, always encourages his crewmembers to dump their chippings at the Discovery Center. "The garden is doing nice things in the area," he says. "As long as mulching and the nutrients it provides help the garden succeed, then we'd be happy to continue donating. We'll continue to donate as wood chips become available." This year, Harper's crew has donated approximately 20 loads of wood chips to the site. "We've tripled the size of the garden, thanks to Davey's donation," Hughes says. Naturally Nutritious The vegetable garden at the Sacramento River Discovery Center receives donated wood chips from Davey's PG&E North Shasta crew. L earning outdoors and playing outdoors go hand-in-hand. Davey's Muskoka team recently got a chance to help children do both. Learning Outdoors What's the best way to connect children with the environment? Simple: Take them outside. Administrators from K.P. Manson Public School in Gravenhurst, Ontario, planned an outdoor classroom for students in grades K-8 to learn in an open setting. They knew Davey's Muskoka team would offer perfect assistance. District Manager Mark Powell rounded up Groundmen Derrick Pierre and Evan Hitch- man to volunteer at the school. The three supplied wood chips and cut logs that would be used for benches for the outdoor classroom. As Powell says, "I think the kids will be much more attentive outside in the environment, especially when learning about trees and plants." Playing Outdoors With the outdoor classroom complete, another neighboring school district, Simcoe County Board of Education, contacted Powell for a new project. The school district asked Powell to save logs for several playground renovations. To create a more natural feel, wood stepping stones, logs and wood chips would be added to new playgrounds. "It's always great to give back to the community and spread awareness about the good they are doing," Powell says. Learning & Playing Outdoors 16 | September/October 2014 Davey's wood chip donation benefits weed abatement efforts along the trails of the Sacramento River Discovery Garden. The finished outdoor classroom, donated by Davey's Muskoka team.

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