It’s Happening! And it’s colorful!

Update as rainbow marks start of EarthKeeper Tree Project: Across northern Michigan 12,000 trees bagged, delivery for Sunday, May 3 record planting

Rainbow appears over Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola as volunteers across northern Michigan prepare 12,000 trees for planting by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)

Volunteers at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba bag and prepare seedlings. (Escanaba photos provided by Jill Martin, Presbyterian EarthKeeper Volunteer)

(Upper Peninsula of Michigan) - Across northern Michigan, 12,000 trees are being delivered to about 100 churches and temples across northern Michigan as the EarthKeeper Tree Project kicks into high gear in preparation for planting at thousands of locations on Sunday, May 3.

On Thursday, April 30 volunteers were bagging the seedlings that are being given to ten faith traditions.

In Sagola, Michigan, a rainbow appeared over the Grace Presbyterian Church as about 30 EarthKeeper volunteers spent three hours bagging 1,500 seedlings.

The trees were blessed by Rev. David Anderson and then prepared to be delivered or picked up by seven other churches including Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian and a non-EarthKeeper but welcomed congregation - the Mission Covenant Church in Foster City.

The Presbyterian and Catholic volunteers in Sagola came in all ages and included three generations of one family. Young children were taught by adults how to properly bag the seedlings and as the night ended the kids scurried around the church picking up pine needles to help with the clean up.

Among those volunteering in Sagola were Marie Anderson, Sue Piasini, Gabriella Schultz, age 3; Chrissy Pringle, Brooke Hesse, Yvonne Schultz, Mary Schuteman, Jeff and Shelia Mott and their children Celia and Medoria Mott; Kassandra Donaldson, Mary Brault, Mara Smith, age 11 and Cameron Schultz, age 6.

EarthKeeper volunteers at Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI prepare 1,500 trees for planting and distribution in Dickinson County as 12,000 trees will be planted by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)

EarthKeeper volunteers from the Presbyterian and United Methodist churches in Delta County separated and bagged 1,000 trees on Thursday (April 30) at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba.

Bagging was also underway in Marquette and numerous other locations.

Among those bagging trees in Escanaba were First Presbyterian Church members Kathy Christiansen and Jill Martin, plus Central United Methodist Church members Lois Nordin, Rocky Blixt, Bron Harmon, Cat Lindberg and Pat Rogers; all are Escanaba area residents.

Among the Delta County churches participating (followed by the approx. number of trees each will receive) are St. Stephens Episcopal, Escanaba (150); Bethany Lutheran, Escanaba (250); First Presbyterian, Escanaba (150); Escanaba Central UMC, Escanaba (150); Trinity Episcopal, Gladstone (150) and Calvary Lutheran, Rapid River (150).

Among the Dickinson County churches participating (followed by city and the approx. number of trees each will receive) are St. Rose Catholic, Channing (180); Zion of Metropolitan Lutheran, Felch (180); Our Saviour Lutheran, Iron Mountain (180); First Presbyterian, Kingsford (180); St. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic, Kingsford (180); Sagola Presbyterian, Sagola (420); and the Felch and Foster City churches including Mission Covenant Church in Foster City (180).

Volunteers at the Central United Methodist Church in Escanaba bag and prepare seedlings. (Escanaba photos provided by Jill Martin, Presbyterian EarthKeeper Volunteer)

EarthKeeper volunteers at Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI prepare 1,500 trees for planting and distribution in Dickinson County as 12,000 trees will be planted by about 100 churches and temples during interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project. (Sagola Photos provided by Jessica Schultz, EarthKeeper volunteer)

Most of the 12,000 12 to 16 inch White Spruce and Red Pine seedlings in the EarthKeeper Tree Project will be planted on Sunday (May 3).

The EarthKeeper co-founders are Carl Lindquist, executive director of the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership, and Rev. Jon Magmuson of Marquette. Magnuson is campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and executive director of the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette.

The Earth Keeper Implementation Team co-chairs are Gail Griffith, who is a member of Marquette Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist Temple.

The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha’i, Jewish, Zen Buddist, Quakers) with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the NMU EK Student Team.

The trees were purchased or donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, SWP, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister’s Greenhouses.

Experts say 12,000 mature trees absorb 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually and produce enough oxygen to support 24,000 humans.

This is the fifth year that the U.P. EarthKeepers have launched an Earth Day environment project.

From 2005-2007, over 15,000 U.P. residents turned in more than 360 tons of household hazardous waste at a dozen collection sites across the U.P. Most of the items were recycled and the remainder was properly disposed under federal guidelines including electronic waste (e-waste) like computers, monitors and printers plus cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint and vehicle batteries.
Last year the EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that resulted in over 3 million pounds of carbon being.

For details on the tree distribution call Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore, the project faith community communications coordinator, at 906-228-2388.

For tree planting information contact the SWP at 906-228-6095.

Related websites:

U.P. EarthKeeper Team

Nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership in Marquette, MI

Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI