Day 123 – When I was younger, the word “free” elicited a feeling of excitement and curiosity. To get something for nothing was a thrill and made me feel like I was winning at the game of life. Sadly, that feeling has changed as I have gotten older. Now, when I hear the word “free”, I am suspicious. I want to know what the catch is and how much it’s going to cost me in the end.
Thankfully, there is nothing sneaky going on here. There are free saplings available and all you have to do is pick them up, plant them, and give them a shot at growing up to be big, strong trees. Restore the Canopy is a program sponsored by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. The program offers FREE Black, Pin, Red and White Oak saplings.
“As a form of green infrastructure, a medium-sized oak tree can help prevent flooding and improve water quality by absorbing 2,800 gallons of rainfall per year.” – MWRD
You can pick up your free sapling every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to Noon (April – October).
Locations include:
Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 400 E. 130th St., Chicago
O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, 3500 Howard Street, Skokie
Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 6001 W. Pershing Rd., Cicero
Egan Water Reclamation Plant, 550 South Meacham Rd, Schaumburg
Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant, 1220 Sycamore Ave., Hanover Park
Kirie Water Reclamation Plant, 701 West Oakton St., Des Plaines
The emerald ash borer beetle and extreme weather has decimated our tree canopy. Our neighborhoods are in need of more trees. So, if you have the space to share with a tree, consider picking up your free sapling.
Tomorrow, eco-friendly deodorants.
365 Ways to Save the Planet 