Posted: January 11, 2021
On a late fall morning in the frosty wetlands of the Loyalhanna Watershed in Ligonier, a group of dedicated volunteers met to help FirstEnergy meet its goal of planting 1,000 trees in 2020.
Photo credit: Deb Christopher, Penn State Extension Master Gardener
Wrapped in winter garb and wearing masks, volunteers from the Penn State Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Master Naturalists, Penn State Master Watershed Stewards, Loyalhanna Watershed, Weeders and Seeders Garden Club of Ligonier, and FirstEnergy grabbed shovels, tree guards and weed barriers, then spread out across the countryside to place precious native trees and shrubs into their permanent homes in the watershed.
Many county Earth Day and gardening events were canceled this year due to COVID-19. This left a surplus of plants and trees in the hands of conservation groups and corporate initiatives at the end of the season. Master Gardeners and other volunteers gladly came forward to help with this "problem," motivated by the desire to increase native plantings, and rewarded by, in this case, 136 trees and shrubs amending the Loyalhanna Watershed property and surrounding demonstration gardens.
FirstEnergy Senior Scientist Carol Hoffman explained, "The tree planting initiative is just one of many progressive environmental and sustainability efforts of FirstEnergy. We gain so many benefits from trees, including CO2 reduction, stormwater run-off management, riparian buffers, habitat for wildlife, and reduction of urban heat -- in addition to our direct enjoyment of them!" She reports that FirstEnergy Vice President of Utility Services George Farah was on hand December 3rd to help Carol's team plant its 1000th tree! He's approved a goal of 10,000 trees for 2021!
"It's our way of giving back to the community and increasing tree canopies and plant diversity in the community," Hoffman beamed.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit FirstEnergy online.
By Deb Christopher, Penn State Extension Master Gardener
