The Centralia Tree Planting was held on April 17th, 2021 at 10AM
Our amazing volunteers made this event a success. Thank you to all our partners for their continued support and flexibility during this difficult time, including ISI, Mental Insight Foundation, Centone Pictures, Wafler Nursery, Heller Orchards and Ark Rentals.
Details about the project:
100 apple trees were planted in the now deserted areas of Centralia, with the help of EPCAMR volunteers from throughout the coal country and the community. Another 250 trees were distributed to families throughout our coal-impacted region.
If you would like to get involved in future projects like this be sure to fill out the Volunteer Registration Form to be notified of upcoming public participation projects
Centralia:
Centralia, PA is well known for the coal fire that caused many of the residents to abandon the town, yet there are still residents living in this area. The town contends with tourists coming to see the town for themselves. Unfortunately, these visitors are not always respectful of the land. For the past seven years, EPCAMR has held an annual cleanup to help clear the area of trash and tires that have been illegally dumped. This initiative has come a long way. Each year, the amount of garbage left at the site lessens. Cameras have also recently been installed to prevent future dumping.
Now, EPCAMR will be leading a project funded by ISI and Mental Insight Foundation to help beautify the area while offsetting our carbon footprint, improving the wildlife habitat of the area, and promoting ecosystem restoration of the abandoned mine-scarred landscape. The movement towards this beautifying phase will help keep people from seeing the town as a dumping ground for trash. The trees are expected to add fruit for years to come. EPCAMR has also partnered with Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, who are donating shelters for the trees as well as native trees for a fall planting to continue the legacy during the next annual cleanup in October 2021.
Additionally, we are preparing the area to become an official Monarch Butterfly Waystation. We are excited to grow milkweed and other pollinator plants. We plan to work with local community programs to raise butterflies, culminating in a fall release of the butterflies at the location.
PICTURES
The turnout of volunteers was overwhelming. Take a look at some of the pictures of our hard-working and dedicated crew of EPCAMR volunteers.
If you would like to submit a picture to the page, please e-mail Laura Rinehimer at lrinehimer@epcamr.org
Instructional Video:
Each tree was planted with Growboxxes! Check out the instructional video below.
Groasis Growboxx©:
To conserve water, each of the trees will be planted in a smart-cocoon water-saving technology called a Groasis Growboxx©. These award-winning, innovative biodegradable boxes use 90% less water to keep the trees healthy by holding water in a reserve.
For more information on this technology, please visit their website at https://www.groasis.com/en
Top of the Growboxx
A lemon tree in combination with melons using Growboxx technologies to flourish.
Project lead, Laura Rinehimer, taking inventory of the Growboxxes(c).
Tree Giveaway:
Thank you to all who came out to pick up and plant an apple tree. Please submit pictures of your planted trees to Laura Rinehimer at lrinehimer@epcamr.org. Thank you!
Meet the People Responsible for this Effort:
Claudia Meglin – Inquiring Systems Special Projects Manager
Claudia works for ISI as the Special Projects Manager and all-around organizational development specialist. Claudia has over twenty years of experience as executive team manager and creative director for many international projects. Her calling in life is to bring together creativity and business to consciously design sustainable and regenerative systems. She holds an Integral MBA in Creative Enterprises for Social Transformation from Meridian University. She lives and works with her artist husband and two cats in rural Sonoma County.
Laura Rinehimer – Environmental Education Coordinator, EPCAMR
Laura leads the Environmental Education efforts at EPCAMR. She is excited to be project lead on this endeavor and to share her passion for the environment with others. She holds a Bachelors in Special Education, Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Misericordia University and is pursuing a Masters Degree from Slippery Rock University in Environmental Education. Laura has spoken at the NAAMLP Conference in 2019 and has led other environmental projects including the creation and distribution of Environmental Science Boxes to help children and families get inspired to explore the outdoors during the pandemic.
“I am grateful to get to work on this creative and meaningful project with the support of my incredible team.”
– Laura Rinehimer
Thank you to the following donors and helpers:
Centralia Borough
Harold Mervine
Jeff Crum
Ed Wytovich
Linda Hundertmark, in Memory of her son, Nathan Hundertmark
Huber Breaker Preservation Society
The Tire Guys
Brian Moss
PEC
Earth Conservancy
Centone Productions
Centraliapa.org
Julie Weaver Yoga
Valley Pools and Spas
Joan Rinehimer
Julius Perry
Michael Rinehimer
Weis Markets
Price Chopper
Jeremy Phillips
Christine Daylida
Keith Bartle, South Street Subs & Deli, Nanticoke
Many of our volunteers planted a tree in memory of a loved one. As the trees grow, may we remember and honor the following lives:
Pieter Hoff – inventor of Growboxx©
Loren Cole
Timmy Butler
Floyd Rinehimer
Robert Quinn
Anna Marie Hartranft
Ferris
Michael Krzozowski
Mason Eckhart
Alma
Becky Hernandez
Louise Dunlap
James Buckley and Family
Helen Sobotka
Stanley Hamorski
Nevin Lindenmuth
Clara House
Alvena Smola
Sonia Molina
The Shearn Family
Catherine Knapich
Edward Shearn
Jean Lynch
Dianna Aponick
Keith and Sandy Owens
The Denenitz Family
Theresa Skavery
Andrew and Joe Kandray
The Britch Family
Kaos
The Jurgill Family
Earth and Peace
If you would like to add a loved one or notice an error in spelling, please notify Laura Rinehimer at lrinehimer@epcamr.org
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