If you thought March 5th couldn’t offer anything more to  the gardeners in the Miami Valley, well, guess again. Here are two more opportunities coming your way.

How much to do you love trees? Tree Corps. Volunteer Training – Cox Arboretum (Dayton) – March 5

MetroParks is targeting current and new volunteers who’ve expressed a deep interest in getting involved with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) reforestation efforts. This new task force of volunteers, named the Tree Corp., will be called upon to collect native hardwood seeds each fall, care for tree seedlings, help transplant seedlings in areas deforested by EAB, lead work crews of other volunteers, or speak to groups of neighbors, service clubs or garden clubs about EAB. Some of you may already be involved in the Forest Foster Family program (caring for seedlings at your home), which is a small component of the Tree Corp. mission.

To kick-off the spring season, you are invited to attend the Tree Corp. Volunteer Expo: a chance to learn more about the EAB threat and get an inside look into MetroParks strategic plan to manage the effects of EAB on our woodlands.  The second part of the morning offers you four Try-It sessions to practice hands-on skills in the areas where MetroParks volunteer needs are the greatest: seedling propagation, seed identification and collection, transplanting out, and promoting community awareness of the issue.  Some of these sessions will be held outdoors, so please dress for the weather.

Tree Corp. Volunteer Expo
Saturday March 5, 2011
9 am- 12:30 pm
Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 5/3 Conference Room

Please understand that by joining us for the March 5 volunteer expo, you are not committing to any specific volunteer group or task.  This event is just an opportunity for you to learn more about the effects of EAB within MetroParks and the volunteer needs that we’ll be trying to fill in the upcoming months.

To attend the Tree Corp. Volunteer Expo, please R.S.V.P. to Kevin Kepler no later than February 25: call 275-7275 2222 or email kkepler@metroparks.org. Space is limited, so sign up early!  With your help, we can restore our woodlands and leave a healthy forest for future generations!

Seed Starting Seminar – Meadow View Growers (New Carlisle) – March 5

Meadow View Growers (755 N. Lakeview Rd. aka Rt. 235, New Carlisle) is holding a seed starting seminar, “You Can Grow It”  at 2 pm, Saturday, March 5. Their experts will walk you step-by-step through the process of growing beautiful plants from seeds and cuttings at home. Fee is $5 which includes handouts. Email Abby@meadowview.com to register. Space is limited.