How to Steal a Tree (Legally, From Audubon)

45 minutes ago

2 min read

If planting a tiny forest has never made it onto your weekend plans, it should.

I recently sat down with Missy Weiss, the new executive director of Pelican Island Audubon Society, and was fascinated to learn they give away native trees three times a week at its location on Oslo Road...for free!

Here are just a couple reasons these native trees are so important, aside from providing habitat for our many native bird, butterfly and insect species: a shade tree can cut your cooling costs 30-50%, especially during the summer months. Homes with trees on the property sell for 5-20% more. Kids on tree-lined streets play outside more and have lower rates of asthma and obesity. Trees planted over pavement filter stormwater runoff before it ever reaches the Lagoon. And one acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people a day, offsetting the CO2 footprint of a car driving 26,000 miles.

Pelican Island Audubon Society has been at this since 2018, working toward a goal of 100,000 native trees and plants across Indian River County. They've already given away more than 19,500, funded by donations from Cherry Lake Farms and Sebastian River Farms. Click here for more information on the program and for some fun facts on the quantity and type of trees that have been distributed to date. And check out this interview with WPTV back in 2023.