Post on 29-Mar-2016
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April 13, 2013
Special Earth Day Celebration
Environmental day at Markham Park
Thank you VOLUNTEERS
We are changing the world!
TASK: MULCHING
Special Earth Day
Celebration
Markham Park - 04/13/13
Volunteers: 32
Task: Mulching
Hours: 8:30 -12:00
Project Leaders:
Jennifer Udan
Maria M Hernandez
Organization:
HandsOn Broward
www.handsonbroward.org
EARTH DAY
Every year on April 22, more than
one billion people take part in
Earth Day. Across the globe,
individuals, communities,
organizations, and governments
acknowledge the amazing planet
we call home and take action to
protect it.
This year we are stepping up with
HandsOn Broward to be part of
the movement recognizing the
importance of being the change
and hands for Broward.
We are beautifying our parks, we
care about our Planet.
What are you doing?
Broward County recycles holiday trees
for mulch
Last year, Broward County Parks recycled more than 9,000 trees,
representing more than a hundred tons of material that would
otherwise have gone to landfills. Those trees were chopped up and
transformed in organic mulch, saving a lot of money and resources.
December’s holiday cheer is fertilizing
Parks in Broward this New Year.
1. Organic mulch improves soil fertility as it decomposes
reducing the need for fertilizers.
IMPORTANCE OF MULCHING:
2. Mulch also helps maintain soil moisture by reducing
evaporation. Less supplemental irrigation is needed.
SAVE WATER!
3. Another big plus for using mulch is that it buffers soil
temperatures keeping soils warmer in the winder and
cooler in the summer.
4. Organic mulch add to the nutrient base of the soil making
the soil richer
5. Mulching is one of the easiest steps in maintaining your
garden or landscape as well as provides an element of
color and texture to complement your plantings.
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS
You covered a huge area!
6. Prevents run-off and erosion
1,000 feet long
3000 sq. ft.
Approx. 5 truckloads of mulch
HOW TO ADD MULCH
Add mulch to the base of
your tree by removing any
grass within a 3 to 10 foot
area depending on the size
of your tree.
Pour natural mulch such as
wood chips or bark pieces 2
to 3 inches deep within the
circle.
Keep the mulch from
touching the trunk of the tree.
Mission accomplished!
Treecycling:
Is the simple act of recycling your Christmas tree, rather than
throwing it away, at the end of the season. By doing so, you
extend your Christmas tree's usability by allowing it to be turned
into something else.
According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 33
million trees are sold in the U.S. every year. Compared to
artificial trees, real Christmas trees are a renewable resource,
with 98 percent of them being grown and harvested each year as
a crop would be. They are carbon neutral and create organic,
biodegradable waste, making them the greener choice for
mulching. However, it is still important to keep them out of
landfills where they biodegrade slowly due to low oxygen levels.
Benefits of Recycling Christmas tree
Recycling Christmas tree saves the valuable landfill
space.
Trunk and branches of Christmas trees are chipped
and used as mulch in parks and gardens.
Mulch helps to prevent weeds, retain soil moisture as
well as protect roots.
After decomposing, mulch also provides nutrients
which are needed by growing plants.
Reduce the impact on Climate Change
Special thanks to Markham Park for those beautiful plants!
We are making a difference in Broward!
10 Reasons to Volunteer:
1. Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards. It:
Reduces stress
Makes you healthier
2. Volunteering provides valuable community services so
more money can be spent on local improvements.
The estimated value of a volunteer's time is $15.39
per hour.
3. Volunteers gain professional experience.
4. It brings people together.
5. It promotes personal growth and self-esteem.
6. Volunteering strengthens your community.
7. You learn a lot.
8. You get a chance to give back.
9. Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.
10. You make a difference:
Every person counts!
As a project Leader, I had enjoy every single moment that I had shared
with people from my community and surrounding areas, kids, teenagers
and adults . Some of them volunteer from their heart and others for
community hours, but we all have found a common motivation:
The Environment.
For this reason, as an environment activist, I have created this magazine
to explain the importance that is behind our volunteer project. I want to go
beyond of just leading a group; I want to explain how our actions
contribute to the protection of our natural resources and as consequence:
our communities, our planet!
One day those teenagers that today are looking for community hours;
they will be the future Homeowners that with their decisions will impact
the world!
On this specific project celebrating Earth Day, we learned about the
importance of mulching and its implementation on a Florida Friendly
Landscaping to save water, and the benefits of recycling (treecycling) to
protect the Environment.
Thank you to all the volunteers for their outstanding job! I can’t wait to see
you next time as we continue to help the environment. Thank you to
Markham Park project coordinators for their teaching and the beautiful gift
plants!
Maria M Hernandez HandsOn Broward Environment Project Leader
MY CONTRIBUTION:
This magazine has been produced by:
Maria M Hernandez
LEED AP