Bruce and Helen Atkinson are doing their part to make Orange County a better place to live and breathe. In 1996, Bruce and Helen hired forestry consultants to plant over 25,000 trees on more than 38 acres of their land. Approximately half of the acreage was enrolled in CRP, providing 50 percent Federal cost-share assistance for planting. Bruce and Helen chose to plant the remaining acres at their own expense. The family stayed very involved in the process. Bruce, with the assistance of his children and grandchildren, did some pruning. Bruce and Helen's son Mark made sure additional weed control was provided.

Bruce and Helen are delighted with the results. Although due to their advanced age they thought they would never live to see the results, they are now very pleased. Janet Eger, District Forester, states, "The Atkinsons had foresight to plant a long-term crop and went beyond what was required in the care and maintenance, turning it from a planting to a forest. Anyone who drives by will appreciate this successful planting." It was a leap of faith for this couple who have been married for over 50 years.

Congratulations to Bruce and Helen Atkinson!

Bruce & Helen with District Forester Janet Eger, in May 2003, hosting the Northeast Area Urban Foresters at their plantation. Urban foresters from about 19 states were VERY impressed with the planting they had done.

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