This winter, Sunfield Waldorf School is one of five local schools participating in the eighth annual Plant-A-Thon, a fundraising environmental service project.

Plant-A-Thon tree plantings will take place along Tarboo Creek, just north of Tarboo Wildlife Refuge on a property owned and managed by Northwest Watershed Institute. Tree planting is an important part of the watershed-wide effort to restore native salmon and wildlife habitat. To date, 23,500 trees have been planted in the Tarboo Watershed through Plant-A-Thon activities.

This year’s planting of 2,500 trees will take place on Saturday, January 28 (rain date is Saturday, February 5) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by 150 school children and parents from Sunfield, Swan School, Chimacum Pi Program, Quilcene Elementary, and Jefferson Community School, along with University of Washington students. The group will be organized into planting crews, each with a trained leader. Crew leader training is Saturday, January 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Sunfield.

For each of the 2,500 native trees planted at a salmon restoration site in the Tarboo, there is a corresponding “Tree Card,” dedicating the tree in honor of someone or something special.

In past years, cards have been sent across the USA, and as far as China, France, and Indonesia. People have sent thousands of Tree Cards for holidays, births, deaths, birthdays, and to thank significant people in their lives, such as relatives, friends and teachers. The cards are also sent by businesses to appreciate their clients.

In an effort to earn $2,500, our school is selling 500 tree cards, at $5 each.

Please contact the Sunfield office (360-385-3658) to purchase Tree Cards, or to volunteer with our crew.

This year’s planting site is on a steep slope, and may not be suitable for very young children. Lunch and hot drinks are provided.