Penny Pines

The national forests in California cover some 20 million acres, or about 1/5 of the state. That is equal to an area just slightly larger than the state of South Carolina . Stretching from the Mexican border to Oregon , these forests include a variety of terrain and vegetation types. These areas of great beauty and majestic stature are plagued by divesting problems, such as natural and man-caused fire, pests and disease. These cause vast depletion and destruction of the national forests in California . It takes thousands of firefighters and hundreds of pieces of specialized equipment working long hours to control these blazing infernos. Fires like these leave total destruction in their wake. As destructive as fires are, disease and insect infestation destroy seven times more forest vegetation annually than fires because forests pests are scattered and not easily detected, so are harder to control.In time some land may recover naturally. Penny Pines provides a helping hand. It is a conservation program in which everyone can participate.

HISTORY OF THE PENNY PINES REFORESTATION PROGRAM

In 1941, California 's first Penny Pines plantation was sponsored by the San Francisco Sports-women's Association. Recognizing the great need to restore these devastated areas, the association sent their donation to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northern California . Since that contribution, the number of participating groups and individuals has grown each year. They include such organizations as the Garden and Women's Clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts of America, civic and sportsmen's clubs, and many others.

At the start of the program in 1941, seedlings could be produced for about one cent each. Approximately 680 seedlings were used to plant a typical acre. For $68.00, seedlings for ten acres could be purchased. Site preparation and planting costs were met through regular Forest Service appropriations. The Penny Pines program was so successful that money contributed to purchase seedlings soon far exceeded appropriated funds available for site preparation and for the actual planting job. In 1964, the original cooperative agreement was rewritten to provide that funds contributed under the Penny Pines program be used for reforestation, rather than solely for purchasing seedlings.

Over the years these groups have contributed more than a million dollars to the Penny Pines Reforestation Program. Through these donations, more than 27 million of seedlings have been planted, renewing 88,000 acres of national forest land in California --truly an outstanding achievement. In southern California , contributions may be used to prepare plantation sites for new trees or planting seedlings grown in Forest Service nurseries throughout California . Seedlings are grown from local seeds and acorns, and replanted near the areas where the seeds were collected to improve their chance of survival. The funds may also be used to maintain existing tree stands and improve wildlife habitat. Plantations are important for watershed protection, soil stabilization and shade for recreation areas. Any of these activities may be funded through Penny Pines donations. The Penny Pines Reforestation Program plays a vital role both in renewing the national forests in California , and in multiple-use management. Trees help the ground store precious water, protect against soil erosion, and add to the scenic beauty of the national forests.

A minimum donation of $68.00 may be made to a specific national forest, and even to a specific Ranger District within that national forest. The funds are deposited into a Penny Pines Reforestation account, drawn upon as improvement projects are determined by resource managers. A certificate of appreciation and thank you note is sent to each donor. An initial donation from an organization or individual, or one honoring a deceased person, may also have a memorial plaque installed at a Ranger District Penny Pines Memorial. Your donation to the Penny Pines Project will help bring new life into our National Forests! * From - http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/about/penny-pines.shtml

Donating to the Penny Pines Reforestation Project

1. Make Check payable to: USDA Forest Service in the amount of $68 .00 (or multiples of). Send to the participating California National Forest (See attached information for addresses and locations)
2. Send the completed form (see below) to:
Pat York 1655 Marlesta Road, Pinole 94564-2006
Email: PHYork1932@aol.com (If e-mailing please use similar format as below)
3. Click Here for CGCI Penny Pines Notification Form
4. Click Here for Penny Pines Forest Choice Form to attach to your check to forest

These donations are used to replant burnt or otherwise damaged forests in conjunction with federal funds. A plantation consists of approximately 350 trees on a little less than one acre. Penny Pines is exclusive to California; trees being replanted are replacement trees native to the area, consisting of Cedar, Fir, Redwood, Oak and of course various Pine varieties.

Your donation will be noted in the following issue of Golden Gardens.
Please note the deadlines for Golden Gardens are:
October 1st, December 1st, January 1st, June 1st and August 1st.

PARTICIPATING USDA FOREST SERVICES

Angeles National Forest ------------------------701 N. Santa Anita Ave. Arcadia , CA 91006 ----------------------------------------(626) 574-1613
Cleveland National Forest ----------------------10845 Rancho Bernardo Rd., Rancho Bernardo 92127 -----------------------(619) 673-6180
Eldorado National Forest -----------------------100 Forni Rd., Placerville 95667 ------------------------------------------------------(530) 622-5061
Klamath National Forest ------------------------1312 Fairlane Rd. , Yreka 96097 ------------------------------------------------------(530) 842-6131
L. Tahoe Basin Mgt. Unit ------------------------870 Emerald Bay Rd., S. Lake Tahoe 96150 --------------------------------------(530) 573-2600
Lassen National Forest --------------------------55 South Sacramento St. , Susanville 96130 -------------------------------------(530) 257-2151
Los Padres National Forest ------------------- 6755 Hollister Ave. Suite 150, Goleta 93117 --------------------------------------(805) 968-6640
Mendocino National Forest -------------------- 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows 95988 ----------------------------------------------(530) 934-3316
Plumas National Forest ------------------------- P. O. Box 1500 159, Lawrence St. , Quincy 95971 ------------------------------(530) 283-2050
San B'dino National Forest -------------------- 602 South Tippecanoe Ave, San B'dino 92408 -----------------------------------(909) 382-2600
Sequoia National Forest ----------------------- 1839 South Newcomb ST , Porterville 93257 --------------------------------------(209) 784-1500
Shasta-Trinity Ntl Forest ------------------------ 3644 Avtech Parkway , Redding 96002 ----------------------------------------------(530) 226-2500
Sierra National Forest ----------------------------600 Tollhouses Rd., Clovis 93611 ---------------------------------------------------(209) 297-0706
Stanislaus National Forest ---------------------19777 Greenley Rd. , Sonora 95370 -------------------------------------------------(209) 532-3671
Tahoe National Forest ----------------------------631 Coyote St. , P.O.Box 6003 , Nevada City 95959 ----------------------------(530) 265-4531

USDA Forest Service Regional Office R5
Brenda Kendrix
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94562-1110

For more information, contact
Pat York
1655 Marlesta Road, Pinole 94564-2006
Email: PHYork1932@aol.com

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