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Students learn proper tree planting procedures from Mark Pingenot.

For several months, in 2010 and 2011, the Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School students debated whether or not to cut down the walnut trees in front of the school.

The students formed groups to study the issue, comparing the safety factors (the principal twisted her ankle when she stepped on a walnut), the benefit of selling the trees, and the possibility of planting new trees.

Eventually, they decided to keep most of the walnut trees, and plant a few others.

But the July 11, 2011, storm changed those plans by damaging or destroying most of those walnut trees.

"At least they had a plan," said Trees Forever specialist Mark Pingenot, who worked with the Iowa DNR and Alliant Energy on funding for a tree planting at the middle school and Tilford elementary school on Monday afternoon.

The DNR has programs called "Trees for Kids" and "Trees for Teens." which provide funding for such programs.

The students learned from Pingenot how to properly plant trees by roughing up the root system and planting the seedlings at the proper depth.

Dozens of students formed groups to plant trees in the VSMS lawn, while many more elementary students planted several in front of the Tilford building.


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