About 25 years ago George and Betty Darrell aquired rural property in and around Apple Canyon Lake, Illinois. George built 35 blue bird houses that are side opening and mounted on 2" pvc pipe over steel posts. Betty monitors each house every week during the reproductive season of the blue birds.
George created a tree nursery where he maintains about 400 seedlings grown from seed or dug from the local area. He grows walnut, oak, maple, linden, catalpa, and locust. They are all plentiful. Beginning about the same time he began planting trees in treeless areas along the many roads at Apple Canyon Lake, on his 50 acre home site and nearby. To date, he has planted nearly 4000 trees, some are now 6 feet to 30 feet tall. Each year George prunes the trees and replaces those lost to animals, snow mobiles, grass cutters, ect. 
Both in their late 70's, George and Betty find this activity provides them access to new friends and is better excercise than riding a machine. It is all simply a part of their love of nature.
Here are some of the trees George has planted.
We honor you for your care of the Earth. The Darrells are awarded with a free 5 night, 6 day stay at Future Forests Cottage in Hawaii, and a tour of a native Hawaiian forest.
