Belknap Landscape Company Earth Day Youth Environmental Education Initiatives...

Earth Week, 2010: Wow, what a week of community service! Belknap Landscape Company (BLC) conducted three separate community service projects during Earth Week in conjunction with "PLANET" Day Of Service. PLANET is the Professional Landcare Network, an international association serving landcare companies and landscape design-build professionals. By participating in PLANET Day of Service, BLC and industry professionals throughout the nation will unite to demonstrate environmental stewardship by giving back to their communities. More info at: http://planetdayofservice.org/home/index.php  Belknap Landscape was the only New Hampshire company registered for this nationwide effort.



BLC contributed the use of a sky crane and operator for the Squam Lakes Association's construction of a new a post & beam structure Youth Activity Barn. the structure, in Holderness, NH is constructed from donated raw timber, milled on site to spec. Drive up Route 3 out of Meredith to see their progress! To see more pictures of the barn raising, check us out on Facebook, and then please follow us!

Meanwhile, BLC staff provided tools, equipment, materials and guidance for Laconia High School students use in dressing up 3 large, neglected flower beds at the entrance to the campus early Earth Day morning in Laconia, NH.

Jerry O'Donnell, BLC Construction Mgr, far left, coordinated tools, equipment & trucks to dress out neglected landscaping in front of Laconia High School on Earth Day, 2010. Amy Burke, Youth Specialist and her LHS Chapter of NH Jobs for America's Graduates (NH-JAG) volunteered to help.

JAG class members, left to right: Niccolette Chalifour, DeAnn LaPointe, Daniel Irving, Cassie Plummer, Amy Burke (Youth Specialist), Tanya Hicks and Carrie Farrenkopf with her trusty rake. Thomas Sterns, BLC Arborist is in the yellow vest and Steven Beals, LHS Principal is on the far right.

Earth Day efforts continued and Belknap Landscape, led by Owner Hayden McLaughlin, kept giving more environmental education! That afternoon after school, with the assistance of the Gilford High School Environmental Club members, students learned to cultivate the root system and then plant an American Elm dubbed the "Liberty Tree" at the Gilford Fire Station. The dedication of this tree is set for April 30th, Arbor Day.

In the picture, left to right are: Mark Smith, BLC Project Manager, Dale Squires, BLC Marketing Manager, students Christine Drever, Paige Martinez, Roland Dubois, Karen Clark, then Hayden McLaughlin, BLC Owner and Denny Willgoose. Other Gilford High participants not pictured are: Sarah Anderson, Bethany Clarke, Brandon Currier, teachers Katrina Brooks and Marilyn Salagaj, along with Polly Rohan, who was instrumental in coordinating this event.

The root cultivation process is accomplished with a compressed air powered landscaper's 'Air Spade'. BLC is one of the only Lakes Region landcare companies to make such an investment to insure long-term, healthy tree plantings. Such a tool removes compacted soils from the roots, exposes shattered and decaying roots (from previous digging) and allows arborists to trim roots forced to girdle the root ball when contained in the wire cage and burlap bag.

These are examples of the ongoing Belknap Landscape commitment to environmental education for Lakes Region youth!