National Stewardship Week, a device of the National Association of Conservation Districts, ended in Greensburg this week as the team from the Decatur County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) handed out free trees.

The parking lot at the Decatur County Family YMCA was filled with families hoping to score at least one of the trees for their own lawns. With more than 1,000 trees to give away and a bucket of water to keep their hands clean, the crew stayed busy, dishing out the tiny trees in one of five varieties: red oak, white oak, walnut, tulip and bald cypress. Early in the day, there were even some dogwood trees available that were left over from a Toyota tree giveaway in Columbus. When the SWCD opened shop at 10 a.m., cars were lined up from the parking lot to the road, SWCD chairman Roger Wenning said.

Once the customer’s selection was made, the trees were bagged up and handed over. SWCD coordinator Jenna Peck helped the patrons with instructions on how to plant the trees and how to maintain them. She also worked with kids, assisting them in learning how to plant their own little flowers. Coloring books and other activities sheets were passed out as well.

Wenning explained that planting a tree would be something good for a family to do together, creating a memory that they could later share.

Not all of the trees obtained by the SWCD were given out at the Saturday event. Peck said that there were some left over, and encouraged anyone interested in obtaining a free tree to stop by the office. The SWCD is located at 1333 N. Liberty Circle East, Greensburg.