Trees Ontario Green Leader creates a Healthy Backyard Oasis

October 20, 2011 – Cedar Springs, ON – Theo Van Asten, a retired broiler chicken farmer, has been named as a Trees Ontario Green Leader for his dedication to tree planting.

The Trees Ontario Green Leader Program recognizes landowners who have worked with our partners to take part in the Ontario government’s 50 Million Tree Program, which will see 50 million trees planted in southern Ontario by 2020. While Trees Ontario appreciates all the landowners who take part in our programs, these individuals are local stewardship ambassadors, engaged with the environment and are supportive of our tree planting efforts.

Theo Van Asten (left) and Randall Van Wagner (right)

“Theo is a very dedicated landowner who has invested a serious amount of time and money into his 22 acre site,” said Randall Van Wagner, BSc, Environmental Project Coordinator at the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA), who nominated Theo for the designation.

“I work with many landowners every year but Theo is very dedicated to the project, as his wife can probably attest to. He is out there every day doing something, whether it’s weeding, pruning, labeling or adding new trees.”

Trees Ontario recently visited Theo at his Cedar Springs, Ontario property as he labeled some new trees with Randall.

Originally from Holland, Theo immigrated to Canada in 1970 with his family where he settled down near Rodney to farm. Theo grew up taking care of lands and livestock. His affinity for trees came naturally, “Maybe I inherited it from my dad. He was always planting trees and talking about trees.”

In 2008, Theo and his wife Lia moved to Cedar Springs and in 2009, they bought the land behind the property. Previously, the land was used as a ballpark and a gravel pit, a stark contrast to the scene now.

“This was almost a dump, ” explains Theo. “I bought this property because they were talking about making it a wrecking yard. It would upset me every morning to look out the window here to see cars. I think this looks a lot better and in the long run I think it’s good for the environment and for the future.”

Theo contacted the LTVCA, who assessed the soil and land type and discussed the landowners’ objectives. The LTVCA then contacted Trees Ontario and co-ordinated the tree order. Upon delivery of the trees, the Authority also helped to plant the trees and followed up with site visits. The process was “very straightforward, easy and helpful,” according to Theo.

The 22 acre property features a few acres of ponds, four acres of wetland and the remainder consists of trees.

They began planting trees in the spring of 2009 and planted an additional acre in 2010. In total, it’s estimated that 10,000 trees and 10 species of native trees have been planted.

They also created a gentle slope behind the house and planted flowers. According to Theo’s estimate, they planted approximately 60,000 bulbs.

“It’s gardening on a huge scale,” adds Randall. “It’s amazing in the spring, he has planted all these daffodils and tulips and created all these flower beds and it looks pretty awesome.”

“Randall and his colleagues did a lot of work and they knew what to plant and know what is native to the area. We planted all basically native trees, though I have collected different species since then and planted them,” said Theo.

“This is what I mean, he never stops. Every two weeks there’s something new coming in,” Randall joked. “Some people think that when you plant trees, you plant them and that’s the end of it. But to get success like this – some of these trees are 6 feet tall and it’s only been two years – it’s the ongoing maintenance that makes the difference.”

Theo is no stranger to tree planting. Twenty years ago, on his farm in the Rodney area, he worked with the Conservation Authority to plant trees.

“The trees are 30 feet tall now. I like to go there for a walk in the winter if the snow isn’t too deep, there’s a lot of wildlife out there,” Theo says. “Last winter, I counted 25 deer out there.”

His encounters with wildlife have varied from snakes, toads, and rabbits to herons, geese, and ducks.

“We are living quite close to nature,” explains Theo.

Theo credits his neighbours and his wife for helping him at the property. “My wife is a city girl, she is originally from Amsterdam, but she has been a very big help,” Theo adds.  “She loves it too and I think it keeps us healthy and keeps us going.”

In Chatham-Kent, the LTVCA plants on average 75,000 to 80,000 trees, which represents 5% tree cover for the area.

“He is the perfect landowner in terms of involvement but his neighbour has also planted close to 10 acres. Generally, it’s the hobby farmers who participate in the project. They are doing it for their own pleasure,” said Randall. “Farmers plant a lot of windbreaks as well.”

“That’s done largely because of the positive effect on the farm operation,” adds Theo. “It makes sense to have trees around the place.”

“There’s something to be said about strategically placing trees, there’s definite benefits for utilities. There are ways to use trees to save money,” adds Randall.

“We see the results everyday, in the end we look out and you can see your own accomplishments,” says Theo. “We are enjoying it very much and are very happy about it. It looks like paradise here.”

“It’s all done for the next generation because I am going to be 75 in two weeks, so I won’t live to harvest those trees,” says Theo. “There is a Dutch saying for this, ‘When the trees are matured, the planter is gone.’ And that’s the truth.”