Expanding America's Forest Footprint
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago.
The second best time is now.
We are a family of conservationists who own and manage the land we reforest.
Forests are critical and beautiful ecosystems. They lock carbon out of the atmosphere, clean the air we breathe, improve the water we drink, provide biodiverse habitats, and mitigate climate change.
They can also be a natural alternative to cemeteries, softening the environmental impact of our final act and offering a place of comfort, healing, and hope for our loved ones long after we're gone.
TerraTrees offers three planet-friendly conservation services: to provide a safe and peaceful resting place for cremated remains (THE HAVEN Memorial Forest); to offer green fundraising opportunities for organizations that strive to make a difference; and to enable individuals and businesses the opportunity to plant trees as sympathy or celebration gifts - or to help facilitate their environmental goals. Our extensive forest management programming assures that the trees are taken care of for the first several years to increase survivability.
Plant Trees
Let us help you embody your conservation goals.
How We're Different
We have “skin in the game” because this is a family business.
Our Forest Management Practices
Trees need care. Lots of it.
Let’s expand America’s forest footprint together.
When you purchase tree plantings, engage in a green fundraiser, or choose THE HAVEN Memorial Forest as your final resting place, you are partnering with us to do more than restore existing forests, you’re helping increase America’s total forest acreage. You are a true forest guardian.
Individuals
Whether it’s a single tree or many in a focused climate action plan, you can feel good knowing you’re joining a global family of forest guardians who are making a difference for our planet.
Businesses
Whether you want to recognize employees, demonstrate environmental responsibility, or offset your impact; we can help you champion forest ecosystems in powerful, long-lasting ways.
Memorials
Plant trees to remember a friend, family member, or a pet. It does so much more than honor their memory, it leaves a legacy for generations to come.
Celebrations
Trees are a unique and green way to celebrate birthdays, holidays, retirements, births, graduations, anniversaries, weddings, and any joyful occasion.
THE HAVEN
A memorial forest for the green burial of cremated remains.
THE HAVEN Memorial Forest is a scenic and peaceful resting place to bury cremated remains.
Only 7 miles from Minnesota’s Itasca State Park, THE HAVEN is nestled within a beautiful, 146-acre tract of private land in the Paul Bunyan State Forest. It’s a beautiful, life-affirming ecosystem that’s healing and joyful to visit.
Featured Trees
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn How it Works!
Is this a charity?
TerraTrees is a for-profit entity because it’s the most expedient way we can acquire land to reforest for conservation and sustainable forestry. As noted on our reforestation cost sheet, our profit is $1 per tree after land acquisition costs, reforestation costs, and operating expenses.
Can you plant trees for $1?
We wish we could! However, we’re different in many ways from most tree-planting organizations. We don’t plant mangroves overseas, and we aren’t planting trees in national parks or other land that is already protected and paid for by outside entities (for example, the US Forest Service). What we’re doing is purchasing degraded land and bringing the forest back to increase the total forest footprint in America. We also compensate our experienced tree planters and tree tenders (here in the US) competitively. If we receive federal and/or state funding, the tree planting price is reduced by the same amount.
Lastly, we practice no walk-away forestry. We personally manage all our plantings year after year via documented forest management plans to ensure tree survivability and increase species diversity.
Different tree-planting organizations fill different niches. That’s a good thing. But what we’re doing is a different process because our goal is to grow America’s forest footprint instead of planting in pre-existing forests or protected areas. We aim to be very hands-on in the trees’ life cycle.
Can I gift trees to someone else?
Absolutely! In today’s material world where many gifts end up in landfills, the gift of tree planting lives on for generations and provides many environmental benefits including improved water quality, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, and clean air.
Can I help plant trees?
Probably. We pay experienced planting crews, but if you share our passion and want to get some fresh air and dirty hands, please contact us as far in advance as possible. We will pay you and provide proper training.
Can I pick the type of tree or select the location?
It is not possible to pick the type of tree because our professional foresters assist with these decisions based on soil type and biodiversity needs which are unique to each land parcel. Tree planting location is determined by where we’re able to purchase degraded land that is ideal for reforesting back to a natural ecosystem.
What is your tree survival rate?
Our tree plantings are rigorously monitored for success. We replant as necessary to fulfill this guarantee. Customers are provided photos for multiple years after the planting. Customers are also welcome to visit our lands to see and experience the trees.
When are the trees planted and how will I know?
Most trees are planted in late April or early May. Customers will receive a notification by email when the planting is complete. Details will include the state, county, township, county parcel ID, legal description, GPS coordinates, and pictures.
Where are the trees planted?
TerraTrees’ sister company Dietz Timberland, LLC, owns both forested land as well as degraded land where the forest was previously removed. Currently, we own seven properties in Minnesota and are working to reforest and diversify these areas.
What tree species do you plant?
Our family plants trees that are native to the soil and geographic region based on the guidance of our professional foresters. Examples include white pine, red pine, jack pine, red maple, sugar maple, birch, white spruce, white cedar, balsam fir, northern red oak, bur oak, basswood, and tamarack.
How are the land and trees managed to ensure they survive and thrive?
One of our core values is land stewardship, which means no walk-away forestry. After the extra large seedlings are in the ground, we look after them for years to ensure they have the best chance of survival. Different species have different needs, but our formal forest stewardship plans detail all of this. The most intensive care-taking phase is the seedlings’ first 7-8 years. Examples of forest stewardship practices (also called forest management) include bud-capping in the fall, deer-repellent spraying (non-toxic & organic), manual brush control, annual netting protection, tube protections, and fencing. This high level of planning and stewardship ensures that if a newly planted tree isn't thriving, it's replaced.
For more information, please check out Our Forest Management Practices page.
Do you participate in carbon offset programs?
Not at this time. We continue to carefully explore the effectiveness of these programs.
