About us
All of us have passions. Things that give us purpose, energy, and hope. Passions lead us on our journey to uncover our “why” in life.
Trees are one of our family’s enduring passions. In 2014, David and Misty Dietz founded Dietz Timberland, LLC, in Minnesota with a two-fold vision: conservation and sustainable forestry.
We aren’t wealthy landowners, and we aren’t planting on public lands that are already protected (ex. national or state forests, wildlife refuges, national parks, etc). We’re an average American family seeking to responsibly steward our forests and do our part to help leave this planet a little better than we found it.
Each spring, our family carries out our conservation values by planting thousands of tree species that are native to the geographic region and soil type, including Minnesota’s majestic and long-lived white pine.
Prior to 2022, all of our lands were working forests. These will soon be protected by permanent conservation easements which allow thoughtful and selective harvesting of a small number of trees to help supply America’s timber needs for housing and other wood products (furniture, flooring, etc).
In 2022, we started TerraTrees for phase two of our conservation goals, which is….
To Expand America’s Forest Footprint
Instead of only planting in areas that are already forested, TerraTrees goes one step further by purchasing degraded land that was once a forest and then we bring that forest back. This increases America’s total forest acreage… or at least helps offset the deforestation caused by urban development in other areas of the nation.
TerraTrees Properties
Quick Fact!
We picked the word “terra” (which is Latin for ‘earth’ or ‘land’) because a large amount of a forest’s stored carbon is in the soil itself. Responsible forest management goes beyond how you care for the trees. It’s also how you care for the land itself. 🌱🌎♥️
Our Three Step Process
Buy degraded land that used to be a forest
Reforest that land with native species
Ensure the forest remains a forest forever
Our Promise
The land we reforest will remain a forest forever through permanent, legal conservation easements. This means that — even if we were to sell our land at some point in the future — the conservation contract stays in place forever — no matter who owns the land.
Our Values
Integrity · Environmental Stewardship · Transparency
Integrity is how you act when no one is watching. It’s how you build trust with others and steward the gifts they share in the pursuit of environmental responsibility. It’s how you honor the land and support its power to nurture and sustain life.
Another aspect of environmental stewardship is immersing children in nature to show them the beauty and interconnectedness of our world and the importance of conservation for the future of our planet. Land stewardship plans are created for all our properties and include suggestions for forest management, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and soil health.
Transparency means pulling the curtain back to show everything from the landowner’s perspective—including how we set our pricing. This pricing details the cost to reforest land. Customers receive the legal description, planting date, and GPS coordinates for the site where the trees are planted. Customers are also welcome to visit our land to see the reforestation projects.
We Have “Skin In The Game” Because This Is A Family Business
We deeply appreciate those who place their trust in us to ensure their contributions are indeed creating a positive impact. There’s a lot of gray area for people and businesses who strive to live out their environmental goals. It can be confusing to know what your money is actually buying. TerraTrees aims to pull the curtain back and bring you along on our family’s journey to expand America’s forest footprint.
David Dietz, Founder
Like many people, I appreciate wild places.
As a child, my family owned a primitive lake property. In the summer of my eleventh year, a large expanse of forest was cleared and wetlands were filled to build a wide paved road next to our camper. While this allowed people to drive faster next to the lake, it felt like a loss.
As the years went by, the lake continued to change. Early on I had all the shoreline I could want to cast for bass and sunfish, paddle a boat, and explore. It was common to see a variety of birds all day and an occasional fox and deer visit the shore for a drink. Today the natural shoreline is completely gone, resulting in murky water and a less desirable swimming experience.
We all have childhood experiences. Mine supports the research that demonstrates how forests keep Minnesota lakes clean, resulting in healthy fish and wildlife, and enjoyable recreation for people.
In our lifetimes, we are rapidly losing nature almost everywhere.
I felt a calling to conserve natural spaces. This passion for land and water stewardship became a side hustle in 2014, and my wife, Misty, and I haven’t looked back. Today, TerraTrees protects and enhances natural landscapes in Minnesota.
Since 2014, we’ve done many conservation projects that include removing asphalt next to a lake, restoring wetlands that now welcome wood ducks, restoring eroded lakeshore to enhance water quality for swimmers to enjoy and wildlife to thrive, removing drain tile causing unfiltered water to pour into a lake, reforesting many acres of land with native tree species, and adding biodiversity to monoculture forests.
To counter the loss of forestland in northern Minnesota, we’re identifying degraded land and bringing nature back with a variety of native species including the majestic white pine. Our efforts result in the development and growth of beneficial ecosystems for wildlife and people and can even add value to important neighboring agricultural lands. To bring it all full circle, we’re protecting our lands with perpetual conservation easements which means our reforestation and biodiversity projects will be enjoyed by future generations.
Join us in our conservation efforts! TerraTrees partners and customers are welcome to see our tree planting sites and other conservation projects.
Misty Dietz, Co-Founder
My husband David and I have passionately nurtured and preserved our forests since 2014. Then in 2023, my professional life altered course when a funeral director introduced us to the memorial forest idea. I immediately envisioned my ashes resting this way, settled among the roots of a tree, a living symbol of strength, resilience, and hope.
Trees - wildlife guardians, air and water purifiers, and natural beauty providers - hold a special place in my heart. Walking in the forest is so grounding and inspiring. Beneath the dappled sunlight of whispering pines, we shed our loud and busy lives, reawakening and becoming more present to the here and now. Touching the textured bark and gazing up at the swaying canopy, we can finally exhale, rest, and tune into the wisdom of the forest.
Among the trees, we can truly be ourselves.
I call this "Vitamin Nature." 💚 This is my why.
Driven by a passion for sharing our forest as a final resting place, I'm committed to offering families a meaningful opportunity to participate in a final act of love. Rather than just observing, family and friends can lay their loved ones to rest in the embrace of nature. There’s something deeply moving and healing about the physicality of placing your loved one’s ashes into the earth.
Even for those unable to be present during the burial, the knowledge that their loved ones live on in this beautiful ecosystem offers profound comfort.
Everyone who is laid to rest here is a conservationist. 💚 Everyone here contributes to more trees planted on degraded land in order to restore lost forests. Trees planted in their name to expand America's forest footprint.
We'll tell you when and where these trees are planted, and we'll give you updates because our team plants those trees ourselves.
Long after I’m gone, THE HAVEN is where my children and grandchildren will visit me and find peace in nature’s timeless renewal. As a writer who has long considered the forest one of my muses, I can’t imagine a better ending to my story.
How will you write your final chapter?
We're Working To Expand America's Forest Footprint
Instead of reseeding areas that are already classified and/or protected as a forest (which is also important), TerraTrees goes one step further by increasing America’s total forest acreage. We purchase degraded land that used to be a forest, but was clear cut for other uses, and then we bring that forest back with native species.
We Plant Trees On Land We Own
Instead of relying on outside organizations to do the plantings somewhere else in the world, we actually own the land on which your trees are planted. We can tell you exactly when and where your trees found their forever home. Our customers get an email of the planting details including date, tree species, GPS coordinates, and pictures of the planting site when the planting is completed (most happen in the spring of the year). We also provide updates (including pictures) of the site planting for years to come. And because we own the land, anyone is welcome to arrange a site visit.
We Take Care Of The Trees Ourselves
One of our core values is land stewardship, which means no walk-away forestry. After the extra large seedlings are in the ground, we give them extra care for four to ten 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. Examples of forest stewardship practices (also called forest management) include bud-capping in the fall, deer-repellent spraying (non-toxic & organic), manual brush control, as well as annual tree nets and fencing. This high level of planning and stewardship ensures that if a tree dies, we will know and replace it. Our blog and newsletters will share site updates.
We Are Fully Transparent About Everything
This website goes into great detail about our entire operation, including the price for our trees, which is broken down, line by line, so you understand how your money is being spent. If there’s something that we haven’t explained, or you can’t find it on our website, please let us know, and thank you because we’ll likely add it to our FAQs!
Permanent Forest Conservation Easements
All our land tracts have (or are in process of having) permanent, legal conservation easements so they can never be developed no matter who owns the land. This means the forest will endure forever.
Let’s Expand America’s Forest Footprint Together
Plant Trees Today