PropagationNation’s mission is to propagate and grow millions of coast redwoods and giant sequoias in the Northwest.

If you’ve been reading our site, you know that we’ve made some progress toward this mission. But while planting 1,000 trees a year is a great start, it’s just that: a start. And to make the difference we want to make, we need to get to that million-plus number.

That means ramping things up by a factor of 10—multiplying from 1,000 to 10,000. Then from 10,000 to 100,000. And finally from 100,000 to 1 million.

But is planting 1 million redwoods and sequoias a year realistic? Is it even possible? You might be surprised to learn that 90 million trees are planted every year in the Pacific Northwest (I certainly was surprised at that number). And if redwoods and sequoias can fight climate change for hundreds if not thousands of years, shouldn’t they be at least 1% of the seedlings that are planted every year?

The planet can’t afford to wait, so neither can we. It’s time to go BIG or go home (if we want to have a home left, that is).

On our way to a million

The first step was taken on Nov. 8, 2022: PRT Growing Services in Cottage Grove, Oregon agreed to grow 10,000 redwood and 2,500 sequoia trees for PropagationNation.  The seeds will be sown in February 2023 to grow seedlings for the 2023-24 season. (The PRT redwood seedlings shown here are from 2019.)

When can these seedlings be planted?

For those who have cleared land and want to plant 100 or more trees, they will be ready to be planted as early as winter 2023-2024. Those who want to plant just a few trees on their private land or in a city park will need to wait a bit longer: The trees for those locations must grow out for a year or more before planting, so they are studier and have stronger root systems.

Who can plant these seedlings?

We will consider public and private landowners across the Northwest who have an interest in providing a good home to these trees—which means planting them in places where they can thrive for a lifetime and provide diversity for Northwest forests. If you or someone you know fits that description, get in touch! We’ll add your name to the list of recipient candidates for these trees.

Sign up for the 10,000 tree project

What’s next?

After we find homes for 12,500 seedlings in 2023-2024, our plan is to keep scaling up until we hit our goal of 1 million. Is it a dream? Of course it is—but we’re taking action toward it. I challenge you to dream with us, and then take action, too. Help us find homes for these 12,500 magnificent big trees and then help us pay it forward to raise the money to grow another 100,000. Join our community of action.

Together, we can do more than move mountains—we can raise beautiful forests, too.