Members of the Bainbridge State College Social Science Club “made a date” with Mother Nature by planting a dozen Medjool date seedlings in honor of this year’s Arbor Day.
Students planted the young seedlings in the wilderness area surrounding the College’s main campus in Bainbridge to help make up for the loss of animal habitat caused by expansion of the campus.
“The college’s administration is fully committed to saving every tree possible, but the expansion of the campus has inevitably led to the loss of some natural habitat,” said club faculty sponsor Dr. John Vanzo. “By planting a variety of dates, wild persimmons and acorn-bearing oaks, we can increase the food productivity of the area for animals, despite the reduced acreage.”
Medjool dates have been cultivated for thousands of years and were once reserved only for the tables of royalty. Today, the dark red fruit is highly prized for its moist texture and very sweet taste. The seedlings were planted in honor of Arbor Day, a national holiday celebrated on the last Friday in April ever since its inception in 1872.