“Karen Holland lives on five acres on top of a hill on McAlister Road in the heart of Bastrop County\u2019s pine forest.<\/p>\n
However, when two devastating wildfires swept through Bastrop County in 2011 and 2015, both fires destroyed her home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had no trees left,\u201d she said. \u201cThe wind just goes right past us. The trees gave us shelter so that we’re not blown away so much.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Four the past four years, Holland has been receiving loblolly pine trees to replant her home as part of a county-wide effort to restore Bastrop County\u2019s iconic Lost Pines forest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
On Saturday, January 12, property owners lined up to receive free loblolly pine seedlings from TreeFolks, a central Texas nonprofit forestry organization. TreeFolks gave away bundles of 20 trees to each person who wanted them for a total of 5,000 young loblolly pines. During last year\u2019s tree giveaway, TreeFolks gave away 3,000 trees in Bastrop County.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n