Landed and Planted – a loblolly pine tree seedling that took a trip around the moon on the Artemis I mission found its new home at the UF IFAS Clay County Extension Office in Green Cove Springs, Florida. The Clay County 4-H program, the Leaftastics 4-H club, and UF/IFAS Extension Clay County team planted an Artemis Moon Tree Seedling that flew more than 270,000 miles from Earth around the Moon. The Artemis Moon Tree Seedling joins the Apollo 14 Moon Tree planted just 30 minutes south in Keystone Heights, Florida, to become one of a handful of Florida counties to have two Moon Trees in their backyard.
4-H youth, a part of Leaftastics club, spent the morning of August 22 helping to plant the seedling. Dr. Wayne Hobbs, Environmental Horticulture agent, and Amy Morie, the Leaftastics Club Leader & Landscape Architect, talked to the youth about various topics. Planting techniques, the importance of a seedling’s root system, the use of water bags, and measuring the seedling’s trunk diameter and tree height were all part of the lesson.
When asked about what the youths’ favorite parts about the planting experience was, Autumn, one of the Leaftastics 4-H members, shared “I liked being able to touch the tree!”
It’s excitement like Autumn’s and her fellow Leaftastics 4-H members that inspired Elaine Giles Simfukwe’s, Clay County 4-H STEM agent, to pursue an application with NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement and NASA’s Artifact Module to receive an Artemis Moon Tree Seedling. The #moontrees program partnership is between NASA, the USDA Forest Service, and NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement.
“I had heard about an opportunity to apply for a moon tree seedling from a workshop at the National Science Teaching Association in 2023.” Simfukwe shared. “I thought – we have an Apollo 14 Moon Tree already; it would be cool to educate our youth and our local community about both moon trees and how they are helping to inform our future with space travel?”
The Apollo 14 Moon Tree in Keystone Heights served as another inspiration to pursue an application for an Artemis Moon Tree Seedling. The tree is an American Sycamore that was aboard the Apollo 14 mission on January 31, 1971. Local nursery owner Bob Byrnes acquired the seed/tree from the University of Florida and had it dedicated in its current location adjacent of the Keystone Heights Library in 1984. The Apollo 14 Moon Tree in Keystone Heights is one of about 100 accounted for in the United States.
After the publication of the initial story, Simfukwe learned about a third Moon Tree that was planted in Clay County. Orange Park Elementary School was also awarded an Artemis Moon Tree Seedling that was planted at the school in June. Now with three Moon Trees in Clay County, Simfukwe and Orange Park Elementary School have been discussing opportunities to expand Moon Tree education for all three Moon Trees in Clay County. One of the immediate goals is to host a citizen science workshop about the moon trees that will have youth record tree height and trunk diameter. Youth will submit their findings to the GLOBE observer app. Citizen data input into this app help researchers with important current projects. With Moon Trees specifically, researchers are looking at how these trees are helping to balance Earth’s carbon budget. To be entered into the GLOBE Observer App, a tree should be a minimum of 5 meters, or a little over 16 feet ,high. Right now, the Artemis Moon Tree seedling at the UF IFAS Extension Clay County Extension Office stands at a proud 30 inches.
The Leaftastics 4-H Club will monitor the tree as part of their clubs’ project and measuring its heights regularly. Youth who are interested in learning more about planting, gardening, and horticulture are invited to join the Leaftastics 4-H Club. 4-H Online Club Enrollment opens on September 3 at noon.
With NASA’s emphasis on inspiring the next generation about space exploration, Simfukwe hopes that science programs like these encourage youth to critically think about their roles as citizens and how they can be a part of solving agricultural and human challenges when it comes to living on the Moon and beyond. Clay County 4-H and the University of Florida IFAS have already engaged in similar initiatives such as having a Clay County 4-H youth sending the first 4-H science experiment up to space abroad SpaceXCRS-27, UF Space Plants Lab, and so much more.
Author’s note: This story has been updated on September 10, 2024, with new information about the third Moon Tree in Clay County that is planted at Orange Park Elementary School.
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