Longtime Hampton resident and Carlson Tree Farm founder Denny Carlson was recently honored for 10 years of service on the Iowa State Soil Conservation & Water Quality Committee, where he represented forestry at the state level.
The nine-member advisory committee provides input on conservation programs across Iowa. Carlson tells RadioOnTheGo News he helped guide discussions on soil health, water quality, reforestation and tree diversity; key issues facing Iowa’s environment.
“We were kind of a committee that was a public input on how is it going and what should be going on. And with the big emphasis now on water quality and grants and soil conservation, we were there to give input into is it working, what can we do, what’s going on. And I was on that and I enjoyed it because you meet such a variety of people and oftentimes we think about the only important thing is the thing we know and we forget about all the things that make up our environment and the things that deal with environmental quality. And so part of that is just the history of ‘how do we understand what we’ve done and how do we correct it and how do we move forward in a positive way?'”
He worked alongside representatives from agriculture, urban conservation, and even mining, learning about the lasting effects of coal mining on Iowa’s landscape.
Carlson also helped advocate for tree planting programs that prepare for Iowa’s future.
“You know, Derechos and then the emerald ash borer, which is killing all our ash trees, and the extremes in weather, anything from wind or hail, thinking about how should we plan for the future? You know, we had elm trees and they all died and the ash trees, you know, we get diseases and so how do we encourage people to keep planting, but planting in a way that we don’t put ourselves in the same scenario again? Oftentimes people say, ‘well, I want a tree with no seeds’ or ‘it’s not messy,’ and we have to start expanding on that. Trees have seeds and if people say, ‘I like maples.’ Well, they’re finding that maples have some issues now, so we don’t want to be planting all maples. And that’s why we encourage people to think about different ones, anything from Northern Pecan to Kentucky coffee trees. Think in a broader perspective to help prevent some of those scenarios again.”
Recognized during a statewide conservation conference, Carlson’s term may have ended, but his commitment to community involvement hasn’t.
“Often times people think, oh I’m 65 or whatever, I’m retiring. You know, my philosophy is now you get to pick what you want to do and pick the things that you enjoy. Whether it’s working on a tree farm or being on a school board or working at the library, there are so many ways that you can be involved and be a part of the community and make the community a better place. So don’t just say, ‘I’m done working, I’m going to give up.'”
Carlson continues to promote conservation and environmental education through his work and encourages others to stay involved in shaping Iowa’s future.
Pictured is Denny with his wife Cathy
