Environmental efforts by 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. subsidiary have resulted in donation of 650,000 tree seedlings and counting
Plow & Hearth, a source of innovative products for the hearth, home, yard and garden and a subsidiary of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., is marking Earth Day 2009 (April 22) by closing in on three quarters of a million seedlings donated as part of its Campaign to Reforest Americasm. The campaign is a yearlong effort to provide one million new seedlings for planting in forests across the United States.
Plow & Hearth launched the campaign last September in collaboration with the National Forest Foundation and the Company donates one tree seedling to the Foundation for every order a customer places. Also part of Plow & Hearth’s environmental commitment is its “Planting Two for One®” heritage program. Through this program, which began in 1991, the Company donates two seedlings for every tree used to create Plow & Hearth catalogs. To date, Plow & Hearth has been responsible for the reforestation of more than 1.5 million trees in its home state of Virginia.
With a donation pace of more than 20,000 seedlings a week since the introduction of the Campaign to Reforest America, coupled with Plow & Hearth’s heritage program, the Company has already surpassed the 650,000 seedling milestone. “We join with many others on Earth Day to raise awareness of how important it is to care for and protect the earth,” said Plow & Hearth president Tim Hopkins. “Donating seedlings to be planted is an active way to help provide habitats for wildlife, prevent soil erosion and cool the planet.”
The Campaign to Reforest America aims to restore three U.S. national forests that have lost trees to wildfire or the effects of modern civilization:
The Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan comprises almost one million acres across the lower peninsula of Michigan where jack pines provide the primary nesting habitat for the Kirtland’s warbler. These tiny birds have very specific habitat needs, nesting on the ground under the living branches of jack pine trees. Nesting continues until the trees are too tall to have new branches on the ground. Modern fire suppression techniques have prevented the removal of older trees and the release of seeds from pine cones that spur the growth of young forests.
The Ocala National Forest in Florida is primarily made up of Longleaf Pines that once dominated America’s southern landscape, but today make up less than 5% of the vast range. Longleaf pine forests are rich in biodiversity and are home to white-tailed deer, fox, squirrels, bobwhite and wild turkeys. Due to the trees’ significant decline, more than 30 plant and animal species dependant on these forests are threatened or endangered.
The San Bernardino National Forest in California was created in 1907 to protect natural resources from the detrimental effects of logging, development and grazing that began taking a toll when gold was discovered in 1855. In September, 2007 lightning struck and burned in the area for six days, consuming more than 14,600 acres and deforesting nearly 80% of the land. More than 8,000 acres must be replanted with seedlings now to regenerate the native forest.
In addition to its environmentally conscious programs, Plow & Hearth also offers practical, eco-friendly products for composting and pest control, energy-saving insulated curtains and fatwood made from pine stump waste and more.
To learn more about the Campaign to Reforest America, visit www.plowandhearth.com/trees
About Plow & Hearth
Madison, Virginia-based Plow & Hearth® began as a small retail store in Madison in 1980 and has grown to become a respected national catalog, retail and Internet company with more than 5 million customers. For more than 29 years, the company has been a trusted source of unique, enduring products for the hearth, home, yard and garden, helping customers create an environment that is comfortable and welcoming, warm and personal. As part of their product development initiative, Plow & Hearth works with artisans and manufacturers around the world to develop innovative products created from uncommon materials and crafted by hand. Special consideration is given to those products made with environmentally friendly materials as well as products that will encourage customers to be more environmentally responsible, such as composting products and energy savers. Every item sold is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The Plow & Hearth Family of Brands also includes quality toys from HearthSong® and Magic Cabin®, and weather instruments from Wind & Weather®. Plow & Hearth is a subsidiary of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS).
About 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.
1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is the world’s leading florist and a provider of specialty gifts for all occasions. For more than 30 years, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. has been providing customers with fresh flowers and the finest selection of plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections, balloons and plush stuffed animals perfect for every occasion. 1-800-FLOWERS® (1-800-356-9377 or www.1800flowers.com) is one of the top 50 online retailers by Internet Retailer, as well as 2008 Laureate Honoree by the Computerworld Honors Program and the recipient of ICMI’s 2006 Global Call Center of the Year Award, offers the best of both worlds: exquisite arrangements created by some of the nation’s top floral artists and hand-delivered the same day, and spectacular flowers shipped overnight “Fresh From Our Growers®.” As always, 100% satisfaction is guaranteed. The Company’s BloomNet® (www.mybloomnet.net) international floral wire service provides a broad range of quality products and value-added services designed to help professional florists grow their businesses profitably. The 1-800-FLOWERS.COM “Gift Shop” also includes gourmet gifts such as popcorn and specialty treats from The Popcorn Factory® (1-800-541-2676 or www.thepopcornfactory.com); exceptional cookies and baked gifts from Cheryl&Co. ® (1-800-443-8124 or www.cherylandco.com); premium chocolates and confections from Fannie May® confections brands (www.fanniemay.com and www.harrylondon.com); gourmet foods from Greatfood.com® (www.greatfood.com); wine gifts from Ambrosia® (www.ambrosia.com); gift baskets from 1-800-BASKETS.COM® (www.1800baskets.com) and DesignPac as well as Home Decor and Children’s Gifts from Plow & Hearth® (1-800-627-1712 or www.plowandhearth.com), Wind & Weather® (www.windandweather.com), HearthSong® (www.hearthsong.com) and Magic Cabin® (www.magiccabin.com). 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is involved in a broad range of corporate social responsibility initiatives including continuous expansion and enhancement of its environmentally-friendly “green” programs, various philanthropic and charitable efforts and special private-sector skills training programs for military veterans. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under ticker symbol FLWS.
Contacts:
For Plow & Hearth:
Erin Maestas, 516-237-4867
Manager,
Public Relations
emaestas@1800flowers.com
