Over 500 million trees planted around businesses, homes, and farms across Manitoba and Western Canada owe their existence to the Tree Planting Car and its staff.
Operated between 1920 and 1973, this modified railway car criss-crossed the prairies, educating children and adults on the virtues of planting trees. Over its 53 years of operation, the Tree Planting Car travelled over 424,000 kilometres and was visited by more than 1.5 million people.
This 175-page book, an updated edition published in 2023 by Dianne Beaven, former executive Director of the Manitoba Forestry Association, tells the story of the Tree Planting Car from the perspective of her father, Alan Beaven. He had travelled with the Car for much of its history.
With a combination of personal reflections, historical reporting, and archival photographs, Beaven tells the story of this remarkable program that fundamentally changed the landscape for the better and resulted in environmental effects from which we all benefit today.
After its retirement, the Tree Planting Car spent most of its time at the Forest Discovery Centre in Sandilands. In 2022, it was moved to the Manitoba Agricultural Museum in Austin and is awaiting restoration so that it can continue to tell its story.
The book is priced at $27.99, which includes taxes and shipping to anywhere in Canada. All proceeds from this sale will be donated to the Manitoba Agricultural Museum for the restoration of the Car.
For more information, check out this Manitoba Historical Society video about the tree planting car!