The tree that keeps on giving

The birch tree in Hubert Nett’s yard in Cedar Grove is long gone, but its memory lives on.

Nett, who taught science for 33 years at Cedar Grove-Belgium High School a stone’s throw from his home, published a 48-page children’s book about his favorite deciduous hardwood called “The Joy of Being Adopted.”

Nett has published magazine articles on nature before and has long wanted to write a book. One morning he sat down and got about 90% of it completed.

What made it more special is his granddaughter Julia Tipple, a sophomore at Sheboygan North, did the artwork.

Their collaboration process had Tipple sending Nett drawings and him critiquing them.

“I thought it would just be a couple of pages and the cover,” Tipple said. “I’ve got at least three books filled of drafts.”

Nett said the art was important.

“I think she has made the book much more marketable,” he said.

He remembers holding the book for the first time after it was published.

“It’s awesome. To accomplish something that after many years of thinking about it is something,” he said.

“It didn’t feel real,” Tipple said.

Nett used his longtime editor to peruse his copy. His wife Diana used to read his college papers. The two have been married for 60 years.

“To me, it’s a family accomplishment,” Nett said of publishing the book.

Nett hosted a reading with his eight children a couple of weeks ago.

The tree came from Harrington Beach State Park in the early 1970s and was slated to be destroyed  to make way for a walking path before the family saved it.

“I had an attachment to that tree way back when,” Nett said.

Photos of family milestones were taken in front of the tree, and the family made sure to take care of it. During an ice storm in 1976, Nett had his barbecue cooker under it to melt the ice and prevent the birch from falling over.

When the tree was cut down, it still benefitted the family.

“It not only provided us with enjoyment when it was alive but the wood gave us warmth during the winter too,” Nett said.

While the tree is the focus, the two main messages parallel the needs of a child being adopted. Plants, like people, can have their unique needs be met through adoption, and animals and plants have the capability to love and be loved.

“It’s how each person is special as a tree is special,” Nett said.

Nett is working on a second book about an animal.

“Julia’s going to have her hands full on this,” he said.