If you had to do just ONE thing to be greener you could choose from a myriad of possibilities, you could forego your car, you could choose alternative sources of energy, you could eat lower on the food chain – these are all great ideas that will have significant and lasting impacts. There are many more ideas with varying levels of commitment and impact, but there is one that we often forget about, which is relatively easy to do and is as beneficial as many of the best green actions.
This action will clean the air and water, suck excess carbon out of the atmosphere, reduce cooling costs, provide habitat for animals, and make you feel calmer and healthier, and it can be done in less than an hour. What is this magical thing, you ask? The answer is simple; Plant a tree.
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
A Celebration of Trees
Revist our Imago Ranger’s Celebration of Trees to learn more about why trees are so important. It also includes some activities you and your family can do to celebrate the awesomeness of trees.
When you plant a tree you are not only tapping into the many green benefits that trees can provide, you are engaging in a powerful act that inspires the imagination, and invests in a gift that will benefit people and wildlife far into the future.
“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now”
Now is a great time to plant a tree. It’s spring and it’s Arbor Day. So if you’re ready to plant a tree here’s some things you can do:
- Find your tree: visit local nurseries to find a tree that will work for your space. You can also contact your local extension office as they often have advice for best trees to plant and best places to get them. Extension offices often have young seedlings that they are giving away.
- Plant Natives: Choose to plant natives as they will provide significantly more benefits to wildlife and are better suited to growing in your region. Check out this handy tool to find native plants in your area.
- Plant it right – Pick the right spot and plant it well so it will thrive.
- Take care of your tree – if you picked a native tree, and you planted it well, your tree should need minimal care. Check out this helpful page from the Arbor Day Foundation on picking a spot and some care tips.
- What if you can’t plant a tree now, or if you don’t have a place to plant it? That’s fine, another great time to plant a tree is in the fall. If you don’t have a place to plant a tree, but you still want to participate in the wonderful act of tree-planting, then consider volunteering to plant a tree at a tree planting event or your local nature preserve. Check out the Imago volunteer page for upcoming volunteer days where we’ll surely be planting trees.
Ready?! It’s time to make this one action that will benefit you, your community and your wild neighbors for years to come. Plant a tree, heck, plant several.
