The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is NOW!
I came across this phrase recently on tree planting reminding me of this other poem fragment.
Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias. Say that your main crop is the forest that you did not plant, that you will not live to harvest. -Wendell Berry
I was all of 6 years old on that first Earth Day 1970 and was likely more concerned with whether I’d be able to watch Batman rather than having an awareness of anything environmental.
Genesis 1:1,9-10
Isaiah 42:5
Hebrews 11:3
Colossians 1:16
At some point during that Spring of 1970 I brought home a tree seeding growing in a milk container from my kindergarten class. I don’t know whether this project was inspired from events around this first Earth Day nor do I remember whether we planted the seeds in the cartons. All that I’m certain of is that we were soon to move and I wanted to take my tree to our new home so I could watch it grow.
My new school repeated the project the following year. This time I do recall planting the seeds and watching all of our milk cartons full of dirt each morning in anticipation of a new trees.
Yesterday I “traveled” to that childhood home where the trees were planted…trees that I haven’t seen in 45 years. Here they are flanking each side of the parked cars. Unfortunately this was the best angle I was able to get from Google maps.
What are the sequoias we can be planting now for those who follow us? We are certainly living through a time of great unrest and uncertainty with many out of work and loss of cherished small businesses.
What ‘seeds’ can we be planting now and what ‘trees’ can we be nourishing to bring forth that sustainable future?