What Could Be More Biofriendly Than Planting a Tree?

Image by Vijay / Creative Commons

Since 1872 people have been celebrating the “tree-planting holiday” known as Arbor Day. This year, National Arbor Day falls on Friday April 27th. While Arbor Day is a creative way for people and groups to get together and plant lots of trees, in reality, any day is a great day to plant a tree. I mean what could be more biofriendly than planting a tree?

Did you know it is estimated that more than a million trees were planted on the first Arbor Day, 140 years ago? The value, not to mention the beauty, of trees has been broadly recognized for generations and generations. That is why there is no question as to the numerous benefits trees have to both our personal well-being and to that of the world around us. They remove CO2, they produce oxygen, they can help keep an area cool and provide shelter and homes for wildlife, some can produce food and much more.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung / Creative Commons

I think George Orwell had it right when he said:

“The planting of a tree, especially one of the long-living hardwood trees, is a gift which you can make to posterity at almost no cost and with almost no trouble, and if the tree takes root it will far outlive the visible effect of any of your other actions, good or evil.”

Martin Luther made clear the value of trees when he said:

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”

Even Franklin D. Roosevelt had a clear view on the importance of forests and trees:

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”

That is why on this Arbor Day I urge you to join the Arbor Day Foundation in helping to replant our national forests.

If you would rather celebrate Arbor Day in a more personal manner, you can do any number of biofriendly things such as: taking the time to learn more about the different kinds of trees around your home, going for a nature walk and enjoying the beauty of the trees, or planting a tree of your own.

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” – Proverb