Earlier this week, people from all corners of the puerile world celebrated Earth Day. Today is another eco-friendly day. Yes, it is the last Friday in April and that means one thing: Arbor Day!
Arbor Day’s mission is a simple yet ambitious one: to celebrate trees, particularly by planting and nurturing them. Founded in 1972 to honor the centennial of the first observance in the 19th century, Arbor Day has been going strong ever since. Some of their many programs include Tree City USA, Tree Line USA and Tree Campus USA. Tree City USA, in particular, is a very exciting program.
Tree City USA is a grassroots program encouraging green communities around the U.S., by setting standards that any community can follow. The community must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observation and proclamation. While these seem like easy enough standards to meet, many communities do not even bother to try to meet them. Unfortunately, there are many in the country who fail to recognize the importance of trees or the ways they can drastically improve a community. Every community in America should be a Tree City.
Are you living in a community that isn’t a Tree City? If the answer is yes, you should consider jumpstarting the process. Your community will thank you from the bottom of their green-loving hearts. Today, if anything, take the time to look at a tree. Observe the leaves, the way the sun shines on them. If it’s windy where you are, observe the way the branches sway. You will feel at ease, content with life.
Celebrate Arbor Day every day by purchasing a bare root tree from Cold Stream Farm!
*Video courtesy of arbordayfoundation
