Monday, June 4, 2007

Planting Trees

I'm really going to miss these six little trees. I found them about a year ago - volunteers sprouting around the yard. I knew they had to be pulled, but wanted them to live, so I transplanted them to terra cotta pots, and babied them all year long. They've grown so much, but the pots had become root bound. Mom said they'd take them on their property. My mom is a tree freak, I guess that's where I get it. Here they are ready to go.



Each of the six trees we planted represented each of us: Mom, Bill, Liv, Abi, Art, & I. Here I am holding my tree, which was planted East of Arts, and North of the girls.

Trees are green machines that act as natural filters of our air. Through the process of photosynthesis they absorb carbon dioxide (principle contributor to global warming) from the atmosphere and store it in their trunk, branches, leaves, roots, soil and foliage, while releasing oxygen back out - like magic.

Here's Mom holding her tree. She was pretty excited about it all! lol!

But, "First", she said, "we'll need energy, so I'll make lunch -- and I even have something that you'll like, Vicki!"

I admit to being very skeptical about that.





We went in the kitchen, and she pulls this box from the garage freezer all secretive. "Shhh, don't tell Bill, he doesn't know they aren't meat hamburgers. He likes a more manly meal, you know."

I didn't ask her to explain, I just sliced avocado, tomato, and pickles while she leafed the lettuce and toasted the whole wheat bread.
She was right, I really liked that lunch a lot. You know, I think she's getting it!



A "non-manly" meal didn't seem to hold Bill back from digging 6 holes in the ground! He never mentioned the switch-a-roo. Maybe he can't tell the difference? Maybe he knows, but won't let on because he prefers Boca? Who knows who has the other one fooled, but it's a funny game they play!

See Jolie back there running around?




Both girls helped plant their trees, and theirs are directly South of mine.

The brown paper bag was planted along with each tree. We were all quite proud of ourselves for being so green, and I can't wait to go back and see how our trees are fairing.






The Nez Perce reservation in Lapwai, Idaho, have begun a very cool program. The native people are creating jobs and restoring their lands by planting trees as carbon offsets.

Love Trees is another cool carbon offsetting tree program. Give a tree. Plant a tree. Hug a tree.

He who plants a tree
Plants a hope.
~Lucy Larcom, "Plant a Tree"

21 comments:

Elizabeth said...

*That* is hilarious! I love it!

My mother, who couldn't deal with our vegetarianism for a long time--ie would just serve the same old roast beef sandwiches for lunch and let us just eat the fixin's--last time we visited made us a broccoli tofu casserole! Amazing. It certainly wasn't the best vegan fare I'd ever eaten, and I wish she'd check out the cookbooks I recommended instead of just internet-surfing for recipes, but she's trying!

turquoise cro said...

LOL O! How I love thee, the TREE!!! gUESS WHAT? Jer and I replanted a tulip tree this week-end and I replanted a Rose of Sharon, they don't look real good today, I HOPE they make it!!!That Jolie gave me a chuckle!!! That's cute how each other might be fooling the other! I'm sure Bill has seen those burgers in the freezer! LOL maybe not! Olivia looks like she is having a great tree time!!! She'll have all these wonderful memories of her childhood, her and Abi! Yayyyyyy! Vicki and Art!!! xoCinda

turquoise cro said...

I recognize that COOL box too! Would YOU believe I have 2 left over from 2 years ago??? Would they still be good??? i wonder! LOL

Don't Get Mad, Get Vegan! said...

so wonderful that you did this.

just the other day i got quite an odd look from my husband as he listened to me go on and on about how i don't want to weed our beds unless i can replant them somehow. after all, these are volunteers...and beautiful...AND thrive without any help from me!

;)

Carrie™ said...

What a great post Vicki! I love everything about it.

Anonymous said...

Bonjour,

it's cool to plant trees, i did last month with many trees on my land (fruits trees...), and to do that with kids...

à bientôt ! gil from south ouest of France

Theresa said...

How cute of your mum to try and trick her partner with veggie burgers! He must have known, if you were eating it, right?

Tree planting looks like it was heaps of summery fun

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

Hi Elizabeth: Thanks for your visit and sharing your story. I've eaten my share of "fixin's" :o)

Hi Cinda: A tulip tree sounds beautiful! Put those Sierra Nevadas on ice, Sugar, they're still good!

Hi Don't Get Mad: I've never thought of it that way! I know non-native plants & noxious weeds can be problems...

Hi Carrie: Thanks for your visit & comment! :o)

Hi Gil: I want fruit trees!

Hi Theresa: You'd think so... But I'm not really sure what he thinks I eat (or if it crosses his mind at all?) He wasn't in the kitchen (and I think rarely steps foot in there) and wouldn't know what was prepared. I don't know.

Anonymous said...

I love your dedication to saving those trees. They're quite lovely, really. Sounds like your day taught the girls many great lessons.

That's kind of funny - the Boca burger surprise. I'm happy your mom is buying them and that everyone is enjoying them. I always feel like things like that are small vegan victories.

Amey said...

I like the burger switcharoo story. Hee hee.

For some random reason, I have 4 volunteer walnut trees growing in my front yard. I don't know what to do with them... and for the time being I have left them as they are. But goodness knows we don't need 4 giant walnut trees in our little front yard! I can't imagine where the walnuts came from, which is kind of a fun mystery...

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

Hi Vivacious: It was like a little vegan victory. :o)

Hi Amey: We have 2 giant walnut trees in our backyard, and we get volunteers all the time! If you don't want them, pull them right away, as they are quite vigorous and have deep roots that become impossible to pull and keep coming back. We love our walnut trees, but they can be quite messy.

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

ps -- I suspect squirrels have a role in the mystery! :o)

Jackie said...

I am fanatical about trees and cried when my complex drastically cut branches off some as people complained about not having enough light.

Glad you managed to save some f the little ones for replanting.

Dori said...

I love reading about planting these very special adopted trees, time with your mom (and her making a meal that you would like), and the connection that these trees will have to improving the world we live in.

When my kids were in elementary school (pre-homeschool) we planted an oak tree that the county conservation office "saved" and gave out free t o the kids. We sold the house we lived in at that time, but do drive by to check out the tree from time to time. I like the family bonding over the event the best.

Anonymous said...

i will love to have a walnut tree here, we love walnuts so much!

what a great post i enjoy it a lot!

laura k said...

What a great post! I'm so glad your parents took those trees, and your girls will be able to go back over the years and see how they have grown and appreciate the balance that trees help to create in this world. Oh, and your mom's so cute, making that lunch and keeping it hush-hush!

Teresa said...

That's so awesome to each plant your own tree. And it's one of the best gifts you could give to the planet. I bet you guys all had a lot of fun in this family affair.

Too funny about the vegan burgers... and yes I wonder who's fooling who.

-Teresa

KleoPatra said...

SUCH a great post...

KleoPatra said...

SUCH a great post...

Kati said...

I love this post! Baby trees are one of my favorite things. =)

Mikaela said...

What a great way to spend the afternoon. :)