So what?
OK -- now imagine that the same 46,837 miles of roadside as one continuous FOREST -- spreading from coast to coast and boarder to boarder. Sucking up vast amounts of co2 and spewing out fresh air in return-- creating a vast oxygen generating microclimate. Helping to reverse global warming and certainly improving the scenery on long drives. Not all 47k miles is suitable for planting -- and the concept is not limited to just the Interstates either. The bottom line is that there is a lot of barren easily accessible "free" land out there just waiting for a tree to be planted and an environment to be cleaned up.
I have started this blog to introduce a very simple idea that has the potential to impact the national landscape. I'm not just talking about planting trees. This is a real win/win situation for the environment -- where the everyday person can make a change that is visible and lasting. A real hands on -- feel good -- "I've helped to turn around the environmental mess" that we are all guilty of contributing to.
How to make it happen?
I see a very simple beginning:
Any parent with kids is all to familiar with School Fundraisers. Greeting cards, magazine subscriptions, candy, wrapping paper -- and on and on. This almost universal annual school event could take on a new twist -- selling trees. Trees that the kids will plant themselves -- right in their own roadside community. The real twist is that this also becomes an educational opportunity:
The biology of the trees has to studied -- not any old tree will survive in the local environment.
You have to learn how to properly plant and care for those specially selected trees.
The ecosystem, photosynthesis, co2, the greenhouse effect and environmental warming -- are just a few science lessons to be taught -- plus the basis of meaningful Science Fair projects . . .
Field trips have to be organized for the planting -- it becomes a community event:
The local police have to provide roadside safety protection.
New seedlings need water --The Fire Department might send out a tanker truck to help . . .
A little roadside trash collecting wouldn't hurt -- since you're already there.
And everybody returns to the schoolyard for a community picnic to celebrate a job well done.
Years go by and kids -- that never get enough prise -- can look down the road at their trees with pride -- a positive memory of doing something meaningful and lasting.
Sounds a little corny -- but I think it could work.
A little side antidote --
Years ago when my kids were in elementary school I got involved with the parents group. Getting parents to show up for school events was a problem. I suggested a Family Picnic to make it easy for the parents to attend the annual fall Parents Night. Big mouth me got the job to make it happen (as I expected.) The turnout was incredible - we fed over 600 people that evening -- parents got to know each other while waiting in line for their hamburgers and then later when sharing tables for the meal -- it was a great success. Now 15 years later -- at the beginning of the new school year students, parents and staff still come together for the Annual Community Picnic and School Open House.
Given the right opportunity a community will open-up and respond.
Schools are only one source for help:
Service groups such as: Rotary, Lions, Masons etc.
Corporations and local businesses
Governmental agencies
Local Radio and TV Personalities
(add your thoughts here)
This is a start -- My own seed of an idea -- I need help --
Please join in with your thoughts, ideas, comments . . . feed-back of any kind !
I especially need those that can offer organizational skills (and the necessary time) to really help make this concept "grow" into a working organization.
The
INTERSTATE FOREST SYSTEM
Walt B
No comments:
Post a Comment