Thursday, November 5, 2009

Tree Planting

On Tuesday Kathy Jacobson and Jan Strong started delivering trees with help from Dawn and Omrao. I am amazed at the diversity of the species we are planting; dogwood, fir, hemlock, cedar, maple, oak, cottonwood, willow, alder, chestnut.....

Jan, Kathy and Dawn set out pins to mark where the trees were to be planted. I had already facilitated some strip tillage and planted the beds into native grass. On Wednesday we started planting with help from a group of middle school students from Rochester.

Thursday morning we where host to over 100 4th graders from Montesano. These kids where incredible. They were focused and hard working. They braved rain and wind and planted an amazing number of trees with an inspiring enthusiasm.
I cannot express how profound an experience this has been for me. I owe so much to the land from which I have been making a living most of my adult life, and from the rivers that have provided me with food and water. To have the oppurtunity to give back a bit, and to share that experience with such wonderful people of all ages is deeply moving. This is an endeavor I encourage you all to take part in; the planting of trees with friends and strangers.