I don’t remember when my kinship with trees came to be; perhaps it blossomed when I heard the popular analogy that trees are “like the lungs of the planet”. Or perhaps, my respect and gratitude for trees developed slowly during the three years that I spent in Nature, nestled in the Gatineau Hills, Quebec. Either way, today I am an advocate for the Rights of the Forests and I suspect that I will be for the rest of my life.
That being said, you can imagine my delight when I discovered that the United Nations Environment Program has designated 2011 as the “International Year of the Forests”, with a mandate to bring sustainable forestry to a higher plain, in every sense of the word.
In honor of the International Year of the Forests, a beautiful short film called “Of Forests and Men” was created by Yan Aurthus Bertrand and presented at the Ninth Session of United Nations Forum on Forests in New York. This afternoon, with a nice cup of tea in-hand, I watched the 7-minute film and encourage you to take a few minutes and watch it too.
For those of you blessed with children in your lives (parents, grandparents, and teachers), please check out the “Love Trees: Kids Tree Planting + Environmental Learning”. This website features tree certificates and the sweet idea of providing an opportunity for children to “Make a Wish for the Planet” … and just wait until you read what the children – our collective children – have posted.
If you are looking for a spring learning activity to share with your children, why not scout out the trees and plants in your backyard? This idea came to me as I looked out the window at a majestic fur tree sitting on the front lawn. There are lots of good tree reference books, and of course, a Google search, complete with colourful tree images, is always a handy resource.
Oh yes, for those of you with a holistic healing bent and are familiar with the Bach Flower Essences, please check out the Canadian Forest Trees Essences website. You might also enjoy the book “Canadian Forest Tree Essences – Vibrational Healing Through Natural Resonance of Trees”. I read this book a couple of years ago; learned a lot, and enjoyed it immensely. You can also sign up for a newsletter.
Quote: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
Look forward to hearing from you … and enjoy the day!
Mildred Lynn