Earth Day 2008

The easiest most important thing all of us can do this spring for Earth Day is plant a tree. My favorite this spring will be the crab apple tree. (Malus sp.) We can all use this tree as a bench mark for being “good stewards” for the earth we live on.

A crab apple tree drops its blossoms and leaves which when they decompose add nutrients to the soil. Ant communities that make their home in and around the trees roots redistribute the nutrients throughout the soil. A crab apple tree provides habitat not only for ants but also birds and insects that help pollinate and redistribute the trees fruits. Amazingly trees help our homes and us as well. They provide beauty, and keep us and our homes cool in the summer.

They do all of this while they purify and cycle our water supply, stabilize our soils, and Oh yes they make oxygen which all living creatures on earth need to survive!

Natural systems like my crab apple tree and all trees take from their environment, but importantly they all give something back, and that’s a lesson we can all take a page from this earth day.