On a chilly Saturday morning just a few weeks ago, I participated in a tree planting event at a CMS Middle School. On that morning in December, my hope was renewed once again. It was a day that just made me feel good.
Trees Charlotte
The event was coordinated by a non-profit organization called Trees Charlotte*, a public/private collaboration established to grow and diversify Charlotte’s urban forest; and promote tree stewardship and education. Simply put, I understand that their mission is to ensure the continued health and well-being of our tree canopy. So, through volunteers, they annually plant thousands of trees in response to the development in our community. Planting new trees helps address concerns in a developing city that continues to remove existing trees. Maintaining the tree canopy will help cool our city. Trees help remove toxins from the air and produce oxygen. Trees help prevent soil erosion. Trees maintain a habitat for wildlife. And, yes, they just make our city more beautiful.
Since that day, the devastation from the wildfires in California; the need for attention to our forests and environment have been tragically brought to light once again.
Getting Stuff Done
The obvious objective that day was the planting of the trees. But as important for me, I saw a group of concerned citizens come together to do something. To act as stewards of our city. While others talk about the environment, as we say at Be There Dad, these folks came to “get stuff done.” They gave a little time. They got their hands and boots dirty. They used some muscles they hadn’t felt in a while. They engaged. They planted 75 trees!
Stepping Stones
These individuals saw a vision of our future. The trees waiting to be planted that had 
been prepositioned across the school campus looked like stepping stones to the future. The volunteers understood that without folks like themselves, someday, all the trees might be gone. They made a difference in their corner of the world. Just a couple of hours invested. I wonder if everyone did the same, could we turn a few small steps, into a giant leap for mankind? (Thank you, Neil Armstrong)
Symbolically, planting trees on the campus of a school signals a concern about the well-being of all our children as well. That morning, I experienced yet another event where those helping did not know and may never meet the children who will benefit from their service. Some of us, like me are too old to ever see the full potential of the trees we planted. But others who are younger will grow with the trees and see them blossom into a canopy that will serve and protect the school and its students for decades.
A Human Mosaic
On that morning as I looked around at a group of forty volunteers, I saw once again a human mosaic. Planters who were young and old. Male and female. A spectrum of skin color. All sizes, shapes and ages. Empty nester couples. Middle schoolers looking for service hours. Retired persons. Teachers, businesspersons, lawyers, and firefighters. I engaged with a father who was taking the opportunity to teach his teenaged daughter 
how to use a shovel. Another dad guided his school aged children as they tamped down the dirt around the freshly planted trees. A single mom worked with her two kids. A young man who lived nearby came just to support his neighborhood. Two girls wearing hoodies from their high school track team were full of energy. All reaping the same benefit. Spending time together in a worthy cause.
Trainers called Tree Masters gave us instructions about how to properly plant the trees. Everyone listened carefully and respectfully. Everyone went to work. Folks shared in the efforts. Digging holes. Lifting trees. Filling the holes with dirt. Raking mulch. Marking the trees. Cleaning up trash. We all did as we were told and helped each other.
Away from traditional and social media, the conversations I heard as we worked were all positive. Getting to know someone new. Someone different, but somehow the same. Talking about children and families. Wondering about the future of these trees and our community. We breathed the cool clean air that we hoped these trees would help preserve for decades to come. The sun warmed us as noon time approached. Our bodies felt the effects of two hours of honest work. We did not work for today, we worked for tomorrow. For the future of our community and our children.
I love mornings like that one. Another moment in my life. I wondered why every Saturday morning could not feel this way. It is not that hard really. Get outside. Dig some holes. Plant some trees. Spread some mulch. A metaphor for all the other things we could accomplish for our community – together? I believe that assembly of folks still represents a picture of what most of our community dreams about. Communities still work together. People still have hopes for the future. Most still want the best for their families. Most still feel good after a morning like this – serving others. I felt good. I still believe.
*To have a similar experience, you can contact TreesCharlotte at info@treescharlotte.org
