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Day 15: Halfway Home!
I am now halfway through my crazy quest to put 30 trees into the ground in 30 days. I was talking with Maureen (my wife and back-up in case i can't make it to the end of the month) about my experience so far. I think the best way that I can sum things up is that I just am happy. I feel like I am doing something substantial that is helping the city, and that makes me feel good. These trees are going to outlive me and leave a lasting legacy and it just feels good. It will sound a bit hokey, but as I drive around and look at trees, I feel a connection with them. They aren't talking to me, it is a greater appreciation for them and their longevity.
I thought it might be fun to share some random things about the month:
- 15 trees have been put in the ground (all deciduous)
- Around 300 gallons of mulch have been spread
- I have dug around 60 cubic feet of holes
- One bad gash on my leg from running into a trailer
- Slight swelling in one thumb from when it was bent back searching for the root flare
- A tired, but definitely not injured back
- 5 permit requests denied by the city
- 9 permit requests approved by the city
- 6 trees planted at not for profits helping their missions
- 6 trees planted in neighborhoods using trees to improve the environment and economy
- People now referring to me as captain...too many (no it is actually fun)
- 5 friends and family that have helped me plant
- 1 dog that has helped me plant
- 0 utility lines damaged (always call 811 before you dig)
I can't wait to see how the rest of the month goes. I'm now feeling good that my body is going to hold up. I can't imagine any of the trees being bigger than the ones I planted this week or the ground being any harder than it was today. I'm excited because tomorrow's tree is my first conifer. As I transported it I felt a bit like Clark Grwww.youtube.com/watchiswald (a little sappy!).
Today's tree was a Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) that I planted at the Horizon House. I received help from a few people who were there receiving some of the support of the organization. The Horizon House is a multi-service day shelter for the homeless. Multi-service means that no only can the homeless go there to get a meal, but they can see their probation officer, take classes, receive counseling, have a permanent mail box, and so much more. One of the people helping me, Earl, said the Horizon House has given him so much that he wanted to help give back. Earl had been a landscaper and knew a lot about planting trees and was a huge help to me today!
Though the tree has a fairly mundane name, it is a beautiful tree. The berries are also edible, very similar ot a blueberry. I am going to be telling Chef Brown at Second Helpings about the tree so he can make it into a pie!
Also, there was a planting yesterday (of course there way, there is one everyday). I didn't do a blog on it because I spent so much time trying to figure out how to get the video blog created. Yesterday i went out with Andrew Hart from KIB and we plantd an American Linden (Tillia Americana) in the Little Flower neighborhood. This was the 2nd tree I planted in Little Flower, I have one more to go this month. This was a gorgeous tree, and like the one you saw in the video, far too big for me to plant my own. It was also too big for me to transport, hence the assist from Andrew yesterday.
Stay tuned for the excitement of the 2nd half of the month!
