Planting 18 billion trees worldwide is no small feat. Neither is easing world hunger, fighting global warming or restoring regional water, air and soil quality to communities experiencing serious environmental and humanitarian crises. Cue The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, a nonprofit charity organization with the lofty goal of planting approximately 3 fruit trees per human inhabitant.
To date, the Foundation has helped plant well over 8,000 trees and orchards in poverty stricken Third World communities, U.S. city schools, drug and alcohol recovery centers and tribal communities. In Arizona’s Havasupai Tribe Community, the FTPF created the first town in the world where every household has access to at least 5 fruit trees in their backyards.
‘Fruit Tree 101′ is the foundation’s public school program which donates native fruit trees and educates students about botany, ecology, and how to protect the planet’s health while assisting in creating schoolyard orchards. And , lucky for us, September 6-7th they’ll be here in Columbus planting orchards at Brookside Elementary (6700 McVey Blvd., Columbus, OH 43235) and the Early Childhood Learning Center (4141 Rudy Rd, Columbus, OH 43214). The events will take place rain or shine.
Volunteers are needed to assist in digging, planting and mulching at both locations and will be guided by FTPF arborist, Rico Montenegro. RSVP to Rico at 530-515-7657 or rico@ftpf.org and help Columbus move towards a Greener future!
YGR COMMUNITY QUESTION: What are some simple actions you believe our schools can take in the movement towards a ‘Greener Future’?
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Planning a field trip? Take the kids to a landfill to see first-hand what happens to the things they throw away. While you’re there, point out items that should have been recycled, reused, or never bought at all. Discuss how many landfills there are and how quickly they’re reaching capacity. Make our garbage problem real to kids, not just something they read or hear about, and hopefully they’ll become part of that ‘Greener Future’.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:53 amIf schools made the effort reduce the amount of paper sent home(fliers home, notifications etc.) and convert to an electronically-based communication system, just imagine the reduction in waste we could achieve! Schools in New York can receive cash awards for their recycling, waste reduction and cleanup programs while making significant strides towards a more sustainable future for the children they educate.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:49 amas we all know leading with example is one of the best ways of teaching, were we to push energy efficient living along with alternative energy sources while kids are in school they are much more likely to take the initiative to live a green life as they get older. also for any high school that takes up alternative energy to offset their energy needs also create a great learning resource, give the students a chance to learn green technology that they can apply to a possible career later
September 7th, 2008 at 9:37 am