Are you searching for a truly green gift for your Valentine this year? Consider giving a tree, or help plant a forest.
For many, Valentine’s Day is a time for giving bouquets of flowers or roses by the dozen. The National Retail Federation estimates Americans will order more than $1.9 billion in flowers for the day. But for those who worry about the environmental impact of their gifts, the hidden costs add up with the intensive chemicals, energy and water required for greenhouse floral production. Plus, transportation from countries like Columbia and Ecuador adds 360,000-metric tons of additional carbon dioxide (CO2) added to the atmosphere, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.
So, this year, consider giving a tree. Your gift will produce oxygen, improve air quality, sequester CO2, help reduce urban heat gain, prevent soil erosion, provide windbreaks, feed people, support wildlife, reduce violence and bring people together, according to Tree People, a non-profit organization that supports trees. Plus, trees are a beautiful gift that can live for decades.
Here are six ways to give a tree, or donate to a forest:
- Give a fruit tree
Kansas City Community Gardens in Kansas City is now accepting orders for fruit trees you can plant this spring. Select from several varieties each of apple, cherry, pear and peach trees at Kansas City Community Gardens. If you want help in selecting and planting fruit trees, you can register for a virtual KCCG Fruit Tree Workshop from 12 – 1 p.m. on Friday, February 12. Trees need to be ordered by March 9 for pick up in April at 6917 Kensington, Kansas City, MO.
- Donate to Heartland Tree Alliance Tree Fund
Heartland Tree Alliance is seeking donations to help support tree funds in 18 cities throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Once each city’s fund reaches $1,000, Heartland Tree Alliance will coordinate a volunteer planting event with each city’s forester. Give a tree sponsorship at Heartland Tree Alliance.
- Find a native tree nursery
Trees that will have the best success rate in your climate and soil will be native to your area. Find a native tree nursery near you in the national PlantNative Directory of Nurseries.
- Help plant a forest
American Forests has been planting trees since 1875 to protect and restore forests for wildlife habitat, clean air and water. You can plant 25 trees for $25 and receive a personalized certificate for your gift. View their nationwide programs and initiatives at American Forests.
- Support a Time for Trees Initiative
The Arbor Day Foundation’s Time for Trees Initiative has a goal of planting 100-million trees in forests and communities and inspiring 5-million new tree planters by 2022 – the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day. See how you can join the effort at Arbor Day Foundation.
- Plant trees around the world
One Tree Planted works on global reforestation efforts in North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia. You can help plant trees in the location of your choice for $1 a tree and get a personalized tree certificate at One Tree Planted.
Je, unatafuta zawadi ya kweli ya kijani kwa Valentine wako mwaka huu? Fikiria kutoa mti, au kusaidia kupanda msitu. Kwa wengi, Siku ya wapendanao ni wakati wa kutoa maua mengi au maua ya waridi. Shirika la National Retail Federation limekadiria kuwa watu wa Marekani watapanga maua ya thamani ya dola bilioni 1.9 kwa siku hiyo. Lakini kwa wale ambao wana wasiwasi juu ya athari za mazingira za zawadi zao, gharama zilizofichwa huongeza na kemikali nyingi, nishati na maji yanayohitajika kwa uzalishaji wa maua ya chafu. Usafiri kutoka nchi kama vile Colombia na Ecuador huongeza tani 360,000 za ziada za kaboni dioksidi (CO2) katika anga, kulingana na Baraza la Kimataifa la Usafiri safi. Kwa hiyo, mwaka huu, fikiria kutoa mti. "Kupunguza joto la jiji, kuzuia uharibifu wa udongo, kutoa upepo, kulisha watu, kusaidia wanyama wa porini, kupunguza vurugu na kuleta watu pamoja, ""Tree People, shirika lisilo la faida linalounga mkono miti, limesema." Kwa kuongezea, miti ni zawadi nzuri ambayo yaweza kudumu kwa miongo mingi. Kuna njia sita za kutoa mti wa matunda kwa msitu: Mti wa matunda kwa msitu wa matunda Mbuga za Jumuiya ya Kansas City sasa zinakubali maagizo ya miti ya matunda ambayo unaweza kupanda majira ya kuchipua. Chagua kutoka kwa aina kadhaa kila moja ya mti wa apple, cherry, pear na peach katika Kansas City Community Gardens. Ikiwa unataka msaada wa kuchagua na kupanda miti ya matunda, unaweza kujiandikisha kwa Warsha ya Virtual ya Mti wa Matunda ya KCCG kuanzia saa 12 hadi 1 jioni Ijumaa, Februari 12. Miti hiyo inapaswa kuagizwa kabla ya Machi 9 na kukusanywa Aprili katika 6917 Kensington, Kansas City, MO. Mkataba wa Mti wa Heartland unaomba michango ili kusaidia kusaidia fedha za miti katika miji 18 kote eneo la mji mkuu wa Kansas City. Wakati kila mji unafikia $ 1,000, Heartland Tree Alliance itasawazisha tukio la kupanda kwa kujitolea na msitu wa kila mji. Kutoa mti udhamini katika Heartland Mti Alliance. - Kupata mti asili nursery Miti ambayo itakuwa na kiwango cha mafanikio bora katika hali ya hewa yako na udongo itakuwa asili ya eneo lako. Tafuta nursery ya miti ya asili karibu na wewe katika orodha ya kitaifa ya PlantNative ya Nurseries. Miti ya Amerika imekuwa ikipanda miti tangu 1875 ili kulinda na kurejesha misitu kwa makazi ya wanyama wa porini, hewa safi na maji. Unaweza kupanda miti 25 kwa $ 25 na kupokea cheti cha kibinafsi kwa zawadi yako. Tazama programu na mipango yao ya kitaifa katika Misitu ya Marekani. "Mfano wa mpango wa ""Wakati wa Miti"" wa Arbor Day Foundation ni ""Kupanda Miti milioni 100 katika misitu na jamii na kuchochea wapanda miti milioni 5 mpya ifikapo mwaka wa 2022 - maadhimisho ya miaka 150 ya Arbor Day.""" Angalia jinsi unavyoweza kujiunga na juhudi za Arbor Day Foundation. Mti mmoja uliopandwa hufanya kazi kwenye juhudi za kimataifa za ukarabati wa misitu katika Amerika Kaskazini, Amerika ya Kusini, Afrika na Asia. Unaweza kupanda mti katika eneo lako kwa $ 1 kwa mti na kupata cheti cha mti wa kibinafsi kwenye One Tree Planted.