Plant A Tree. Honor A Life.

I recently lost a special friend.  Frida was my buddy in difficult times, and I wanted a very special, lasting way to honor her sweet doggie soul. The solution?  A tree! I had gifted tree dedications to friends whose loved ones had passed many times over the years.  It’s the type of remembrance I love to receive, so why not gift it to myself—and the planet—in honor of my special friend.

The gift of a tree dedication goes right to work. You can purchase one tree, a few, or a whole grove. A sapling/s will then be planted where it’s needed most—commonly, in a national forest needing reforestation.  Forests need restoration and reforestation for numerous reasons.  Fire is top of mind for many of us these days, but forests can also diminish due to drought, disease, invasive species, flooding, or timber harvests.  According to the National Forest Service, historically about 189,000 acres of National Forest are reforested annually. In recent years, however, that number has crept closer to 285,000 acres. Once reforested, those forests can continue to capture carbon, cycle water, and nurture biodiversity.

You can “plant” a tree in as little as two minutes.  The process is straight-forward, and there are several resources to accomplish it. Trees For A Change, a favorite of mine, has a variety of gift options.  Whether you’re honoring someone who’s passed, or celebrating a special milestone, like an important birthday, an anniversary, or a wedding, you just order the tree/s and a card (or card and a certificate) will be mailed to the recipient. Soon, the recipient will be able to see photographs of the saplings, along with location maps, and growth updates online.  The saplings are always native species, and are placed in forests where the need is greatest.

Wherever she is, I'm sure Frida is honored to have a lasting tribute here on earth. And I'll bet she's happy to know that she’s helping to replenish natural spaces, which then allows other animals friends to flourish.