Newly-planted trees and shrubs

Newly-planted trees and shrubs
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

We went to contribute, and went away feeling like we’d been given a privilege.

Lorie and I each got up at an insane time for a Saturday morning to arrive at the tree-planting location for 9:00. Okay, okay, we didn’t get there until 9:30 … but they truly didn’t seem to mind. Then once we got there, we were promptly directed to the nearby town of Erin where we could try to find a public washroom before we started our work. Unfortunately, the only place that seemed to suit our requirements was the quaint (and divine-smelling) Holtom’s Bakery (established 1946). And you can’t just use a public washroom without buying something from the place of business, can you????

Let me tell you, on a Saturday morning around 9:45, Holtom’s Bakery is the place to be! The apple fritters were still so warm that the large chunks of apple seemed to melt in your mouth.

But Lorie and I were in the area to save the planet – or at least help it a little – by planting trees. So we hustled back to the farm.

There, Amy from WeCARE and Heather from the Credit Valley Conservation Authority (two very cool/fun twenty-somethings) filled us in on what we were doing. The farm had a little stream that basically looked like a ditch. In the spring, meltwaters would fill this stream and eventually flow south as part of the Credit River. The surface of the ditch was mostly covered in grass that had been meticulously mowed by the landowner. We were planting trees and shrubs to shade the water as it flows past (to keep it cool and therefore hospitable to fish and their eggs). There had been a variety of trees and shrubs provided to us for planting. All are indigenous to this part of Ontario. Some shrubs, like the elderberries, would provide food and habitat for birds and other animals.

Shortly after Lorie and I arrived, Amy found a teeny tiny salamander among some of the potted shrubs. She was really great about showing it to all the volunteers and explaining – in a really interesting and engaging way - its distinct ecological requirements. I of course ran to get my camera.

In total, 133 trees and shrubs were planted, wood chipped, and watered that morning. It was really great to be out in the country. Lorie and I agreed that because we were digging and planting, we felt more connected to nature than we would have done just by hiking or camping. Afterward, Amy BBQ’d up some hamburgers and sausages for all of us, and we sat in the grass, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment. At one moment, we heard a trilling sound coming from the wooded area across the road. Amy identified it immediately as a tree frog. (I’d heard the sound before and assumed it was a bird – this is one of the nice side benefits of hanging around people who know more than you do!) We all stopped to listen – and became aware of so many sounds of nature (crickets chirping, birds singing, etc.).

Before I knew it, it was time to go home – but not before agreeing with Amy and Heather that we would try to coordinate more efforts in the future!