While many Americans are mourning the withering of their once-robust investment portfolios, let us think of the trees. Poor trees. They’re here for hundreds of years, just hanging out, emitting breathable compounds, and then one guy flings a cigarette out a window or a motorbike throws a spark and they perish by the thousands.
This is where your karma comes in. Having a bad week? Can’t seem to get your resumes past the spam box? Perhaps you need a bit of good vibes. Enter: Forest Aid.
Spend the day outdoors helping Mama Earth, and the universe might just deliver. And if not, at least you’ll spend a sunny weekend outside meeting new folks rather than staying rooted in front of your television listening to bad news.
Forest Aid is a joint effort of the San Bernardino National Forest Association and TreePeople, a nonprofit environmental group started in 1973 by a few forward-thinking teenagers. With the motto "From ashes to action," Forest Aid aspires to repair the damage from devastating blazes that tore through the San Bernardino National Forest in both 2003 and 2007, leaving charred bald patches in the mountainous region. Areas near Crestline Highway and Running Springs, about 80 miles out of Los Angeles, are in danger of crumbling without new root growth, and waiting any longer to act might result in perilous mudslides. It could also mean permanently losing the chance to reforest.
Forest Aid aims to repopulate the area with 40,000 new seedlings and has plantings scheduled from March 7 to May 9, five days a week. Wednesdays and Thursdays are reserved for school groups, Fridays are set aside for businesses arranging their own karmic field trips, and Saturdays and Sundays are open to anyone—solo or in a group—to sign up for tree duty. Forest Aid puts it simply: “A single person planting a single tree can help revitalize fire-damaged areas, effect climate change, clean the air, capture rainwater and build a sense of community.” We imagine organizers are expecting you to plant more than a single tree, so be prepared to get a little grubby. Leave the Louboutins at home, but bring some sunscreen and a fetching sun hat. Forest Aid also suggests packing your own bag lunch and adds, “Don’t forget a positive attitude.”
If you’re sacrificing your Saturday to help baby pines get a foothold in the world, chances are you won’t be whining about it. Especially later, when good things start eerily happening.
Plantings start March 7 and continue five days a week through May 9. See ForestAid.net for more details or to register.
Alie Ward is Events editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
