#YearoftheTree2023

Start your own compost

Year of the Tree 2023 / /

And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; Luke 13:8 Here are five steps to composting: 1. Select your food scraps.Start with fruits and veggies — the skin of a sweet potato, the top of your strawberry. Also tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells, old flowers — even human hair! Don’t keep meat or dairy scraps as they will attract rodents. Some products like ‘compostable bags’ may not decompose in a home compost 2. Store those food scraps.Any container with a lid can be used. Or you can store the food scraps in a bag in your freezer or the back of the fridge. That’s an easy way to avoid odors and insects in your kitchen. 3. Choose a place to make your compost.If you don’t have a garden and still want a traditional composting experience you can take your food scraps to a compost pile that you share with neighbours or a community garden. If you are in a small apartment you could use a Japanese method called Bokashi or a worm farm. If you do have some outdoor space, your compost bin doesn’t have to be complicated. An old trash bin, an old wooden chest — just work with what you have available. or “You could just create the pile naked!” Basically you can just have a heap of compost — but don’t put it up against a wall as it could stain it. 4. Make the compost mix.In the world of composting you will hear about “the greens and browns” — the two main ingredients for your mix. “Greens” (wet)are typically food scraps, like fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, or, if you have a yard, grass clippings. These add nitrogen — a crucial element for microbial growth. Microorganisms are the true heroes of this process, they do the heavy lifting of decomposition. “Browns” (dry) are more carbon rich — think egg cartons, newspapers, dried leaves, and pine needles. It helps to shred up the paper products before putting them in your pile. A good thing to remember is that green materials are typically wet, and brown materials are typically dry. When you’re layering, you want the dry browns on the bottom with the wet greens on the top. Browns are key because they allow water to flow, and air to flow, something called aeration. That will make sure microorganisms can do their job. “If one hundred percent of it is water, then nothing is going on. The microorganisms can’t work. You got this soggy, smelly pile,” And it really is layering — browns then greens, browns then greens. The number of layers depends on your space and your amount of food scraps, but try to keep the layers to an inch or two. You can also put a little bit of browns on the very top to keep away flies and odors. You need more browns than greens. 5. Wait and AerateHow long do you have to wait for decomposition? it depends on the heat – if its hot it might be two months, cold it might take six months. To keep things moving, you’ll want to turn or rotate the pile, perhaps with a stick or spade. When you start out you might be turning the compost once every seven to 10 days. If it smells bad, it probably means it’s not decomposing — maybe your pile might be too wet or you might need to readjust your ratios of greens and browns.when its ready it should have a woody, earthy, but also a sweet smell. Resource https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828918397/how-to-compost-at-home

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Eco-system Restoration

Year of the Tree 2023 / /

“The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” Isaiah 43:20-21 What exactly is an ecosystem and how do you restore one? An eco-system is part of the web of life, made up of plants, animals and other organisms, together with the landscape (rivers, mountains, etc) around them.Ecosystems can be large, like a forest, or small, like a pond. Many are crucial to human societies, providing people with water, food, building materials and a host of other essentials. They also provide planet-wide benefits like climate protection and biodiversity conservation.But in recent decades, humanity’s hunger for resources has pushed many ecosystems to the breaking point. Here are some examples of eco-systems and what can be done to restore them. FarmlandsOver-intensive use, soil erosion, excess fertilizer and pesticides are exhausting many farmlands. Ways to restore them include reducing tillage, using more natural fertilizer and pest control, and growing more diverse crops, including trees. ForestsForests and trees are being cleared to feed humanity’s hunger for land and resources. Logging, firewood cutting, pollution, invasive pests and wildfires are damaging what remains. Restoring forest ecosystems means replanting and reducing the pressure on forests so that trees re-grow naturally. Food systems are a major driver of forest loss. Reconsidering the way people grow and consume food can help reduce the pressure on forests. Degraded and disused farmland can be ideal for forest restoration, which can also mean nurturing patches of forest and woodland in landscapes that include busy farms and villages. Lakes and riversFreshwater ecosystems have been degraded by pollution, overfishing and infrastructure as well as the extraction of more and more water for irrigation, industry and homes. Restoration means halting pollution, reducing and treating waste, managing demand for water and fish, and reviving vegetation above and below the surface. Grasslands and savannahsShrublands, grasslands and savannahs are being overgrazed and eroded, converted to agriculture and invaded by alien species. Humans can help them rebound by clearing woody vegetation and re-seeding native grasses. Lost plants and animals can be re-introduced and protected until they are established. Find out about other eco-systems and how they might be restored at: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/beginners-guide-ecosystem-restoration

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Celebratory Trees

Year of the Tree 2023 / /

Each of them will sit under their vine and under their fig tree,with no one to make them afraid, Micah 4:4 Across the Anglican Communion a growing number of churches are integrating tree growing into their spirituality. This might be confirmation, baptism, memorial, wedding trees, etc. If you church is not yet doing this, do some research to find out examples either of other churches in your area or another Diocese that are doing this. Find out what are the successes and challenges. A few things you need to think about: Cost: Does the candidate pay for the tree or can you source donations from government or business? Logistics: How are the trees brought to church and how do the candidates take them home. Education: Everyone who plants a tree needs to learn how to plant it and look after it – who and how will this be done? Watering: A tree needs to be moist for two years – who will water and how? Liturgy: What prayers are said – these can be distributed with the trees – a little leaflet or bookmark Photographs: Who will take photographs and share to social media to inspire/encourage others? Does your church have trees for confirmation baptism , patronal etc?Have a look at some of the inspiring stories being highlighted on the Communion Forest website www.communionforest.org

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Tree Planting 101

Year of the Tree 2023 / /

They are  like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that they do, they prosper Psalm 1:3 It is important to plant a tree properly otherwise you may stunt its growth, the roots will not be strong and it may be uprooted in strong wind or gush of water. Which tree? A native tree is happiest. You can visit a local nursery, use google or ask an environmental student about which trees are best for your area. When? Plant most tree species in the autumn or early spring. Cool weather is the best time for planting since the trees are dormant during that time. Planting a tree in late spring or summer, when the roots are actively growing, puts too much stress on the tree and it may not survive. Plant just before the rainy season. Where? Pick an open, flat area away from buildings, powerlines, and utilities. Make sure there’s plenty of room for the tree to grow to maturity. Make sure you are not digging into underground cables or pipes! Sun or shade? Make sure your chosen location gets at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Light needs vary depending on the tree species, so you’ll want to check your specs. How to prepare? Water the soil on planting day before you dig the hole. Give the planting location a good hose down to moisten the soil and make it easier to turn. Moist soil is also more hospitable and minimizes root stress for a newly transplanted tree How to dig? Dig a hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball (Often people dont do this – remember the roots need lots of space to grow sideways, not just down. Dig the hole down to the same depth as the root ball. If you plant too deep, the roots will struggle to get oxygen and eventually smother. Water may also pool around the base of the tree, Planting – nestle the root ball in the hole and refill with the soil you dug out. Pack it down gently Watering – water deeply now . You will need to keep the tree moist for the next two years so make sure you have a watering plan!!. Form a little dam around the tree so the water seeps in , and mulch to keep the tree moist. Enjoy!Reference: https://www.wikihow.com/Plant-a-Tree

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Become a tree planter

Year of the Tree 2023 / /

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit Jeremiah 17:7-8 It is good to plan the year ahead. When is the best time to plant (rainy season) , what events are coming up? These might be Birthdays – instead of giving people plastic goods, why not give a plant of sapling  instead (if you grow your own plants like avocados from seed this is a lovely gift!) When your own birthday is coming up you can ask for the number of  trees of your years – but this you will need to plan – where might they be planted, how will they be watered.. Church events – like patronal festivals, conferences, synods – these are great opportunities for sapling distribution – you will need to plan in advance to get the donations of trees , invite the bishop or priest to bless the trees before they are distributed Confirmations and baptisms, each candidate can be invited to bring a tree/sapling to the service for blessing. Explain how they are a symbol of your spiritual growth, if they are not watered and cared for they will not grow. Funerals – this is a wonderful way to remember a loved one, especially if they are laid to rest far away, the tree can be a special place where you remember them as you rest it its shade. Tree plantings at schools.  if you can get your local school or your children’s schools involved this is a wonderful way for children to fall in love with tree growing at a young age and also because they are many they can do a large tree planting event easily Environmental days – use environmental days such as World Environment Day (5th June) World water day (22nd march) , World day to combat desertification (17th June) etc I am sure you have many other ideas that you can include in your year planner!

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Learn about Indigenous trees

Year of the Tree 2023 / /

But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; Psalm 52:8 There are three types of trees that it is important to know about: indigenous, alien and invasive. Indigenous are always the best to grow as they are native to the soil and grow the best. Indigenous trees are trees that are native to an area. These trees are integral to the function of an area’s ecosystem, providing not only oxygen for humans and other animal species but also increasing the quality of soil and helping with climate regulation, among many other benefits. Alien trees are not native to the area, they have been brought into the region from another. Thus, they have not naturally evolved and are simply transported from a country to another. They might have other benefits such as being a fruit tree (papaya, peach, mango etc) or they are rapid growth (such as a pine for sale of wood ) – do remember though that these trees are often water guzzlers and may deteriorate the eco- system. Invasive trees are a serious problem as they invade areas, they often consume much more water than indigenous trees. They are land transformers, transforming eco-systems into dense stands of invasives, ultimately effecting and impacting negatively on biodiversity. In savanna and forests, they compete directly with indigenous trees and shrubs. So it is important to learn about trees in your area. For tree planting projects it is better to plant your local indigenous trees. You can do a google search (Ecosia) to find out about the best indigenous plants to grow. You can also educate your congregation about invasive trees and organise a ‘hack’ to pull them out. Thus you can improve the water levels in dams and rivers.

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