Trees, Humanity's Best Friend

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Sep 29, 2000

First frost last night, we almost set a new record low. The temperature feel to -5.4 Celsius, the record is -5.6. I was down by the :Lake this morning just after sunrise, taking a few pictures of the Harbour, for a project that I am working on. The wind off the Lake carried Winter's calling. It went right through my coat and straight into my bones. Ah well, this is inevitable, just need to add a layer of clothing or two

This week we'll begin an examination of the functions that trees perform in our food supply system. We, all too often, neglect, the vital role that Nature plays in the process of getting food from the fields where it is grown to the tables where we sit and eat it.

Trees get too little respect in our industrialized society. We will begin this week with an overview of trees and their roles within the ecosystems that they inhabit. Next week we will explore how they can be incorporated into the design strategy that work towards establishing sustainable living systems for individuals and communities. This includes a sustainable food supply system.

Trees play an important role in plans which are designed to control urban sprawl. While this is, without a doubt, an important function, I feel that it is crucial to value trees not for what they can do for us but for themselves. In other words to acknowledge and respect the integral being that is a tree. For it is this understanding that a tree is worthy becuase it exists that puts down the foundation that enables us to deevlop a relationship with trees that leads us to work with them in a sustainable way.

Take a few minutes and let your mind wander back to childhood. Do you have any fond memories that invovle trees? Was there a favourite tree in your backyard or nearby, with a tire swing attached perhaps? Or a big, old shade tree you and your friends would sit under and day dream on those long, hot summer days? What about the tree you loved to climb or an apple treee that gave you a fresh, sweet snack? I grew up with three maples in the back yard, right at the very back. Even today, many years later, I can still see them standing there a majestic reminder of a time past.

British Trees

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The copyright of the article Trees, Humanity's Best Friend in From Field To Table is owned by Bob Ewing. Permission to republish Trees, Humanity's Best Friend in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.