This being my first of many "Green Living, Earth Loving" blog posts, I find it fate that upon reading the Spring 2010 edition of the Purely Delicious: Raw Food Lifestyle Magazine that I came across a short article about The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. This international nonprofit charity is dedicated to giving and promoting life.
Lisa Testa writes in Purely Delicious that the charity "strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve the communities. Places such as public schools, city parks, community gardens, low-income neighborhoods, international hunger relief sites and animal sanctuaries".
The organization's website goes on to include that their overall goal is to "collectively plant 18 billion fruit trees for a healthy planet (approximately 3 for every person alive). Fruit trees heal the environment by cleaning the air, improving soil quality, preventing erosion, creating animal habitat, sustaining valuable water sources, and providing healthy nutrition." It is hard to believe that something as simple as giving life could be so promising of a solution for saving the many lives of those affected by world hunger. I recently have had some blueberry bushes gifted to me (my grandmother loves me), which made the article just that much more relevant. I think what it really comes down to is that the organization should be an inspiration. Regardless, growing your own plants (whether they be trees, bushes, flowers, fruits, veggies or herbs) is one of the most environmentally friendly hobbies you could pick up. Not to mention, it is more cost effective to grow some, or even all, of your own produce than it is to buy it continuously from the stores every single week.
Don't get me wrong, I want you to come out to Food For Thought and buy lots of produce, as much as your organic-loving-heart desires! (Little secret, I do it all the time -- maybe a little too much). But in this case, I must say: Ignorance isn't bliss, Independence is!
Realistically speaking, however, for most of us, total independence from "Big Businesses" and "The Man" isn't feasible. Most of us Americans are just too darn busy to do a
lot of gardening. Sadder yet, I know of people that, although they desire to be 100% green, cannot seem to develop a green thumb, no matter how hard they try. Nonetheless, the idea behind this foundation is superb, and I invite all of you to plant something of your own. By giving a plant life, you are promoting your own life. In the words of Angela Bassett in regards to FTPF, trees will "feed the body, replenish the earth, [and] oxygenate the air we breathe for more years than the hands that plant them will live to see." And if it is a blueberry bush, just think: You're helping FTPF get closer to that 18 million fruit trees all while not having to worry about buying blueberries... quite possibly ever again!
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