"The Man Who Planted Trees"

[silverweb]

I just found this delightful, 30-minute film on line this evening and think this is probably the most appropriate forum in which to post it.

See if it inspires you and makes you proud to be a "treehugger," too.

_The Man Who Planted Trees_

[WheelWalker]

1. Book by that name has been around for many years now. And yes,

I am a tree hugger. I've outplanted over 1/2 million trees myself, personally. I've raised millions of seedlings for others to plant. There's nothing I'd rather be doing. Blessings.

[silverweb]

2. That's wonderful!

Are you a professional arborist or is it an avocation? How do you select what to plant where?

[WheelWalker]

3. Earlier in my life -

Silviculturist. I had a reforestation nursery, a piece of timberland on the coast, and also planted on private and USFS/BLM contracts with the Hoedags and two of their offshoots, Greenside Up and the Golden Rockets.

With the passage of years, I've settled into horticulture as a spiritual path. I'm still growing, planting, nurturing and moving trees and woody shrubs, but not so many.

[silverweb]

4. Nice.

I'm finally in a place where I can try my hand at some serious container gardening, and I've wondered about the possibility of planting some kind of tree in a large trash can. Is that feasible? I'm on the west coast, right near the Mexican border.

My little house is rented and everything here is paved over, so I can't actually put anything in the ground. However, I have a fenced-in driveway (and no car), so that space can accommodate quite a few containers. Do you have any suggestions?

[WheelWalker]

7. Depending on specie, habit and habitat,

it can be done. Containers are a good place to start trees from seeds or cuttings. However, containers do not have the ability to buffer extremes in moisture, temperature, etc., such as the Holy Mother provides. Remember that the root system is usually a mirror image of what's above ground. A garbage can is probably not the best shape. Something of a larger diameter, and depending on specie and growth habit, much of the depth of a garbage can might be irrelevant. I've grown and kept Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple) in containers for years, using half wine/whiskey barrels. That's feasible (although everything I grow eventually mates with the Holy Mother. Cacti, as well, I would think, although I have no experience there to draw upon. You're not going to grow most forest trees in a container for very long and have much success, unless they are dwarf varieties or pruned as Bonzai. I would go to your local library, bookstore, or get online and look for species and varieties that do well in containers. The most important thing is that you will have to have the right media mix for what you're growing, appropriate drainage, and even, regular watering (like a drip system on a timer). Nutrition is also a more complicated matter with containers. The Holy Mother is much more forgiving, but the foregoing are always considerations that must be addressed whether you plant in containers or the soil.

If trees move your spirit, you might consider relocating to somewhere like Cascadia; or, at least away from concrete and pavement.

Blessings

[silverweb]

10. Thank you.

Relocation will not be feasible for at least another year or two, so anything I attempt to cultivate during this time will have to be in containers.

While I'm content to stick with other types of plants and vines for now, a tree for my little bird friends was something that was in my mind.

Now that you remind me, I do remember reading that a tree's root system mirrors what is above ground, so I'll check with a local nursery and do further research before proceeding.

Namaste.

[lakeguy]

5. a million thanks!!

i saw this at a film festival years ago and didn't know i could get a copy. one of the best short films i've ever seen. i just ordered a copy for me and my treehugger wife!

ps-when i was maybe 10 years old, i planted hundreds of trees on property that is no longer in my family. most are still there and they are HUGE. i want to do this as i get older too...just need to find some land:)

[silverweb]

6. You're most welcome!

I don't have a TV, so I'm always on the lookout for films on line and there are lots of _other choices_, too, where I found this little gem of a film.

It's always a delight to meet other treehuggers and tree planters! I don't have a place where I can plant trees in the ground, though I'm trying hard to green the paved area I rent. :)

[Tumbulu]

8. Thank you so much for posting this

I loved watching it and feel inspired! A good way to begin the new year.

[silverweb]

11. That's exactly how it made me feel, too.

:hi:

[losthills]

9. Very cool.

Gracias.

[silverweb]

12. De nada.

Glad you liked it! :)