U.S. National Arbor Day: The Last Friday in April
The beauty of trees alone is enough reason for us to want to surround ourselves with as many trees as possible, but it’s not the only reason.
Here are a few more reasons why surrounding yourself with trees is a good idea. From The ColoradoTrees.org article, Benefits of Trees in Urban Areas:
- Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and give out oxygen. A healthy tree stores about 13 pounds of carbon annually. An acre of trees absorbs enough CO2 over one year to equal the amount produced by driving a car 26,000 miles.
- Trees also filter other gaseous pollutants from the air. There is up to a 60% reduction in street level particulates when trees are present.
- Trees prevent soil erosion and water run off.
- They prevent harmful land pollutants contained in the soil from getting into our waterways.
- They act as buffers to noise pollution.
- They cool the earth with their shade. Studies have shown that parts of cities without cooling shade from trees can have temperatures as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit higher than surrounding areas.
- They function as wind breaks for farms and our homes.
- Trees enhance traffic safety; drivers tend to drive slower on tree-lined streets.
- Trees increase property values.
- They help reduce home energy use, which saves you money.
And, if all this isn’t enough to consider making tree preservation and planting a priority in our everyday lives, consider this: Trees reduce crime. In the April 1, 2011 edition of Bottomline Personal Newsletter we read:
- Neighborhoods with large trees tend to have less crime than areas with smaller trees says Geoffrey H. Donovan, PhD, research forester, Portland Forestry Sciences Labratory, Oregon, and coauthor of a study of 431 crimes, published in Environment and Behavior.
You can easily help improve your town, neighborhood and home while also preventing the over harvesting of trees and destruction of forests. Here are some simple tips that you can use in your everyday life that will make a considerable difference. And… we happen to know that these tips will save you money, too!
Consider joining the The Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation’s purpose is to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Founded in 1972, the centennial of the first Arbor Day observance in the 19th century, the non-profit Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Their Web site features many helpful gardening and planting resources; one of our favorites pages is the one giving Free Landscape Design Plans. They also give more wonderful free material when you sign up for membership. Sign up starts at just $10. For that, you will receive discounts on purchases of trees and shrubs of up to 56%, a bi-monthly color newsletter, The Tree Book treasury on planting and caring for trees, AND IN ADDITION: Your choice of either - receiving TEN FREE TREES, or making a donation of ten trees in your name to a national forest in need.
Participate in or start a community tree planting program. Check with your local town or city government to find out if there is a tree planting program in your city and join in. Some towns will plant a tree for free at your curbside if you volunteer to water it. If there isn’t a program in your city, consider starting one. Find info. in this AmaricaForests.org aritcle: Create a Community Tree Planting Project.
About books: Go for used books or textbooks, check out books from your local library, or going digital with an e-book reader or program for your computer.
Go digital for subscriptions. Take online subscriptions for your news or magazines. Switch to online bill pay and banking.
Send a FAX directly from your computer.
Check for post-consumer recycled household paper goods like bath tissue, paper towels and printer paper.
Cut back on paper towels.Use rags instead of paper towels. You can use worn out sheets, t-shirts, sweatshirts and pants, pajamas, receiving and baby blankets, frayed bath towels can be cut down to make smaller towels.
Wrapping paper: Consider alternatives that can be reused: Fabric. Cloth drawstring bags. Dishtowels. Re-use existing wrapping paper, paper bags or newspaper. Look for post-consumer recycled wrapping paper.
Consider your wood furniture: You can save trees by refinishing furniture. When shopping for new furniture look for those made with recycled or reclaimed wood. There are excellent tips in this article form PlanetGreen.com, Learn How to Find Eco-Friendly Wood Furniture.
Related videos:
- Select the Right Tree for Your Yard, Get More For Your Money - Save on your energy bill by planting trees. Doug Jimerson, Gardening Editor-In-Chief, Better Homes and Gardens, gives great advice on selecting the right tree for your home.
- Trees Cut Home Energy Costs - Home improvement expert Danny Lipford shows how trees cut 25% on your energy bill as well as beautify your home.
- Reduce Home Heat & AC Bills - Tips to reduce your home heating and air conditioning bills, from planting trees to using eco friendly light bulbs and more from EnStar’s Bill Stack and Growing Wisdom’s Dave Epstein.
- Eco Chic Gift Wrap & Packaging Ideas - Go creative & go eco when wrapping presents & getting packages ready for shipping. Creative, inexpensive, & practical green from eco expert, Rachel Avalon.
- Free Long Distance, Faxes, Books, Music - Four easy online freebies that can help you reduce expenses at the office and at home from Money Talks News.
- Ebook Money Saving Tips – Ebooks are often less expensive than paper books, but can still end up costing you a bundle. Here are two tips to easily save money on ebooks from The Frugalicious Show.
Related articles:
- 7 Earth Saving and Money Saving Household Tips
- Earth Day Every Day Saves You Money
- 8 Eco-Friendly Happy Holiday Ideas
Link to this article: http://is.gd/nBMAL3