Tomorrow is Earth Day...there are a number of places nearby that are giving away trees tomorrow (and over the weekend) in honor of it. One of them is Lowe's:
http://www.lowes.com/cd_Earth+Day_817240224_
They don't say what kind of tree they are giving away, but looking around online it looks like they are pine trees of some sort.
Comments abound such as, "Can't argue with free!" and "Hey, who cares what kind of tree it is...it's free!" and this seems to be the attitude I've noticed at other tree giveaway occasions.
Earth Day tree giveaways seem to me almost like carnival goldfish. I mean, who wants to accidentally end up with a tree that grows over 100' tall? (Leyland cypress and Sycamores are popular giveaway trees, and they exceed 100' at maturity.) Likewise, who wants to end up with a comet goldfish that will need a pond or 4-6' tank someday?
I can see how in a school setting, they could be used to teach children about the benefits of trees and the importance of conserving them (although most of them are a little too young to understand the concept of urban sprawl and the like).
However, it surprises me how many adults accept them, without any preparation, and how many responsible organizations give them out, almost like living pamphlets.
I would much rather people plant carefully chosen trees on a designated site (for example, school children planting select trees around their school) rather than take some home to do whatever with...
:huh:
http://www.lowes.com/cd_Earth+Day_817240224_
They don't say what kind of tree they are giving away, but looking around online it looks like they are pine trees of some sort.
Comments abound such as, "Can't argue with free!" and "Hey, who cares what kind of tree it is...it's free!" and this seems to be the attitude I've noticed at other tree giveaway occasions.
Earth Day tree giveaways seem to me almost like carnival goldfish. I mean, who wants to accidentally end up with a tree that grows over 100' tall? (Leyland cypress and Sycamores are popular giveaway trees, and they exceed 100' at maturity.) Likewise, who wants to end up with a comet goldfish that will need a pond or 4-6' tank someday?
I can see how in a school setting, they could be used to teach children about the benefits of trees and the importance of conserving them (although most of them are a little too young to understand the concept of urban sprawl and the like).
However, it surprises me how many adults accept them, without any preparation, and how many responsible organizations give them out, almost like living pamphlets.
I would much rather people plant carefully chosen trees on a designated site (for example, school children planting select trees around their school) rather than take some home to do whatever with...
:huh:
Personally, I'd rather celebrate Earth Day with some thoughtful community activities ala Arbor Day Foundation, rather than make it a junk/swag event involving living things.
