REFLECTION ON TREE PLANTING

Date of Experience:10-10-10 :D

Location of Experience: near UBD campus- area designated . My trees are on the left side of the road just above where Dr. Irene was planting.

Purpose of experience:
COmmunity Action-

 

Highlight of the experience:

We arrived ( I about thirty minutes late because i got lost trying to walk) early in the morning, grabbed a couple shovels and started digging.

Each student was to plant 4 small karamunting trees as a way to improve the environment by lessening carbon emissions we put out everyday via transport, improper disposal, and using technology. This experience taught students how to plant trees properly and how to make the difference.

What aspect caused you the most anxiety?

When I heard we would be planting four trees each I was anxious and a little disappointed but enjoyed getting dirty and taking some stress out with the very small shovel. I have planted things like flowers and small plants but not trees and i suppose I was intimidated by the the steep slope and tools. Seeing the tree successfully in the ground and knowing that it will grow tall like the others surrounding it is the ultimate highlight of my experience.

Was there any aspect of the experience that suprised you?

I was suprised to learn that the karamunting tree has become an endangered species and was relieved that the forestry department and the BEACA plecturers ares taking the initiative to rebuild the species quantity. Physically I was suprised at how quickly I was able to plant the trees. Planting a single tree involves hard work but once you get the hang of planting one tree, the rest aren't nearly as difficult.

What were the three most important things you learnt from the experience?

1. the proper way to plant a tree - including measurements and furtalizers.

2. That the karamunting tree is a part of the endangered species list and our efforts to help take this species off the list is a step toward a more stable environment.

3. 2 is only possible if the maintenance of the tree is taken care of.

Which aspects would you include in your future behavior based on your learnings from this experience?

Planting the trees felt good and I enjoy helping make our environment a better habitat for all. Therefore, if there are tree planting activities I am much more likely to participate. Next time though I would like to plant more than four trees. I now look at a tree differently- I find myself taking the time to think of the growth stages and have become to appreciate a tall healthy tree. It is unfrotunate that it takes so long for a tree to grow and then it's just cut down for quick scratch paper but thats the world we live in. It's fortunate however, that there are people who go out of their way to help the environment like the BEACA professors and lecturers in collaborating to raise awareness of environmental matters and show students how to make a difference. Thank you for this opportunity,

Christine Lynn Hixenbaugh, 10N0001, 22, October, 2010