Taking Care of Our Little Saplings

Follow up Tree Planting

Date of Experience:We have been required to keep out saplings healthy SINCE October 10

Location of experience: Near water tower behind UBD (My tree saplings are on the left following the street.

Purpose of experience : Keep maintenance of tree saplings prior planted on the above beginning date

What aspect caused you the most anxiety?

As I hadn't easy transport to the site, I had anxiety thinking if my saplings were okay. Because they are near the base and in the brush I knew they were shaded and had enough water (logic of gravity & the heavy rains recently). I didn't make it to the site until a couple weeks after and one of my saplings had died due to unexpected exposure to sunlight. There was a hole in the brush that directed the sunlight like a beam over my sapling and unfortunately 3/4 only remain.


Was there any aspect of the experience that surprised you?

I was surprised that it takes more than just planting a tree to keep it healthy. I thought that if you plant a tree, it will automatically develop a system that created vitamins from the outier atmosphere and minerals in the dirt. I wasn't aware prior that a tree would need unnatural help. Furthermore, because we planted them in an unnatural way, it makes sense.

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

1. That planted (and natural) trees are not self-sustainable- they need nutrients, adequate water, and sunlight to breath, eat, and be healthy- like us!

2. If you are to plant something, you need to also be responsible and take care of it. Before, I wanted to have my own garden but with this experience, I think I will start with a few house plants instead. :)

3. Saving the environment is something in which takes a group participation and cannot be don emy just one person. People need to work together for the betterment of the environment. If you have 100 trees split into 10 people, it only takes a couple people to be irresponsible to ruin 20% of the initial group effort.

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

I have learnt that taking care of the environment takes a lot of work, time, and experience to learn how to help in an efficient way. I do plan to participate in activities to help save the environment but when I am busy with school and later, when I am working- i will remember this activity. This has given me the idea to later show students/staff/employees (in whatever occupation I am in) that the environment is important and I pledge now, to get people together to help aid the environment. If I am not available- I will help in other ways, like donation, or spreading the word on environmental matters and activities in my area.

Christine Lynn Hixenbaugh, 10N0001, 7, November, 2010