While planting 1000 trees and shrubs, we got to meet the coolest people at our tree planting days. We got all sorts of volunteers, from a superstar toddler in a rainbow sundress, to a geologist training the Artemis II crew on rocks of the moon, UVM and Middlebury students, AmeriCorps, passionate landowners, and retirees.
I wonder what it is about our riparian tree planting days that not only get trees in the ground, but also inspire stewards to our natural world…
“Attention is the beginning of devotion”
— Mary Oliver
Maybe this is where we start, by paying attention to detail. The detail in digging, breaking through sod, loosening soil, picking through the unwanted leaves and roots, and slowly building the new home of the bare root tree. As we ground each tree, we ground ourselves in something deeper—devotion to the natural world. We pay attention to the land.
While focusing on the perfect planting of a shrub, you also think of where in the buffer it should be planted. How far or close to the river does it want to be planted?
Planting closer to the river we notice a lack of shade, wondering what it may be like to swim under the beating sun. We might notice the lack of spots for prey hiding from predators. You hear the songs of birds you haven’t heard yet this year, as you welcome it back north with a newly planted tree. Kneeling on the ground to plant, we are level with other wildlife, allowing us to understand the importance of piles of leaves for hiding. From hands in the soil, we become aware of the ecosystem.
Maybe the attention also comes from building relationships. Learning from the tree planter next to me, who is a toddler in a rainbow tutu making the rounds to find the perfect spot for the next shrub she’ll co-plant with her dad. Across from me is a family planting together, behind me is a group of landowners discussing best management practices for invasive Japanese knotweed removal, and next to me are two devoted AmeriCorps planting all of the largest willows. From ecosystem awareness, we begin to pay attention to each other.
Tree planting requires paying attention to small details, along with the grand schemes of the ecosystem. Maybe this is what Mary Oliver meant by attention being the beginning of devotion. It has been present across our volunteer days, inspiring a group of devoted tree planters and stewards of our rivers. Trees were planted, relationships were made, and hope was instilled across our intergenerational team of volunteers.
