Planting a field of trees
It's no secret how much I love planting trees and on Friday, I had a little dream come true. I planted a field of Christmas trees at my farm - 640 trees, to be exact! My television crew was there, documenting the event for a special show this week about Arbor Day. The job was fun and fast, thanks to Jeff Sutherland. Jeff runs a Christmas Tree Farm in Elk Creek, Virginia and he was kind enough to supply the 5-year-old seedlings, which he grew from seed, and he also brought along his efficient tree planting machine. Using this machine, Jeff plants more than 60,000 Christmas trees each year.
The field is located in a far corner of the farm adjacent to my rather enormous compost piles. I thought that a row of White Pine planted along the compost area would grow tall and eventually mask those piles. In front of the White Pine, we planted rows of Frasier Fir, Canaan Fir, Norway Spruce, and Blue Spruce. I am very happy about this project because I feel so strongly about reforestation. The earth so desperately needs trees and the more planted, the better. Arbor Day is April 24th. To find out more about what you can do to help, visit www.Arborday.org. Also, see what my dogs Francesca and Sharkey had to say about it on The Daily Wag!
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Hi Martha, This tree planting machinery is very cool, as is your planting of 500 trees. I love trees!! I wish everyone had your appreciation of the value of forestry and how much we need more reforestation of our planet. However, you do your part, don't you? Thank you for making a difference!! Sincerely.
Posted by: Frances Jackson | April 20th, 2009 at 12:12 am
500 trees! I'll say this, Martha, you *never* do things in a small way. May they grow and thrive.
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | April 20th, 2009 at 1:21 am
PS. I hope you had a wonderful day here in So. California. Clear and beautiful and HOT! Enjoy--looks like summer is arriving early.
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | April 20th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Dear Martha,
Wow! amazing and wonderful project! Good luck. In part of our gardens were we have Pine trees we have Frasier Fir and Blue Spruce trees and they are amazingly beautiful.
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you about THE CEDARS OF LEBANON in my country, they are an integral part of the history of the country just as the ancient cities of Byblos, Tyre and Baalbeck. They date back to ancient times, when the Phoenicians were exporting cedar-wood to the Pharaohs from the apparently inexhaustible forests, which at the time covered the upper reaches of the mountains. The wood was not only used for construction but more especially for nobler purposes; this was the sacred wood of the gods and used to honour the dead, a task to which the peoples of the ancient Orient attached deep importance.
The cedars of today are very few in number because they have been overexploited, but their isolation gives them even greater majesty, evoking some awesome presence in the pure silence of the mountain peaks, standing strong under the snow amid sparking cascades or locked in grim struggle against the desolation of bare rock.
Dear Martha, Kindly check the links, it will be a great privilege to show you some photos of the Cedar trees in Lebanon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedars_of_lebanon
The Cedar of Lebanon is mentioned numerous times in the Bible.
http://www.habeeb.com/cedar.of.lebanon.in.the.bible.html
http://www.habeeb.com/cedar.of.lebanon/cedars.of.lebanon.photos.5.html
http://www.habeeb.com/cedar.of.lebanon/cedars.of.lebanon.photos.6.html
God Bless
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | April 20th, 2009 at 3:34 am
That is a wonderful thing to do. I am a fruit tree planter myself, they bring such joy and bounty.
Posted by: Blushing Hostess | April 20th, 2009 at 6:40 am
it is amazing Martha and so are you!may they all grow.
Posted by: mympe | April 20th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Oh Martha!!! How lovely lovely lovely. I am so happy you did this to a field on your farm. I am a tree lover too. You are so right, the world needs lots more trees and one should plant trees whenever and wherever they can. May they grow and thrive.
Here where I live in Philadelphia, they have had a tree planting project for a couple of years. Entire city blocks have been planted with trees. Right across the street from where I live we had barren streets with not a tree in sight and they are now planted with lots and lots of trees. If I live long enough I will be surrounded by tall beautiful trees (lots of them).
Hooray for trees, I love them. Everyone, remember Arbor Day on April 24th...plant a tree.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | April 20th, 2009 at 8:23 am
How very interesting the planting process is...love that machinery! Also love the selections you have chosen to plant. Everyone should plant a tree on Arbor Day...it's such a good thing!
Posted by: Sherey | April 20th, 2009 at 11:00 am
What a great spring activity. Of course we did not see Martha wearing a hat, what is with that Martha?
Hope you keep a frequent review going so we will know about the grass mowing, rabbit chasing(F&S?), pruning, etc.
Thanks.
Posted by: Margie | April 20th, 2009 at 11:02 am
This reminded me of a summer job I had when i was a teenager. We used to sit behind similar thing - five of us - and plant thousands of trees. It was a forest nursery in Finland and the seedlings were about same size. I hope your forest will be amazing and with the level of care and love you show to it Martha, I am sure it will.
Titta,
Dublin, Ireland
Posted by: Titta | April 20th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I'm having to talk to myself, right out loud, as I view these pictures - more from your many galleries, of which make my heart go pitterpatter! OMGoodness, this is fabulous! All these trees! What wonderful starter-seedlings, too!
Technology is something nowadays, isn't it?!! The tree planter sure does make quick work out of an earlier-day back-breaking task! I read on Twitter this morning that you were planting trees (and replied back to you that, agreeing with Trish, you WERE the one to 'follow'! [giggle] ) I will definitely look forward to this show later this week.
Give these trees about 5 years, and they will r-e-a-l-l-y begin to take off! Think about the natural cover this sizable grove will provide for wildlife! (Oh Martha!) During the cold winters, the evergreens will provide protection from the cold and wind for many a songbird (and other creatures of God's - great AND small).
=^..^=
"All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all."
--Cecil F Alexander--
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | April 20th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
How pretty! You'll surely get some nice winter pictures of those evergreens. Also, just think of how many birds will nest & attract wildlife. Good for you!
Posted by: Sherry | April 20th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
You cracked me up on today's TV show---you were in rare form with the blow torch and the decorative painting!
What's wrong with painting a room with that blue, anyway??!? It's all about *color* right?
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | April 20th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Martha,
you are my hero! everything you do is so inspiring to me. you are a thoughtful person with so many amazing ideas! Thank you for your work and for all your interesting and uplifting blog articles and television content.
with love from Ventura, Ca,
Karen C.
Posted by: Karen | April 20th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Hi Martha, This was one of the coolest and most fun blogs that you have done so far! I just love it!!! It felt like I was right there on your farm with all of you helping to plant all 500 trees! I love your big tractor and that planting machine was absolutely the best! Did Jeff make that machine? It is the most efficient planting mechanism I have ever seen! Oh, how I would love to work on your farm! When can I start?!!! Waiting for the Leno show to start. It isn't on for another hour. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | April 21st, 2009 at 1:28 am
That's awesome! I can't do things on as grand a scale as you, of course, but I was just home and checked on my own little tree farm. I have a 6x6 pit in the backyard right where it joins to the surrounding woods; I transplant tree seedlings that pop up in my garden beds and lawn until they are big enough to survive on their own in the woods. When they carved our backyard out of the woods on our lots, they just cut straight into the middle of the forest and didn't bother to create a new edge. So I am using these trees (mainly vine maple and weeping hemlock) to create a new edge and understory for the animals and to keep the big doug firs happy and healthy.
I wish your show wasn't so delayed over here Martha, I'm never sure what I'm going to get. But I do love your podcasts!!!
Posted by: Christine | April 21st, 2009 at 2:49 am
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A CARD READ 'ROUND THE WORLD
GOOGLE../card-read-round-world.html
Headlined in PEOPLE MAGAZINE and UNLEASHED MOUTH was the tragic propane accident involving one of Martha's Chows and 17 other canines. ...
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________________________
While sitting under your favorite tree, please contribute to the RECOVERY CARD FOR TIMOTHY. If anyone in my absence this month would care to assist in placing a few names each day on this perpetual card, please GOOGLE Unleashed Mouth.
Thank you,
A and W's
.
Posted by: andrea and the weimaraners & unleashed mouth | April 21st, 2009 at 9:22 am
Good Morning, Martha.
Love watching your show everyday. I can't believe I missed last weeks show with the star from the Tudors, Jonathan Rhys Meyers. He is such a great actor, he really convinces me that he is King Henry. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for all that you do. If you ever have a chance, I have a online antiques collectible store could you please take a moment and sign my guestbook, that would really make my day...
Have a great week!
Sincerely, Lorena Austin
Posted by: Lorena Austin | April 21st, 2009 at 9:38 am
dear martha stewart,
i am so happy that i finally send some words to you. my name is shirly from kuala lumpur, malaysia. well, i have been a big fan of yours since long time ago. but the things that make me unhappy is that i only can watch your programme which is delayed. for example, if i want to watch you this year programme, i have to wait untuil next year because the tv station in malaysia will telecast the delayed programme. this make me really dissapointed. normally i will go to the cyber cafe so that i can watch some of your show because i dont have my own PC to go through.
anyway, i hope thet one day u will come to malaysia and experience my country which is full of cultures, food and travel. till then i will write to you again soon. all the best to you. bye.
regards,
shirly
kuala lumpur, malaysia
Posted by: Shirly Rini | April 21st, 2009 at 10:00 am
Ha-ha! Agree with MMC. That's our Martha...
Posted by: Marie | April 22nd, 2009 at 5:10 am
Hey... Thats one bit of heartening news that people still plant trees by hundreds. Keep up the good work. Mother Earth will bless you
Posted by: Ishrath | April 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 am
guess it's a hit or miss thing with the comments...or you just didn't like what I said *!* anyway don't remember what I wrote yesterday but just wnated to comment that you are "Blessed to be able to plant that many trees" good for you, thanks for helping save the world...
Posted by: delia | April 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 am
I lOVE YOU YOUR MY HERO MARTHA
Posted by: Jane Luly | April 22nd, 2009 at 9:38 am
Planting trees is SO cool.
i love seals!
and you martha,
YOU ROCK
Posted by: Hannah Hcsobarg | April 22nd, 2009 at 9:41 am
I love trees, they are like friends to me. So I guess that makes me a tree hugger, and I am proud to be one! Planting new trees is an awesome thing to do for our Earth! I enjoyed the Earth show very much. It was not only entertaining but informative as well. The new movie "Earth" is a must see for everyone. Thanks for the show Martha. I respect and admire you.
P.S. I do so remember the "Cedars of Lebanon" from Bible history, they must be awesome trees to have been chosen for Israel's first temple by Soloman. I can understand MMC from San Diego for being proud of them!
Posted by: Warren McClelland | April 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Good show on trees. I grow christmas trees as did my father in Washington. My sons and daughter planted trees to put themselves thru University. Son Ken set a world record by planting over 15,000 trees in ONE day and holds the Guiness world record, See the 2007 issue, pg 33.
Thanks, Ron Chaplin, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada
Posted by: Ron Chaplin | April 24th, 2009 at 4:16 pm