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Life Returns to the Forest

Do you see them?  DEER! These photos were taken in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in 2022, on a trip to take updated photos of trees that were planted there 11 years earlier.

   

 

Here's what this location looked like back in 2011...

  

When we go visit the baby trees right after they are planted, there is always an eerie quiet in the burned forest.  There is very little life there. We NEVER see deer or squirrels or critters of any kind on those trips except once in a while we'll hear a bird or two off in the distance. 

So, the fact that we saw healthy deer hanging out around the 11 year old trees makes the photo VERY special. The trees bring life back to the forest in many ways. 

 

*Click HERE to see more photos and info about the restoration of this particular forest area*

How our Baby Trees are Born

October 2023

Ever wondered about our tree planting process?

Well, here you go!

 

Step one:

After a wildfire in a National Forest, Forest Service experts inspect the area to determine if trees will grow back on their own or not.

 

 

Step Two:

To restore areas in desperate need of help, native species pinecones are gathered from areas with the same elevation and climate as the burned area.

 

 

Step Three:

Pinecones are shipped to a regional Forest Service nursery, where they dry and open.

 

 

Step Four:

Viable seeds are separated from the duds, and the good seeds are planted in high quality soil.

 

 

Step Five:

Baby trees grow in the nursery for over a year while Forest Service experts prepare the burned area and make sure it is safe for the workers and ready for planting.

 

 

Step Six: 

The baby trees are shipped back to the forest for planting. They have a very high survival rate because they are genetically ready for the climate, altitude and soil conditions of the area.

 

 

Step Seven:

 

The baby trees are planted at the optimum time of year, usually late Spring or early Summer. They grow and thrive and THANKS TO FOLKS LIKE YOU, a forest is restored. 

2021 & 2022 Angeles National Forest Update

October 2023

The Angeles National Forest baby trees planted in 2021 and 2022 were seriously impacted by the drought of 2022, and many of the trees did not make it. This is highly unusual because the planting process is very carefully planned out by the Forest Service and our trees usually have a very high survival rate. (Learn more about that here.) This is actually the first time we have lost baby trees like this since we started in 2007.

We are committed to having a thriving baby tree in the ground for every single tree dedication, so we worked with the Forest Service to replant our 2021 and 2022 trees in a different location this summer.

Alas, we recently went to visit the trees soon after they were planted and the road was closed due to a mudslide. We were REALLY disappointed about this- we were very much looking forward to getting up there and getting you all new photos of the happy and healthy baby trees.

Please know the trees are doing well, we just can't access them right now. There is no projected date as to when the road will be repaired, but we're hoping we'll be able to finally take photos next Spring. Keep your fingers crossed, and know that we'll get there as soon as possible and we'll send another email when we make it.

Tree Updates 2022

September 2022

To celebrate our 15 year anniversary, we're visiting our tree planting locations and taking updated photos. So far we've got new photos up for the following locations:

Gallatin National Forest, planted 2008

Plumas National Forest, planted 2009 & 2010

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, planted 2011 & 2012

Gallatin National Forest, planted 2013

Mendocino National Forest, planted 2014

Custom Groves

August 2021
A Custom Grove allows family and friends to contribute trees to a larger grove for $10 each. The honoree or their family gets a beautiful framed certificate and a card after the contribution period is closed. Custom Groves are free to setup and only require a minimum commitment of 20 trees.
We can set Custom Groves up for any occasion, including birthdays, memorialsnew babies, or anything else!
This Summer we had the honor of opening a Custom Grove for two very cool people, Darlene and Linda. These ladies have been friends for almost 50 years and were both turning 80 within a week of each other.
To celebrate their birthdays and their incredible friendship, they decided to open the Friends Forever Grove and ask friends and family to contribute trees instead of buying them birthday gifts. They were so proud of their (almost 300 tree!) grove, they asked for permission to make special shirts with our logo for a photo to send to contributors.
Happy Birthday, Darlene and Linda, and thank you for helping us restore the forest. May your trees grow and thrive in the spirit of friendship and love!

A Custom Grove allows family and friends to contribute trees to a larger grove for $10 each. The honoree or their family gets a beautiful framed certificate and a card after the contribution period is closed. Custom Groves are free to setup and only require a minimum commitment of 20 trees.

We can set Custom Groves up for any occasion, including  birthdays,  memorials new babies, or  anything else!

This Summer we had the honor of opening a Custom Grove for two very cool people, Darlene and Linda. These ladies have been friends for almost 50 years and were both turning 80 within a week of each other.

To celebrate their birthdays and their incredible friendship, they decided to open the  Friends Forever Grove  and ask friends and family to contribute trees instead of buying them birthday gifts. They were so proud of their (almost 300 tree!) grove, they asked for permission to make special shirts with our logo for a photo to send to contributors.

Happy Birthday, Darlene and Linda, and thank you for helping us restore the forest. May your trees grow and thrive in the spirit of friendship and love!

Tahoe Trees are Safe from Caldor Fire

September 2021
With news about the Caldor Fire burning into the Lake Tahoe area in CA, many folks are understandably concerned about the baby trees we've planted in Tahoe National Forest over the last few years.
And while reports of wildfire are always heartbreaking, the good news is that this fire is not currently a threat to our Tahoe NF trees. You can see on the map below the location of the fire compared to the areas with the purple stars, where our trees are. The fire is currently moving mostly Eastward, into the Lake Tahoe resort areas.
If you have questions about the risk to our trees when there are wildfires nearby, you might want to check out this post on the subject.

With news about the Caldor Fire burning into the Lake Tahoe area in CA, many folks are understandably concerned about the baby trees we've planted in Tahoe National Forest over the last few years.

And while reports of wildfire are always heartbreaking, the good news is that 

this fire is not currently a threat to our Tahoe NF trees.

 You can see on the map below the location of the fire compared to the 

areas with the purple stars, where our trees are. 

The fire is currently moving mostly Eastward, into the Lake Tahoe resort areas.

If you have questions about the risk to our trees when there are wildfires nearby, you might want to  check out this post on the subject.

Are Our Trees Safe in the CA Wildfires Right Now?

August 2018
As wildfires plague California yet again, folks wonder, "Are the trees I planted through Trees for a Change a year (or two, or five) ago going to burn up?"
The answer is our trees are most likely safe. And there are several reasons why:

1) Fires need fuel. Our trees are planted to restore burned areas, so there is very little fuel for another fire to come through again soon after. It takes years to build up fuel (fuel= trees and ground cover like weeds, wildflowers, pine needles, pine cones, etc.) So, in general, the more recently our trees have been planted, the less likely a big fire will come through again any time soon.

2) The U.S. Forest Service experts plant our baby trees with science and years of experience behind them. The forests we help restore are often places that were overgrown and had an abundance of fuel for the fire that came through and destroyed everything. A current day forest management practice is to restore fire burned areas in way that will help avoid overgrowth in the future. So, our baby trees are planted 10' to 15' away from each other, which makes them grow into part of a healthier forest ecosystem that is much less likely to experience another catastrophic fire. So when you plant trees with us, you're not only contributing trees to the forest, but you're helping to make that forest less fire prone in the future too.

3) The Forest Service has for many years now been working on ways to plant more fire resistant trees. One of these ways is to use seeds from pine cones from trees that survived fire. They also have some experimental forests where they can study and cultivate trees that have thicker, more fire resistant bark and more heat tolerant pine cones. No matter where the tree baby seeds come from, they are always species native to the area they are being planted in.

So, while we can't make guarantees that the forest areas we restore will never be impacted by a future fire, the overall risk is fairly low and we feel confident that our trees will live and thrive for the benefit of all for generations to come.

As wildfires plague California yet again, folks wonder, "Are the trees I planted through Trees for a Change a year (or two, or five) ago going to burn up?"

The answer is our trees are most likely safe. And there are several reasons why:

1) Fires need fuel. Our trees are planted to restore burned areas, so there is very little fuel for another fire to come through again soon after. It takes years to build up fuel (fuel= trees and ground cover like weeds, wildflowers, pine needles, pine cones, etc.) So, in general, the more recently our trees have been planted, the less likely a big fire will come through again any time soon.

2) The U.S. Forest Service experts plant our baby trees with science and years of experience behind them. The forests we help restore are often places that were overgrown and had an abundance of fuel for the fire that came through and destroyed everything. A current day forest management practice is to restore fire burned areas in way that will help avoid overgrowth in the future. So, our baby trees are planted 10' to 15' away from each other, which makes them grow into part of a healthier forest ecosystem that is much less likely to experience another catastrophic fire. So when you plant trees with us, you're not only contributing trees to the forest, but you're helping to make that forest less fire prone in the future too.

3) The Forest Service has for many years now been working on ways to plant more fire resistant trees. One of these ways is to use seeds from pine cones from trees that survived fire. They also have some experimental forests where they can study and cultivate trees that have thicker, more fire resistant bark and more heat tolerant pine cones. No matter where the tree baby seeds come from, they are always species native to the area they are being planted in.

So, while we can't make guarantees that the forest areas we restore will never be impacted by a future fire, the overall risk is fairly low and we feel confident that our trees will live and thrive for the benefit of all for generations to come.

Wildfire Restoration FAQ

August 2021

It's wildfire season, and there are fires burning all over the U.S. right now, so we thought we'd answer some frequently asked questions about forest fire restoration. 
 
Isn't fire good for a forest sometimes? 
Yes, in a healthy forest, a fire will clear out a lot of brush and smaller trees and leave the older, more established trees standing and thriving with less competition for resources. But in an overgrown forest that is dry and dense, fires can completely obliterate trees and pine cones.

What is a "healthy forest?" 
In a healthy forest, the trees have proper spacing so they get plenty of water and sunshine to thrive.  Fire suppression practices of the past (we used to think all fire was bad and we tried to put them all out) have led to more dense forests. And, climate change and drought have dried out our trees so some of our forests are now more susceptible to disease and fire devastation.
 
Why do some forests regrow themselves after a fire and some don't? 
If pinecones managed to survive the fire, then trees will likely be able to grow on their own in that area eventually. However, if the fire got hot enough to destroy most of the pinecones, then the area will need help with restoration as the trees won't be able to regrow on their own.
Don't some pinecones need fire to open up and distribute seeds?
Yes, these are called serotinous cones and they require high temperatures to melt the waxy coating on the cones and open them. However, even serotinous cones can be destroyed in very high temperature fires. 
 
Why is it important to restore fire burned areas through Trees for a Change? 
Our trees are always planted in areas the U.S. Forest Service has specifically designated for restoration, areas where the burned trees will not regenerate on their own. Our trees are planted and managed to become a healthy forest that will be less susceptible to fire devastation in the future. Healthy forests contribute greatly to our eco system and help fight climate change.
Every tree makes a difference! 
It's wildfire season, and there are fires burning all over the U.S. right now, so we thought we'd answer some frequently asked questions about forest fire restoration. 

Isn't fire good for a forest sometimes? 

Yes, in a healthy forest, a fire will clear out a lot of brush  and smaller trees and leave the older, more established trees standing and thriving with less competition for resources. But in an overgrown forest that is dry and dense, fires can completely obliterate trees and pine cones.

What is a "healthy forest?" 

In a healthy forest, the trees have proper spacing so they get plenty of water and sunshine to thrive.  Fire suppression practices of the past (we used to think all fire was bad and we tried to put them all out) have led to more dense forests. And, climate change and drought have dried out our trees so some of our forests are now more susceptible to disease and fire devastation.

Why do some forests regrow themselves after a fire and some don't? 

If pinecones managed to survive the fire, then trees will likely be able to grow on their own in that area eventually. However, if the fire got hot enough to destroy most of the pinecones, then the area will need help with restoration as the trees won't be able to regrow on their own.

on't some pinecones need fire to open up and distribute seeds?

Yes, these are called serotinous cones and they require high temperatures to melt the waxy coating on the cones and open them. However, even serotinous cones can be destroyed in very high temperature fires.

Why is it important to restore fire burned areas through Trees for a Change? 

Our trees are always planted in areas the U.S. Forest Service has specifically designated for restoration, areas where the burned trees will not regenerate on their own. Our trees are planted and managed to become a healthy forest that will be less susceptible to fire devastation in the future. Healthy forests contribute greatly to our eco system and help fight climate change.

Every tree makes a difference! 

7 Different Sympathy Gifts to Give to Someone in Grief

<This is a guest post courtesy of Christine Gatuiria, whose writing is often featured on Funeralocity.>

Mourning the loss of a loved one is a very personal experience, and comforting those who are grieving is not an easy task. Sending a thoughtful sympathy gift is an excellent way to show empathy and support people during a difficult time.

There isn’t a set timeline for giving sympathy gifts – you can do it before or after the funeral, even if you weren’t able to attend the service. You may also send a condolence card or letter along with a gift to express your concern. Be sure to write down a thoughtful sentiment or share a special picture in the card.

If you were close to the deceased but didn’t know their family well, sending a gift to the family is a considerate way to honor your friend and show compassion for their loss. Here are some unique and creative ideas for sympathy gifts to give someone in grief:

Memorial Tree

Planting a tree as a memorial gift is a touching tribute that gives back to nature and allows the memory of your loved one to live on. Memorial trees are perfect sympathy gifts to honor those who loved spending time outdoors, and unlike funeral flowers, memorial trees serve as a lasting, organic reminder of the circle of life.

Dedicating a memorial tree to the memory of a loved one is an affordable and unique sympathy gift that can be shared by many generations of family and friends.

Memorial Photo Album

A picture is worth a thousand words, and if you have candid photos of the deceased that the family may not have seen, creating a personalized memorial album is a wonderful gift idea. You can compile assorted photos posted on social media sites – or selfies taken during happy occasions – to present to the family.

A visual reminder of a life lived well is a perfect way to memorialize the deceased and is easily shared with others.

Memorial Wind Chimes 

A personalized wind chime engraved with the name of a loved one is a unique sympathy gift. Wind chimes are made of wood or metal, and are usually placed in outdoor settings where the natural movement of air produces a melodious tinkling. This pleasant sound can evoke distinct memories of a loved one, especially if they were musically inclined.

In ancient cultures, wind chimes were often used to ward off evil spirits lurking near the home, however, modern wind chimes are popular for bringing positive energy into one’s surroundings. The cheerful sounds help with contemplation and introspection during a time of bereavement and grief

Extra Days Off

Most full-time employees receive only three days of paid time off for the funeral of an immediate family member, and planning a funeral can be lengthy process. Families have to make difficult decisions in a short period of time, which is especially stressful if they’re juggling multiple job duties and project deadlines.

Giving your coworker extra days off by gifting them your unused vacation time helps ease the burden of funeral planning by allowing them more time to cope with the loss of their loved one. Before offering this as a sympathy gift, check with your employer about their policies regarding sharing vacation time.

Living Memorial Wreath

While funeral floral bouquets are beautiful, the blossoms eventually die. A living memorial wreath made of hardy succulents is a great sympathy gift in lieu of flowers, as they’re made to last a long time and don’t require extensive care.

You can buy a premade wreath online or craft your own succulent wreath as a special tribute to the deceased.

Memorial Candle Holder 

Candles are popular sympathy gifts and have a unique symbolism. In some religions, they’re lit during prayer to represent light in darkness. Candlelight is also known to kindle feelings of comfort and safety, and is often used during meditation to focus attention and breath.

Certain scents might be able to capture the essence of a loved one, which can help someone cope with a loss by reminding them of special memories. Candles come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and make perfect condolence gifts when accompanied with a memorial candle holder engraved with a personalized inscription.

Memorial Stones

Memorial stones engraved with a personal message, picture, or symbol are unique sympathy gifts built to last forever. Outdoor memorial garden stones are easy to place in a meaningful location that family members visit on special anniversaries. Memorial stones can be fashioned out various materials including concrete and marble, and they also make perfect pet memorials. 

This is a guest post courtesy of Christine Gatuiria, whose writing is often featured on Funeralocity.

Mourning the loss of a loved one is a very personal experience, and comforting those who are grieving is not an easy task. Sending a thoughtful sympathy gift is an excellent way to show empathy and support people during a difficult time.

There isn’t a set timeline for giving sympathy gifts – you can do it before or after the funeral, even if you weren’t able to attend the service. You may also send a condolence card or letter along with a gift to express your concern. Be sure to write down a thoughtful sentiment or share a special picture in the card.

If you were close to the deceased but didn’t know their family well, sending a gift to the family is a considerate way to honor your friend and show compassion for their loss. Here are some unique and creative ideas for sympathy gifts to give someone in grief:

Memorial Tree

Planting a tree as a memorial gift is a touching tribute that gives back to nature and allows the memory of your loved one to live on. Memorial trees are perfect sympathy gifts to honor those who loved spending time outdoors, and unlike funeral flowers, memorial trees serve as a lasting, organic reminder of the circle of life.

Dedicating a memorial tree to the memory of a loved one is an affordable and unique sympathy gift that can be shared by many generations of family and friends.

Memorial Photo Album

A picture is worth a thousand words, and if you have candid photos of the deceased that the family may not have seen, creating a personalized memorial album is a wonderful gift idea. You can compile assorted photos posted on social media sites – or selfies taken during happy occasions – to present to the family.

A visual reminder of a life lived well is a perfect way to memorialize the deceased and is easily shared with others.

Memorial Wind Chimes 

A personalized wind chime engraved with the name of a loved one is a unique sympathy gift. Wind chimes are made of wood or metal, and are usually placed in outdoor settings where the natural movement of air produces a melodious tinkling. This pleasant sound can evoke distinct memories of a loved one, especially if they were musically inclined.

In ancient cultures, wind chimes were often used to ward off evil spirits lurking near the home, however, modern wind chimes are popular for bringing positive energy into one’s surroundings. The cheerful sounds help with contemplation and introspection during a time of bereavement and grief

Extra Days Off

Most full-time employees receive only three days of paid time off for the funeral of an immediate family member, and planning a funeral can be lengthy process. Families have to make difficult decisions in a short period of time, which is especially stressful if they’re juggling multiple job duties and project deadlines.

Giving your coworker extra days off by gifting them your unused vacation time helps ease the burden of funeral planning by allowing them more time to cope with the loss of their loved one. Before offering this as a sympathy gift, check with your employer about their policies regarding sharing vacation time.

Living Memorial Wreath

While funeral floral bouquets are beautiful, the blossoms eventually die. A living memorial wreath made of hardy succulents is a great sympathy gift in lieu of flowers, as they’re made to last a long time and don’t require extensive care.

You can buy a premade wreath online or craft your own succulent wreath as a special tribute to the deceased.

Memorial Candle Holder 

Candles are popular sympathy gifts and have a unique symbolism. In some religions, they’re lit during prayer to represent light in darkness. Candlelight is also known to kindle feelings of comfort and safety, and is often used during meditation to focus attention and breath.

Certain scents might be able to capture the essence of a loved one, which can help someone cope with a loss by reminding them of special memories. Candles come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and make perfect condolence gifts when accompanied with a memorial candle holder engraved with a personalized inscription.

Memorial Stones

Memorial stones engraved with a personal message, picture, or symbol are unique sympathy gifts built to last forever. Outdoor memorial garden stones are easy to place in a meaningful location that family members visit on special anniversaries. Memorial stones can be fashioned out various materials including concrete and marble, and they also make perfect pet memorials. 

Why Tree Gifts are Great for Corporate Events

*This is a guest post courtesy of Ariel Chiu, Principal Planner and Owner at Wonderstruck Weddings & Events.*

There is never any shortage of events for your business or corporation, which means you constantly need to think of gifts to hand out to your clients and/or employees. It can be difficult trying to think of something unique every time, rather than something boring like basic stationery with your corporate logo on it.

If you need something new and thoughtful as a great new gift at a corporate event, tree gifts are growing in popularity. They come in one of two forms: a tree that is planted in honor of your guests, or an actual tree sapling they can take home and plant themselves. Here's why tree gifts are great gifts for corporate events:

Tree Dedications

Tree dedications as gifts work by ordering from a company like Trees for a Change that plants the trees in a forest that needs restoration due to fires, floods, or other types of wide-scale deforestation. As a gift, you can purchase all the trees needed for the people on your guest list and have the donations made in their name, and present them with the card that acts as a physical presentation of the donation. There are a few reasons why this makes a great gift for a corporate event:

  • It makes your guests feel good for contributing to a worthy cause
  • It is a highly unique type of gift rather than the usual swag no one ever actually uses
  • It can help generate good PR for your company (the cards can include your logo)

The latter reason is especially true for companies that work in any semi-related sphere to the environment, or if they are located close to a National Forest as part of their community.

Tree Saplings

Another type of tree gift that you can give out are actual saplings. There are advantages and disadvantages to using these as a tree gift instead of a dedication. The advantage is the person gets a physical gift of their own — which they might prefer — but the disadvantage is that there's no guarantee the tree will be planted or properly cared for to make sure it can grow.

However, there's no reason why you can't try both! You'll undoubtedly have future events where you can try one, and then the other. Saplings work great as gifts around relevant holidays — give an evergreen tree sapling out around Christmas, or any of the better looking local tree species around Arbor Day. Then, at a different corporate event that doesn't have that convenient timing, you can opt for tree dedications as your event gift.

 

About the Author:

Ariel Chiu is the Principal Planner and Owner of Wonderstruck Weddings & Events, a corporate event and wedding planning company located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Ariel Understands how special life events can be. She believes that these important memories should be cherished. Ariel feels honored to have been involved with successfully organizing and coordinating weddings in any season, and bringing dreams to life through her confessions.

*This is a guest post courtesy of Ariel Chiu, Principal Planner and Owner at Wonderstruck Weddings Events.*

There is never any shortage of events for your business or corporation, which means you constantly need to think of gifts to hand out to your clients and/or employees. It can be difficult trying to think of something unique every time, rather than something boring like basic stationery with your corporate logo on it.

If you need something new and thoughtful as a great new gift at a corporate event, tree gifts are growing in popularity. They come in one of two forms: a tree that is planted in honor of your guests, or an actual tree sapling they can take home and plant themselves. Here's why tree gifts are great gifts for corporate events:

Tree Dedications

Tree dedications as gifts work by ordering from a company like Trees for a Change that plants the trees in a forest that needs restoration due to fires, floods, or other types of wide-scale deforestation. As a gift, you can purchase all the trees needed for the people on your guest list and have the donations made in their name, and present them with the card that acts as a physical presentation of the donation. There are a few reasons why this makes a great gift for a corporate event:

  • It makes your guests feel good for contributing to a worthy cause
  • It is a highly unique type of gift rather than the usual swag no one ever actually uses
  • It can help generate good PR for your company (the cards can include your logo)

The latter reason is especially true for companies that work in any semi-related sphere to the environment, or if they are located close to a National Forest as part of their community.

Tree Saplings

Another type of tree gift that you can give out are actual saplings. There are advantages and disadvantages to using these as a tree gift instead of a dedication. The advantage is the person gets a physical gift of their own — which they might prefer — but the disadvantage is that there's no guarantee the tree will be planted or properly cared for to make sure it can grow.

However, there's no reason why you can't try both! You'll undoubtedly have future events where you can try one, and then the other. Saplings work great as gifts around relevant holidays — give an evergreen tree sapling out around Christmas, or any of the better looking local tree species around Arbor Day. Then, at a different corporate event that doesn't have that convenient timing, you can opt for tree dedications as your event gift.

About the Author:

Ariel Chiu is the Principal Planner and Owner of Wonderstruck Weddings Events, a corporate event and wedding planning company located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Ariel Understands how special life events can be. She believes that these important memories should be cherished. Ariel feels honored to have been involved with successfully organizing and coordinating weddings in any season, and bringing dreams to life through her confessions.

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