PROJECT GREEN;Tree planting project

What is a TREE?

What is the importance of trees? Literally, we would be breathless without them, there would be no beauty and no color to break the monotony of existence, no food for thought nor for the belly, no medicine to heal our wounds, no shade from the unrelenting summer sun, no breeze whispering through the pines, no cover for mountainsides, no meadows filled with fragrances, no forests with golden canopies in the autumn, no lushness. In one word, trees are indispensable. As the great Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said, “If you have a sapling in your hand and you are overtaken by the Day of Judgement, plant it.”

Trees are a promise and a paying forward currency. Planting trees is a sign of gratefulness and a hope, for all the abundance we have reaped and all the lushness and ripeness that we desire for the future.  Trees are the anchors which root our memories of childhood, which embody the flowering of our youth, the resilience of old age.  They are the true sign of “fountain of youth,” if ever there was one, because they allow one to live in positivity forever.

The SEED

It was a hot and devastatingly  sunny day, with no respite for my little head, when the thought popped into my head. Why don’t we have trees here? Shade would be nice, and  it just might be a little cooler, too. As I surveyed the land around me, my eyes rested upon the mosque in front of my house. It was small, but it served as the centerpoint , a meeting place, a place for children to play around in the evenings.  However, there wasn’t a single tree to brighten the sight.

I spoke to my father, who spoke to the imam, to ask permission if we could plant trees around the mosque.  The imam was happy to oblige, he thought it would add beauty to the surroundings. Although I had been zealous to begin the project, I had never planted a single tree in my life. I didn’t know the first thing about it, so I sat down and made a plan.

The PLAN

First, I needed to assemble a team, other like minded teens who could help maintain the project, I needed the community to be aware of the need for more trees, although they do take time and effort.  I needed help from a gardener who know what type of trees to plant and how to take care of them.

What better place to start awareness and recruiting then from my own family? My father was already inclined, so I pitched the project to my mother and my sisters.  I thought I would speak to the boys and the men, and they would spread the word among the women and girls, because everyone knows moms have superpowers! They can make you do anything, from sweeping the kitchen floor to writing poetry when you don’t have the knack for it, to defogging your brain—they make you shine like a star, with their love, their persistence, and their determination.

My mother hosted tea for the local ladies in the evening and spoke to  them about the planting project. The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and thankful as they were aware of the need yet lacking any coherent plan and funds. My father and I spoke to the men after prayers, in the mosque. They too were quite happy and some of the boys volunteered to help dig the ground while others offered to water the plants.  

The SEARCH

Once the community was engaged, I looked for some helpers. I needed to know what types of trees to plant, whether they would be suited to the semiarid climate, any special fertilizers that should be used.  I went with my father to the nursey and discussed my plan with the owner. He was very kind and helpful. We looked around and decided to purchase 14 trees-4 black mulberry trees, 4 melia Azedarach-beautiful flowering plants with medicinal properties, 3 neem trees (azadirachta indica), 2 jasmin plants, 1 lemon tree.

My priority when choosing the trees was to ensure native, beneficial, beautiful trees.  I wanted the community to take pride in the care of the trees as well as ensuring the trees benefited the community by providing not only shade, but also fruit,fragrance and coolness to the eyes.  I think for the most part I was successful in bringing all these qualities together in our tree planting project.

Furthermore, I hadn’t a clue about what soil and depth and fertilizers to use. Again, I went back to the nursey, as well as the local leaders to discuss all the finer points of planting. Along the way, consulted with Gardener Google to make sure I covered all the basis. Overall, local knowledge and know how was the best guide. We decided that we would use cow/buffalo manure as natural fertilizer, as it was easily available, locally sourced, and would employ local people to bring and add to the plants as needed.  .

The DIRT

After several weeks of awareness campaigning, planning and purchasing, we were ready to get our hands dirty. We chose the morning of Friday, June 9th 2023 for our groundbreaking, as it is an auspicious day. Excitement filled the air as the boys and girls along with their parents waited to start digging.  The village people had their own shovels ready. The intoxicating smell of pure earth, fresh and life giving, surrounded us as we started digging 14 holes.  The trees were to be planted on two sides of the mosque while the front was left untouched. We had teams of 2-3 boys and men per team and same for the girls and women. There was a spirit of competition as each team tried to finish first. 

The Fountain of YOUTH

Among a lot of goodwill and fun, 14 trees were planted, that still stand today.  This is my legacy, and I am very proud of my trees! They not only give me a sense of accomplishment but also a sense of having given something to the community which will InShaAllah outlive me. They  will be my fountain of youth. I imagine children playing beneath their shade, eating of their fruits and enjoying their fragrance.

PROJECT LEAD: SALAMULLAH SALEH