By this time next week I will be back on the farm. I am sure everyone will be mad at me for being away so long but every one of my destinations is so far from the other. I have used up way too much of my carbon allotment through flying this year.
We all know that burning jet fuel releases greenhouse gases. I have read reports that one flight from the West to the East coast across the U.S. produces at a minimum 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide. Yikes.
Aunty Google tells me that one full grown hardwood tree can sequester 48 pounds of carbon a year. This means it will sequester approximately 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. Hmm.
Using simple terms carbon should stay in the soil. When I burned that jet fuel I took a bunch and released it into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. I need to pay that back. Get that carbon locked back into the soil. My way of returning that carbon to the soil is by planting trees. Trees are the magic in my equation.
Which means I pay for every plane ticket twice. Once for the seat. Once for the trees.
In the past I have planted one tree for every flight in whatever country I land in. With the escalation in climate change becoming so clear now, I think I need to up my game. I need to work out how many trees it will take to grab that lost carbon back out of the atmosphere and sink it back into the soil.
Old trees, small trees, young trees, bushes, weeds, wild fairy flowerbeds, fields of organic wheat and fields of grass for cows; all promote carbon capture as a result of the interactions between living plants, fungi, bacteria, and other soil organisms. Ironically those roaming large mammals are part of this chain too – as long as we keep them moving across the land. (Wolves do the moving in the wild. Good farmers do this in the fields). All those fantastic microbes and tiny living organisms in your soil are the key to locking carbon back into the soil.
Live soil is everything on so many levels.
The best time to plant a tree is now. (Or in a week)!!
When I get back to the farm I will show you how the Fellowship Forest is growing. Then we will add to it. Actually there is more than one forest we are growing. I am only planting Illinois native trees, now. And maples! I love maple syrup. And we need 40 years to grow a good maple syrup tree too.
Ava has been my constant companion out here in California. Always someone to miss. It is the way of life.
Talk soon.
Cecilia
🌳And don’t forget – if you want to have a tree planted for YOU out in the Fellowship Forest, please feel free to donate using the PayPal button. In the space for a note write ‘DONATION FOR TREES’.
PS Sorry about the lack of new pictures. This time next week I will have heaps!
The Kitchen's Garden 
32 responses to “Once for the Seat. Once for the Tree.”
Excellent idea and I’m lookin forward to seeing the farm again!
As am I!!!
I bet!
How much does it cost you to buy a local, appropriate seedling? I can’t plant anything here.
I am going to check out the sale trees in a local native tree nursery. It all depends on the size of course. There will be a range – so any donation will bring home a tree for you.
I love the idea of that, paying for both the seat and the trees!
Yes! It makes sense to me!
glad you had a chance to go and looking forward to reading about your return
I has been grand! Hopefully many more travels to come!
I have planted three trees this year. I will donate them to you, as I can’t make long journeys by air any longer due to my back.
Three trees is wonderful! May they grow strong and well!
Amen. Fruit trees are always rewarding, they lock up carbon AND they feed you and the wildlife.
Kate & Celi, I just planted 3 trees Friday in memory of a beloved friend; I will try to do more.
As I can no longer travel, tree planting is a healing thing to do for our precious
world. And besides everything else, for the beauty of the Earth. Your trees & forest there on the Farmy are wonderful to behold!.
And when we know our beneficial actions are part of a resilience web that assists trees who use a network of soil fungi to communicate their needs and aid neighboring plants… that is true magic!
Indeed it is! Trees talk to each other!
I have just flown back from Sicily to the UK so a good time to donate to your forest. Thank you SO much. Welcome back to the farmy, really looking forward to pictures and tales. Andyx
Sicilia! How wonderful! I hope you had a great time!
Thank you so much for your donation to the forest! Truly wonderful!
Yay for you seeing far away friends and faily and YAY for us to see you back at the Farmy! hugs!
Soon! I can’t wait!
Sadly with all the ash trees dying around here as well as the elms, (they get just so big, then die) I’m afraid we’re in a deficit. However, when I look at how much I spend each summer on flowers and shrubs it must mean something! I have also been doing my best to remove errant oaks and maples from my flower beds and rehome them.
Those gifted oaks and maples are growing all over the farm. Sad about the elms. It is the same on the farms here too. They planted them then called it good and now they are all hollowed out with disease. Our two last ones will gone down soon I think.and they are so tall it is going to be a mess!
I’m taking one last flight on the 1st to see my daughter, sister and a few friends I had to leave behind. I gave up the property where I planted trees so I’d be happy for you to plant some trees for me. We need all you talked about here. Maybe next time around, I’ll know how important it is earlier and do more. As a gypsy apartment dweller most of my life, I was totally disconnected to the earth until midlife. At least I finally got it.
You got it long ago! And pat those trees you have planted when you visit – say thank you! Stay strong my lovely friend.
I couldn’t find the line to mark donation for trees. You will know what to do with it. I’ll get to at least wave at them as I drive by. New owners of my house there now.
Thank you so much!! I will find some beautiful long living trees for you to join the forest! Thank you doe the donation!!
Ava makes up for the lack of other photos. I’ve never met her and I miss her too. Such a lovely soul. I love your tree scheme. Yes we all have to press ahead with trees…it is getting harder for them to grow with the increased heat and dryness, so the quicker we can create a shade canopy the better all the way around. I find that for every couple tres I plant, one doesn’t make it, so I really have to keep on it. Love the way your mind works. Do seen fellowship tree picture when you have a chance. Would be lovely to see it. x
Ava really is such a dear. The weather is hard on young trees, we lost a number in that flood, but we must keep planting! I am very much looking forward to a tour of the farm – I am sure John will be wanting to show me all he has done.
Such a cool amd cute concept Ce! Pay for your seat, & pay for your carbon footprint 💛
I hope you are well xx
Doing well – always better after hearing from you!
I love the idea of planting trees for every flight you take! I have donated several trees to our indigenous forests here as memorials to family members.
Donating trees is the best thing! Lovely to see you, Tandy!