ask mr. green
Good (Tree) Fences Make Good Neighbors
Dear Mr. Green,
To my horror, there is a trend running through my neighborhood. The cutting down of trees! One of the houses is being prepped to sell and yet another neighbor's home had just been sold, when - buzz - there went a beautiful old maple and a few ornamental cherry trees. Mr. Green, I ask you, in this day and age, how can the lack of greenery on a property make it more saleable or appealing and how can I get my neighbors to stop this nonsense?
Signed,
Tree Hugger
Dear Crabapple Cuddler,
We have a 30-foot tree that lives in front of our house and feel privileged to experience life beneath its limbs and leaves--in the spring and summer, it shades us and keeps our house about 10 degrees cooler than outside, and in the winter, the lower sun streams through its bare branches and helps keep our heating bills down. Out of respect, we offer it all of the attention it may need to keep it healthy. So I understand your frustration.
Trees are essential to our lives because they take the carbon dioxide we make and convert it into the oxygen we breathe. But, unfortunately, there are times when trees do need to be cut down or severely pruned--if they are diseased or infested, if they are in danger of falling over onto a roof, if they are too close to a structure, if they are entangled in power lines, etc. So before you start your save-a-tree campaign, you might want to speak with your neighbors and ask them why the trees were removed. With all the media talk these days about "curb appeal" enhancing property values, there may just be a very good reason those trees had to be felled.
Preserving and even planting new trees on your own property is something that any individual can do. But saving trees that grow outside of your own property lines is an entirely different ball of wax.
So if bowing to your Birch, curtseying to your Chestnut, cuddling your Crabapple, hugging your Hemlock, patting your Pine, stroking your Sassafras or whistling to your Willow doesn't set an eco-example for others, caring for your prized trees and making certain they are disease-free, well nourished, and properly pruned, might be a better way to publicly display your passion for trees and become a living example to your neighbors.
But in the event of an impending tree removal (and you've done your due diligence by enquiring about the reasons), perhaps the best way to impede the "brummmm-brummm-brummm" of the chainsaw is to make flyers about your concerns, educate others about the importance of trees from their leaves to their roots, and bring your urgent memo door to door. Let your friends and neighbors, mayor and council(wo)men know about the local deforestation you're dreading. Write letters to your local media and bring your message to the attention of everyone around you. You'll find support everywhere because, quite frankly, who doesn't love a beautiful old tree?
And if worst-comes-to-worst... may I suggest tying yourself to the tree slated for extermination? You'll be considered the looniest neighbor for a brief minute, but the legacy of your bravery will last for generations.
about mr. green
From re-gifting, re-cycling, to natural cleaning products for your home, Mr. Green has all of your ecotiquette answers. Our Mr. Green (aka. Michael De Jong), is the author of "CLEAN: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing." He lives in Jersey City with his partner (Richard,) dog (Jack,) and three goldfish (Phil, Jill and Gill) all of which benefit from his natural cleaning techniques. De Jong, who cleaned apartments in New York City while working as a fine artist, began researching and inventing many of the recipes in "CLEAN" and is continually experimenting with safe, effective and eco-friendly alternatives. Raised in the mid-West by an immigrant family that valued the environment and re-cycled before it was fashionable, his quest for non-toxic solutions comes naturally to him. He is currently writing a companion series of "CLEAN" books dealing with such topics as the body, first aid, organization, and food, as well as posting a weekly Blog on www.thedailygreen.com. "CLEAN: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing" can be purchased at Barnes & Noble stores across the country or on-line at www.barnesandnoble.com or www.amazon.com.
Click here to send him a question and he'll put in the elbow grease to scrub out the answers!
