Plant a tree, better yet plant 2. Better make that fruit trees. Tree’s are a vital part of the health of the earth and directly help to combat the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere every day. Through photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the air. One large tree can provide a day’s oxygen for up to four people, now that is a great reason to have a tree. Now add apples, pears, cherries or peaches to that equation and you pull even better karma from your tree. If you want to offset the carbon produced by your vehicle, bring a bigger shovel as you’ll need about 500 trees to equal 12,000 miles (20,000km) for the average car.
Planting trees around buildings can help to reduce heating and cooling needs by providing shade and insulating from winds and cold weather. Trees are also great for adding humidity pulling up to 100 gallons of water from the soil to release into the surrounding air. Trees and shrubs also shield out noise pollution, creating a quieter community.
In addition to these great benefits, trees are also ideal for reducing stress levels and adding to the aesthetics of the neighborhood. Studies have shown that hospital patients with a view of a tree from their room recover more quickly and have fewer complications than those without. I love trees!
