Tree lovers of the world unite!

meet the world's first mobile tea seller/ tree planter!

2012-01-20T01:33:00.001-08:00

"He owns two sets of traditional clothes, a worn out shoe and a sanfa (a type of turban made from a long piece of cloth by wrapping around the head). But what makes this zealous personality even more interesting is his ghumti chai ki dukan (a movable tea stall). Wherever Chhotu sets up his tea shop, he treats that place as his home, which means he sweeps the area to keep it clean, plants trees all around his shop, and nurtures them till they show significant growth. He also maintains 10-12 chinkas (lower half of earthen pots or small plastic tubs hung on trees for providing water to the birds) around his stall."...read more about this incredible son of Mother Earth here.

pongamia seeds-the seeds of hope!

2011-12-15T02:24:00.000-08:00

Janet hands them out as ViSeeding Cards

A little kids book comes with four of them to empower the future generations to heal their future.

Farmers are reviving their livelihoods by extracting biodiesel from them.

Scientists claim that they have the potential to meet all of India's fuel demands.

What, pray, is it?

The pongamia seeds, of course! We've chosen this as a tree of choice for our planting. it grows in almost all climatic zones, with almost no care; it is not grazed by cattle and sheep; it is used for making biopesticide, bio fuel and biofertilizer; why, it is also used for making medicines. This incredible tree has an incredible seed. The seed in encased in a hard shell that disintegrates upon contact with wet soil. But until then, it remains intact and snug, waiting for the right conditions to sprout.

And what a rate of germination they have!

The pics you see above are proof.
We planted about 300 trees in the rainforest last june. As is the case with nature, some of the trees never made it.
A year later, our volunteers dropped some pongamia seeds in the sites where the tree saplings had perished.
A few months later, with no human care or attention, these little green pongamia leaves greeted our volunteers.
All the sites where the seeds were dropped had pongamia saplings thriving and looking promising!
This little experiment has revived and bolstered our faith in the pongamia seeds!

Of Forests and Men

2011-05-25T08:50:00.001-07:00

We and the forests are one. We've always needed them. And today, they need us. Take action, save the forests.

download our new poster. spread the green word. spread the tree cover!

2011-05-20T20:31:00.001-07:00

let's plant trees

2011-04-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

The coolest, greenest, fun-n-est children's book on tree planting is out - let's plant trees! Check out what makes this book so special and share it will all the kids you know, including yourself!

Spiders Fleeing Floods Build Mosquito Buffet in Trees

2011-04-29T22:26:00.000-07:00

Malaria should have skyrocketed in Pakistan after the floods because of the huge amounts of standing water for mosquitoes to breed in. Instead, the flooding drove spiders into the trees. The trees are slowly dying because of the excessive webbing, but the spider webbing in the trees became mosquito traps that lowered the number of bites to human!

Story: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/03/spiders-fleeing-floods-build-mosquito-buffet-in-trees.php

Free Distribution of Bird Feed on March 6th 2011

2011-03-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

You are all invited for the free distribution of bird feed at Burhani Masjid Complex, Gottigere, Bannergatta Road on 6th March between 10 am and 2 pm.

Kindly collect the bird feed and help bring sparrows back to Bangalore.

Thanks to Mohamed Saifee, Burhani Foundation and all you bird lovers.

treesforfree.org wins "ENVIRONMENT EARTH AWARD 2011" at the TIMESFOUNDATION NGO AWARDS 2011!!!

2011-01-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

a big thank you to all tree loving volunteers, members, corporates, supporters and friends of treesforfree.org!!!

Free Farm

2010-12-31T10:50:00.000-08:00

Located at the heart of San Francisco, California, a third of an acre was once the home of a church that was destroyed by fire in 1995. For close to 15 years the empty lot accumulated glass, plastic and syringes but today, in less than a year, it has been converted into an urban farm that has given away thousands of pounds of fresh local organic produce to the community. Moreover, the uniqueness of Free Farm lies in the intention to cultivate the spirit of volunteers and society by creating a microcosm of mutuality, simplicity, respect, generosity, and love.
"Doing things for free encourages people to share, it encourages people to be community, to be family. It provides people the chance to be generous with each other." --Tree, co-founder of the Free Farm.

janet in femina!

2010-11-21T23:16:00.000-08:00

it is heartening to see the country's leading woman's magazine turning the spotlight on a woman and showcasing her real beauty-her inner beauty!

cutting trees is suicide!

2010-11-14T22:51:00.000-08:00

when we cut a tree, we are cutting away our own lifeline.
while this simple truth is hard to explain to the "go greed" breed,
this poster appeals to those who wish to compensate for the loss.

Nov 1st. karnataka is born. treesforfree.org is born. Co-incidence?

2010-10-31T05:02:00.000-07:00

We think not.

As a charitable body whose 'soul' mission is to green the state capital and its surrounding villages, we think this date co-incides for a very good reason.

To mark our 5th anniversary, we set off with 600 fruit saplings to kyvara, a village 75 kms from Bangalore. Enthusiastic farmers had dug pits on unused farmland which they wanted to convert to fruit groves. Their enthusiasm met its match in the form of two old women and a young mother and her little boy who'd come there with the saplings in tow, to plant trees on behalf of treesforfree.org.

The planting was blessed with rain before and after, but not during the planting.

Co-incidence?

Again, we'd like to think not.

It's almost as if the rain gods approved of the act. And reinforced the saying that "trees bring rain". The planting ended with a hot and simple rustic meal with the sound of falling rain in the backdrop.

The planting continues in 3 locations across Bangalore on November 1st. All tree lovers are invited. Call 9845449703 .

Happy anniversary Karnataka! Happy anniversary treesforfree!

treesforfree in gruhashobha.

2010-10-25T03:36:00.001-07:00

gruhashobha is a leading kannada magazine for women (see the ad below the article:)

treesforfree coverage in the dainik jagran.

2010-10-25T00:28:00.000-07:00

trust a treesforfree trustee to...

2010-10-25T00:25:00.000-07:00

trees planted in a rainforest by treesforfree.

2010-10-14T01:54:00.000-07:00

Blind tree love.

2010-09-15T23:54:00.000-07:00

Late one night, after dinner, a treesforfree volunteer was walking his dog.

Along the way, he casually inspects the newly planted tree saplings, as he does on every walk.
All is well. On his way back, his gaze once again scans the saplings and suddenly stops.

A shady figure is uprooting a bamboo tree guard!

Very soon the unprotected tree will fall prey to a grazing animal or a restless kid and the tree will be history.

Dog and master rush to the rescue of the tree. As the pace rises, so does the temper.
The volunteer asks the man why he's uprooting the tree guard. The man is drunk and spews gibberish. This infuriates the volunteer to no end. Seeing no logic in talking to a drunk thief, the volunteer whips out his mobile and dials the police station. He lodges a complaint while the dog keeps the thief at bay. The cops assure that a jeep will the reaching the spot in a few minutes.

With nothing to do but wait, the volunteer and the red handed thief began an awkward conversation.

"The cops are reaching here anytime. "

"Let the cops come. Let anyone come. I don't care. I haven't done anything wrong."

"Where are you taking the tree guard?"

"I've planted a tree outside my house and i want this guard to protect the tree"

"So the tree outside your home is more important than the tree on the road?"

"No sir, i planted a peepul tree outside my home"

"What tree?"

"Peepul tree."

"You mean the tree that grows outside every temple?"

"Yes, sir the peepul tree."

The volunteer looks at the tree that has been deprived of its cover.

It's an exotic tree, a tree from another part of the world that wouldn't really benefit the local ecology, simply put-a useless tree. And certainly no match for the giant peepul tree, a divine tree, a blessing for mankind. Anger makes way for a sublime joy known only to a peepul tree lover. Hatred makes way for compassion. The thief suddenly seems to a be a knowledgeable fellow tree planter intoxicated by tree love.

"Are you sure it's the peepul tree?"

"Come with me and see for yourself sir. Come now..."

A smile breaks in the volunteers mind.

He looks around to see if the police jeep is anywhere in sight. He wishes it isn't and so it is. He asks his fellow tree planter to make haste before the jeep arrives.

Dog and master walk home happily.

Late at night the phone rings. It's the police. The volunteer explains that it's was just minor, not worth the cops attention and that he'd warned the 'thief' sufficiently.

The cops are satisfied.

The volunteer is even more satisfied.

Janet in Banaglore Beats!

2010-08-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

dated17th July 2010.

Just another 'planting sunday'!

2010-07-15T02:15:00.000-07:00

It's true that when you help nature, the forces of nature help you.
This planting proved to be a classic case in point.

For if it hadn't rained heavily the previous evening and if the soil wasn't softened, the volunteers would have had bleeding blisters and sore arms from digging 60 pits on hard compacted urban soil.

11 volunteers who were in town as part of an INspire-a program that helps NRIs reconnect with their roots- dug 60 pits and planted as many trees with overwhelming enthusiasm.

They toiled in the soil, braving red ants and broken glass pieces that unexpectedly nicked them, to get in touch with their roots (well, the tree roots) and their mother land(literally).

Amplifying the enthusiasm levels was a toddler, less than 2 years old, who planted a tree with his parents.

The toddler didn't just plant a tree in the soil. The toddler planted a valuable lesson in his fertile mind.

planting in the rain(forest)!

2010-06-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

12 hands. 250 trees. 24 hours. Continuous rain.
We could either plant or shoot the planting. Not both.
We chose to plant first.
And when the weather cleared, at 3 pm the next day, we shot what we’d planted.

“Why plant trees in a rainforest?” many ask.
Because that’s where the trees are being felled the most.
Because the health of the rainforest determines the heath of the ecosystem.
Because the health of the rainforest determines the amount of rain that supports life.
Because we think it’s as important to plant trees in the rainforest as it is to plant in the concrete jungle.
Because it’s the most amazing tree planting experience!

A recurring thought in a volunteer's mind during this planting:

"With every tree i'm planting, i'm repaying mother nature's debt."

when artists meet tree planters

2010-06-15T03:24:00.000-07:00

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on world environment day, an enthusiastic bunch of artists armed with pens, palettes, paints and paper descended on the shores of bellandur lake to capture the spirit of tree planting through their artistic eyes. the best part is, you are free join them on any weekend and do a doodle or two. you don't have to be a pro, just an inkling of interest will do. for more see http://penciljam.ning.com/

shouldn't every day be environment day?

2010-06-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

if we're depending on the environment for our survival everyday,
shouldn't we be thankful and mindful about the environment everyday?

here's a simple, useful and inspiring wallpaper
for your computer screen.
for your friends' computer screens.
for your colleagues' computer screens.
for everyone's computer screens.

happy environment day:)

world environment day-just another day for treesforfree.org

2010-06-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

Today, like every other day, without any fanfare, we planted 266 saplings at T.John College,Gottigere on Bannergatta Road. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the volunteers of treesforfree and Applied Materials we were able to take plants, manure, tools and the volunteers in one go.

Planting started at 10.30 am. volunteers from VM Ware (about 30 of them) had come with their families and 266 saplings got planted along the compound wall, by lunch time.

Just another day for treesforfree. Just another environment day for the world.

treesforfree.org poster wins at One Show Design Awards, USA!

2010-04-15T03:45:00.000-07:00

We just heard from the juries at the prestigious One Show Awards, USA that one of our posters promoting gifting of trees has been recognized as one of the world's finest pieces of design.

Kudos, team treesforfree!

This is one more reason for you to share this poster with your contacts and urge them to, well, give a gift that keeps giving. :)

Van Heusen supports treesforfree.org!

2010-03-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

The two lines at the bottom of this ad says it all. Thank you Van Heusen.

This poster that welcomes shoppers at Van Heusen showrooms:

The story of bottled water- a most enlightening video!

2010-03-25T03:42:00.000-07:00

what does bottled water have to do with trees? some may ask.

well, the amount of freshwater on our planet is directly proportional to the tree cover on our planet. if not for the tree-filled forests, there would be no precipitation of rain clouds, no rain, no recharging of groundwater aquifiers by the tree roots, and of course, no freshwater to drink.
given the rate at which our tree cover is vanishing, it's in our best interest that we use what little freshwater we have, judiciously. and this video provides the most practical step we can take to do that. be inspired. and inspire.

trees- a solution for global warming and unemployment?

2010-03-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that the solution to major issues like global warming and unemployment could be as simple as planting trees?

A dreamer lying under a tree, perhaps?
A tree lover under the influence of a mind altering substance?
A soul with the combined DNA of Mother Teresa and Wangaari Matthai?

Well,believe or not, it's true. Such people do exist. And the idea is working.

People in two Indian states are planting trees and successfully combating global warming and unemployment by just growing and planting trees :)

See how it's working in Bihar and Assam

the better india appreciates treesforfree :)

2010-03-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

Read the full feature here.

A nest, a generous corporate and a new vehicle!

2010-02-10T00:23:00.000-08:00

If you've been associated with treesforfree in the past two years, you've probably heard about our crying need for a vehicle suited for tree planting. Janet's jalopy(an old Maruti Zen) somehow chugged on with all the saplings, labourers and planting equipment, for about 5 years. Then the engine seized and threw a spanner in the planting work. Volunteers and friends of treesforfree coughed up all they could and about 1.5 lakhs was raised for a new vehicle. We still needed another 4.5 lakhs to get a new vehicle. All contacts were exhausted. The funds froze.
That it until, we sent out abandoned birds nests to top CEOs inviting them to plant trees and replace the nest to woo back the birds to Bangalore.
One of the invitees, Applied Materials, warmed up to the idea so much that they decided to sponsor the vehicle and the planting of 500 trees with a most generous donation of USD 9000! Seen here is Mark Walker,CEO, AMAT planting the first sapling sponsored by the company.

We'll post a picture of the new vehicle as soon as we receive it.

the bird shelter project-a treesforfree intiative.

2010-01-28T22:23:00.000-08:00

how treesforfree is trying to woo back the birds to the garden city...everyone's invited!

gift a tree. give a gift that keeps giving.

2010-01-27T01:26:00.000-08:00

Next time you're scouting around for a gift, do consider gifting a tree instead of something materialistic. A tree will be around for decades-maybe even centuries- giving fresh air, fruits, shelter, medicines and security, every second of its life, without expecting anything in return. Priceless, indeed :)
To gift a tree in India, call Janet on +91 9845449703.

treesforfree in citizen matters

2010-01-21T02:36:00.000-08:00

treesforfree in the times of india.

2010-01-21T02:35:00.001-08:00

climate change solution: a fable from the himalayas

2010-01-20T21:25:00.000-08:00

a wonderful video that gives hope to a world drowning in despair.

Trees & Peace - janet's speech.

2010-01-06T01:19:00.000-08:00

Good evening everybody!

First, may i request you all to close you eyes for a few moments and think.

Think of tree leaves dancing in the wind.

Think of lying down under a tree canopy, full of birds.

Think of children climbing a tree and plucking fruits.

Think of a little girl swinging from a rope tied to a tree.

Think of little boys playing cricket with stumps drawn on a tree trunk.

Think of a little boy chasing an old tyre down the road with a broken tree branch.

Think of all the wooden toys made from trees.

I’m sure most of these things you just thought of brought peace to you.

That’s the beauty of trees. The very thought of them is pleasing to the mind.

It’s very rare that trees are associated with hatred, war and bloodshed.

If you actually think about it, most wars are fought over natural resources like oil, water and food.

First, let’s take oil.
Trees provide oil in the form of biodiesel and biofuel all their lives without the need for expensive machinery and manpower. In fact, scientists claim that the oil from just the Honge tree lone is enough to meet the fuel demands of our country. Unlike oil from the ground oil from trees is an inexhaustible resource.

Then let’s take water.
We all know that without trees, there’s no rain. And hence, no water. And the more trees there are, the more rain there is. And hence, more water. It’s no co incidence that the shape of trees resembles rain bearing clouds. Not only do trees bring rain, they also carry the rainwater deep into the soil and recharge the ground water supply.

Then of course, trees provide fruits, nutritious green leaves that provide us with all the nutrition we need.
They also provide biofertilizers and biopesticides required to grow other crops for our food. These are a safe substitute to the chemical fertilizers and insecticides that poison our food and our water.

Basically, trees provide us with everything that we fight over. That too for free.

Although it seems a bit ideal, I think that if we all planted enough trees instead of depending on other sources, we could all be self sufficient and have nothing to fight for. Peace would prevail.

Have you noticed how the word ‘trees’ rhymes with the word ‘peace’.

Trees, peace, trees, peace, trees, peace…I don’t think it’s a co incidence.

Let there be trees. Let there be peace.

Thank you.

When mean harleys go green...

2009-12-22T05:49:00.000-08:00

The lighter side of Harleys going green...
A short video created by Meridian Communications, KRAFTWORKS & Emotionaudio.

A weekend getaway message from treesforfree!

2009-12-22T05:46:00.000-08:00

Love weekend getaways to the hills, beaches and forests?
You'll love this..

Janet speaks her mind in the DNA.

2009-12-10T21:46:00.000-08:00

The 'viSEEDing' card that becomes a tree!

2009-12-09T04:31:00.000-08:00

All of Janet's communication is routed via the internet and her mobile. Yet she still needed a card to leave behind with the media, donors and supporting corporates.

Printing a paper card, even if it was recycled paper, somehow wouldn’t do justice to the ideals of treesforfree.org.

So, what to do?

Give tree seeds as visiting cards!

After much research, seeds of the Honge tree (Scientific name-Pongamia Pinnata) were chosen. The ‘viseeding cards’, when planted, grow into trees that produce biofuel, biofertilizer, bio pesticide and oil, apart from the usual benefits that other trees give like oxygen, shelter for wildlife, groundwater restoration, carbon sequestering, . Researchers in India have estimated that Honge oil could completely replace India's consumption of petroleum based fuels. Janet’s contact details were handwritten using a marker.

Now when Janet says, “Here’s my card” and offers a seed, her contacts are pleasantly surprised.

“Wow!”, “That’s lovely”, “That’s really thoughftul”, “So cool”, are some of the replies that follow.

The recipients love the thought of every card becoming a tree; that it immediately empowers them to become a part of her work, while staying true to her mission of planting ‘treesforfree’.

The card has got people talking. And the media too...

Planting Trees, Riding Harleys - Way to go!

2009-12-09T02:42:00.000-08:00

If you thought tree planters were a bunch of green geeks, think again. Harley Davidson riders, yup, the mean machine riding brotherhood are also green. Harley riders kicked off their ride in the garden city by first planting trees with treesforfree.

Anoop Prakash, MD, Harley Davidson India planted trees to cool the globe before burning Bangalore's tarmac. His band of brothers and one female rider chipped in and planted trees. Satisfied that they'd done their bit to offset their metal horse's emissions, they rode off feeling good that no birds will poop on their Harleys.

Here are few snapshots of the green mean machines.

harley & treesforfree in the news!

2009-11-24T04:28:00.000-08:00

Harley Davidson supports treesforfree!!! Are we global cool or what?

2009-11-17T01:29:00.000-08:00

If you love bikes and you love trees too, then this is 'two good' a dream to be true. Harley Davidson- yes, you read right-Harley Davidson motorcycles are supporting treesforfree.

As part of their launch in India, they are inviting full blooded young men to ride the hunk among highway machines. The program is aptly called "boot camp". The registration costs 3,500 rupees. This money goes entirely to plant trees that will offset the carbon emissions of the harleys that hit the road, thereby making the mean machines,well, green machines :)

A boot camp never sounded this good.

Click here to join the boot camp and feel a harley engine roar between your thighs!

treesforfree in Himalaya Drug Company's worldwide corporate brochure.

2009-11-11T04:04:00.000-08:00

In November 2008, treesforfree planted 300 Neem trees to launch Himalaya Drug Company's worldwide Neem tree planting drive.

Ever since they've partnered with "trees for the future" and planted over 50,000 neem trees.

Click on the image and read why they've chosen the neem tree over all other trees.

Thank you Himalaya!

treesforfree's greeniversary in the news!

2009-11-11T03:17:00.000-08:00

a happy greeniversary it was!

2009-11-04T22:52:00.000-08:00

treesforfree's greeniversary

click to view the album.

our 'greeniversary' was a runway success!

CEOs of four companies responded to the nest invite.

The CEO of Shell was the first to show up with the nest. He planted a tree and placed the nest on it.

Representatives from three other companies attended on behalf of the CEOs, planted trees and placed nest on it. AMAT, CDC Software and Samsung took part.

40 children from an NGO in Jayangar cheered the CEOs and Cricketeer Charu Sharma who also rolled up his sleeve to plant a tree to celebrate our greeniversary.

Our volunteers showed the kids how to plant a tree. After that, every kid was trying to plant more trees than the other. It almost seemed like the kids were in a hurry to undo the ecological damage their parents had wrecked.

Apart from learning to plant trees, the kids also learned the art of natural composting that even masanobu fukuoka would have approved of. Basically, after snacking on bananas, they learned to bury the banana peels around the stem of the freshly planted sapling, so that it would decompose and nourish the young sapling.

We had a field day, a picnic, literally.

To quote the Shell CEO, Ad Vassler, "As soon as i saw the bird's nest on my table, i knew i wanted to be a part of this initiative. It's fantastic!"

Apart from dedicated volunteers of all ages, new volunteers showed up and planted with much gusto.

The afternoon's planting in Bangalore North also went off like a dream.

One bystander wrote a cheque for 10,000/- rupees and handed it to Janet.

Three newspapers and a TV channel covered the event.

One of the companies who received a nest is contemplating sposnsoring our much required vehicle.

Could there be a happier ending?

treesforfree's greeniversary -a time to woo back the birds!

2009-10-23T04:56:00.001-07:00

a close up of the text on the invite 'eggs'. click on image to read text....

The cutting of namma trees in namma garden city to make way for namma metro and other namma developments needs no introduction. With every tree that namma uru loses, namma birds and other wildife lose their natural habitat. Their nests, shelter and feeding grounds are destroyed forever.

Not a thought is spared to this tragic loss. Not a mention is made anywhere. Not a voice is raised on behalf of these voiceless creatures who selflessy cheer us up with their sweet songs.

As part of our ‘greeniversary’ celebrations, we wish to sensitize the very advocates of development and infrastructure-i.e, the CEOs of various corporates about the loss of trees and the wildlife that live in them in a unique and touching manner.

Treesforfree is sending a few select CEOs actual birds nests from trees before they went under the axe. The invite (thoughfully printed on cardboard pieces shaped like birds eggs) urges the CEOs to bring the nest along with them on Karnataka Rajyotsava, plant a tree and fix the nest on the tree to woo back the birds and ther sweet birdsong for posterity.

Although this gesture of placing a rescued bird’s nest on a newly planted tree sapling is symbolic, it is possible that birds may decide to move in and call the nest home once again.

And our future generations will continue to wake up to birdsong like we did.

treesforfree's greeniversary video!

2009-10-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

to celebrate our 'greeniversary', two generous film makers-sham and manoj- along with our volunteers have created a lovely, engaging film that gives hope to all those tree lovers who live in apartments and want to plant trees but can't.
enjoy the greeniversary video!

happy 'greeniversary' treesforfree!

2009-10-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year when all tree lovers(volunteers and friends of treesforfree) come together to celebrate all the trees that have been planted in and around bangalore city.
Feel free to invite any tree lover who would like to plant a tree or two.
ps: View the image in full size.

the car that planted 12,896 trees is no more!

2009-08-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

four years ago, an old lady went knocking from door to door asking people if they would be willing to adopt trees. she told them that the trees would be planted for free. many refused. few accepted. but she continued planting. all in the name of her husband who had passed away recently.

initially, the going was slow. in about two years she only managed to plant 450 trees. as the planting gathered momentum, she started filling her maruti car with saplings,tree guards, digging equipment and accompanied by a labourer or two she went about greening bangalore city. even if the request was for just one tree from the other end of the city. sometimes she did this for 12-14 hours a day. she kept planting. noiselessly.tirelessly.selflessly. she neither expected anything in return nor got anything. except of course, the deep satisfaction of having nursed the earth back to health. one tree at a time.

the money for the saplings, transportation and labour came from people who wanted to plant trees but didn't have the space to do so. this included individuals, employees of companies and the companies themselves.

thanks to this lady's efforts, many kids, parents, college students, grandparents, great grandparents and other tree lovers shared the simple pleasure of planting a tree into the earth, tamping down the soil, and walking away feeling good...

12,896 trees later...

the old maruti car broke down. obviously, for it wasn't built for heavy duty tree planting. the planting is now at the mercy of the whims of auto drivers and tempo drivers. it not the same as having one's own vehicle. in the past, she had made a few requests asking poeple for a vehicle but none responded. that option doesn't exist anymore. we have to respond. if we love our children and care for the air they'll breathe, and the quality of life they'll lead, it's in our own self interest that we respond.

she needs a new mahindra pick up truck. one that can carry enough tree guards and saplings and a labourer or two.

why new? many ask.
well, because an old vehicle is prone to breakdowns. and her charity work has never kept any money aside for vehicle repair. all the money goes for planting. besides, let's be fair to her. an old lady who's toiling for the good of all of us, without expecting anything in return, deserves a little bit of luxury (if one can call it that). surely she does.

the vehicle costs about 4 lacs. but if 4000 of us gave just 100 bucks each, she'll be on the road again, greening our hometown with renewed gusto.

you can help by giving as much as you wish. the donation options are:

1.Via bank transfer. The details are:
Beneficiary: Rajanet Yegneswaran Charitable Trust
Beneficiary Account 9942500102168101
Bank: Karnataka Bank Koramangala Ext., 17th Main, Bangalore, India
Code: KARB0000094.

2.Write a cheque in favour of ‘Rajanet Yegneswaran Charitable Trust’
and send it to
Rajanet Yegneswaran Charitable Trust
No 11, 20 L Cross, Sri Rama temple Road, Ejipura,
Viveknagar Post, Bangalore-560 047
Tel: +91 9845449703

3. Visit janet's place (same address as above) give whatever you wish to and leave with a receipt and a smile.

treesforfree to stop planting.

2009-07-24T00:06:00.000-07:00

The subject of this blog entry could well be a reality in the near future if people who love nature, people who care for the earth -people like you- choose to do nothing. For details, see the image in full size.

ps: You can donate
1.Via bank transfer. The details are:
Beneficiary: Rajanet Yegneswaran Charitable Trust
Beneficiary Account 9942500102168101
Bank: Karnataka Bank Koramangala Ext., 17th Main, Bangalore, India
Code: KARB0000094.

Or

2.Write a cheque in favour of ‘Rajanet Yegneswaran Charitable Trust’
and send it to
Rajanet Yegneswaran Charitable Trust
No 11, 20 L Cross, Sri Rama temple Road, Ejipura,
Viveknagar Post, Bangalore-560 047
Tel: +91 9845449703

treesforfree.org in a La Presse- a Canadian Newspaper!

2009-06-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

It's all french to us, but's it's most welcome. And guess what? We've got a response too. All the way from across the seven seas. See www.cyberpresse.ca

for treesforfree, every day is environment day!

2009-06-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Every single day, our lifestyle scars mother earth.

Acknowledging this on just one day of the year with a few slogans/putting up a few posters/ picking up litter/ even planting a tree or two is no consolation. The harm is being caused non-stop. The healing should also be non stop.

Which is why we plant through the year. And this planting would not have been possible without the help of people like you who help us find places to plant the trees, who donate to buy the trees, and of course raise awareness about how trees help heal the earth.

This world environment day, we urge you to download this campaign of 3 images, upload them wherever you think appropriate, forward them, set them as your wallpaper, encourage others to do so...and of course rekindle your enthusiasm to plant as many trees as possible to cool the globe and heal the earth.

Thank you in advance.

Treesforfree.org in India Today!

2009-05-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

Local media recognition is good. But when you are featured in a leading national magazine, it's indeed an honour.

"Stop crying over cut trees. Start planting." says Janet to Praja Vani

2009-05-26T22:17:00.000-07:00

'THE' Tree Lady...in Deccan Chronicle

2009-05-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

treesforfree.org in Deccan Herald's 'green initiaves'

2009-05-26T22:13:00.000-07:00

Of all things 'green', what, pray, could be more green than tree planting?

Janet-Mother of treesforfree.org. Also mother of 11,550 trees!

2009-05-22T05:11:00.000-07:00

Planting trees-Reviving Bangalore-DNA newspaper

2009-05-22T04:55:00.000-07:00

Tree planting is no Monkey business- DNA newspaper

2009-05-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

Janet speaks her mind in THE HINDU

2009-05-22T04:48:00.000-07:00

treesforfree.org featured in DNA!

2009-04-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

Peepul Tree=People Tree

2009-04-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

Indeed.

Kind attn: All donors who want trees to be planted in a specific location only.

2009-04-14T02:20:00.000-07:00

"I want to plant 5 trees. But i want to plant them in an orphanage or old age home only."

"Our company would like to plant 50 trees on so&so day. But we want to plant them near our office itself. Or on some main road where lots of people will see it."

"I want to plant 20 trees. But i don't want to plant it in this apartment complex where all these rich people stay. I want to plant it in a place where people can't afford it."

We hear comments like these almost on a daily basis. It surprises us as to how the whole purpose of philanthropy, of giving, of offering service is utterly defeated. The purpose of giving is to benefit others and dissolve one's ego. The idea is to be selfless, without expecting anything in return.

It's surprising how many expectations people and organisations come with, all in the name of selfless service. Today, giving, to a great extent, is done to boost the ego or gain publicity and media mileage. We're ok as long as the trees are being planted. But then that raises another issue-the donors' insistence that the trees have to be planted in a specific location only. Else, they're not interested.

As an answer to this, we have an analogy.

We think donating money for trees is a lot like donating blood. You donate blood because you want to heal a sick person. Similarly, you plant trees because you want to heal the earth. While donating blood, you don't specify that my blood should only be given to a Hindu, or a Muslim or a Jew or a Black or a White. You simply give because you want to help.

Shouldn't the spirit be the same while giving trees too?

You simply give because you want many beings to benefit. You don't say, "i am planting this tree for the benefit of squirrels only. Or for the monkeys only. Or for my viewing pleasure only." You plant trees because you want to do some good.

Cutting a tree in any part of the world affects the whole world. The temperature of the whole planet increases and cause global warming. Not American warming or Russian Warming or Indian warming. Similarly, a tree planted in any part of the world helps cool the temperature of the earth as a whole and heal the earth as a whole. It doesn't matter where the trees are planted as long as they're planted.

Maybe it's time to see the big picture. Maybe it's time to see that we are all an indivisible part of nature and that all divisions exist only in our minds. Maybe it's time we realised that we are all connected and by helping one we are helping all.

treesforfree.org coverage on real estate channel.

2009-03-30T00:48:00.000-07:00

Bengaluru Pages profiles Janet's greening mission.

2009-01-22T01:32:00.000-08:00

treesforfree tees make for global cool gifts!

2009-01-22T01:11:00.000-08:00

No, we're not saying it. A Bangalore based magazine "Bengaluru Pages" is doing so. They listed our cool-make that global cool- tees as a green gifting options.

treesforfree in the mid-day.

2009-01-19T03:21:00.000-08:00

blog to blog via newspaper

2009-01-19T03:19:00.000-08:00

Bangalore Mirror, a local daily prints "what's hot" in the blog world regulalry. This is the seond post from our blog that they've published. We are most grateful.

What's a family without a tree?

2008-12-17T03:30:00.000-08:00

In an age where most parents celebrate their kid's first birthday's with utmost fanfare and loud crowds, here's a couple who are a far cry from the madding crowd. Instead of calling party organisers and booking a hall, this couple called Janet and booked an appointment to plant a tree to celebrate their daughter's first birthday.
The appointment was for 7:30 am, for the volunteer who was arranging for the planting had to leave for work after that.
The child's father asked if it could be pushed to 8'o clock instead. Apparently the little birthday girl was a late riser and could only make it by 8. The volunteer's office could wait. The appointment was pushed to 8.

The next morning, while the pit was being dug by a volunteer, the couple arrived, holding a half-awake little bundle. With utmost enthusiasm they planted a 'sampige' tree, a replacement for a 'sampige' tree requested by an old man who passed away recently, with at least one wish fulfilled. The family tamped down the freshly dug wet earth. With their hands on the ground and the earth as witness, their silent prayers rose up to the skies. A silent celebration it was. Undoubtedly unconventional. Undoubtedly an unforgettable experience for this family whose daughter's birthday celebrations will last as long as the tree does, if not longer. As the couple watered the young tree into its new home, the impressionable little birthday girl quietly watched her parents. She had just learned a most valuable lesson of life. The volunteer noticed that the tree, like the couple with their daughter, had a little flower bud. A sign of promised beauty. A sign of hope. A sign for our times.

treesforfree.org's design acknowledged as among the world's best 'green' design.

2008-11-26T22:54:00.000-08:00

the book cover

the pages featuring treesforfree.org

Design Ecology! is a book by German author Verlag Hermann Schmidt Mainz, that showcases the world's best 'green' design. The book has a comprehensive coverage of the design work done for treesforfree.org, Janet's planting activities, the 'THE BIRDS' T-shirt design, and acknowledges the talent behind all the work. All in German! Team treesforfree.org, take a bow.

treesforfree.org's new tee!

2008-11-14T03:37:00.000-08:00

Everybody loves a tree planter. Even monkeys :)
Selling @ 250 INR each. Buy as many as you can and help us plant more trees for the monkeys:)
Write to rajanetyeg at gmail . com

deccanchronicle profiles janet and her green dream!

2008-11-06T21:59:00.000-08:00

tree planting as a newspaper cover story- the future sure looks green!

2008-11-03T04:18:00.000-08:00

It is heartening to wake up and see a newspaper cover story that shows the future generations planting trees for the benefit of future generations. So full of hope. So inspiring. So much in contrast to the negativity that's shown otherwise.
The first two images are of the cover story. The third one is the reader's feedback that appeared a day later. Hope, as any tree planter would say, surely springs eternal.

treesforfree.org's 3rd anniversary- everyone's invited!

2008-10-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

Here's to the naysayers who said trees stop cooling the globe once they get old.

2008-09-29T22:34:00.000-07:00

This article in the Deccan Herald (dated 29-09-2008) proves that everyone who's been planting trees-like treesforfree and its donors, volunteers and well-wishers- to cool the globe have been doing the right thing all along. End of argument. Now get back to planting trees.

treesforfree blog post appears in bangalore mirror.

2008-09-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't already read it in the form of an earlier blog entry, read it now as a newspaper article. After all, it was printed-as is :)

treesforfree- leading the green crusade in Bangalore.

2008-09-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

A heartening article in the Indian Express featuring treesforfree. Janet's direct and immediate opinion on what needs to be on the green front was published-as is. Here's to the power of the press.

trees-a truly thoughtful return birthday gift.

2008-08-27T06:19:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought parenting gen-x was all about fuelling their fixation for games, gizmos and gas guzzlers, this 'birthday return gift' comes a breath of tree-fresh air. Instead of giving a run of the mill 'return gift' - a set of crayons, a pencil box, a bag or a ball- to kids who already have a growing collection of the same stuff, these parents decided to not follow the herd. They decided to do something more meaningful instead. They planted a tree, as a return gift, for every kid who attended their son's birthday party. To top it all, they created a truly creative card. A wonderful example they've set. Not just for kids. But for parents too. May their tribe increase:)

Ah! the merits of planting trees!

2008-08-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

A story goes that a wicked man once unintentionally watered a sapling while washing his hands. On account of this he was rewarded with a one day stay in heaven.

This story could very well be more than just a story, if one just glances at a few sayings of some saints, seers and wise men, from across the world.

"The merits gained by planting trees for the benefit of other last forever."
-Buddha

“Those who cut down good trees shall see never a sign of blessing”
-Tosefta, B'khorim II

“One who plants five mango trees does not go to hell"
-Dharamashastra

“The trees that a man plants are, according to both reason and the scriptures, the children of the planter.”
-Veda Vyasa

"A son is equal to ten deep reservoirs of water and a tree planted is equal to ten sons".
-Matsyapurana

“Unable to go on a pilgrimage? Plant a tree. It’s just as meritorious.”
-Indian Scriptures

“One who plants three neem trees does not go to hell”
- Old Indian saying

“Even if there is only one tree full of flowers and fruits in the village, that place becomes worthy of worship and respect.”
-Mahabharata

“The groves were God's first temples.”
- William Cullen Bryant

Planting trees may get you a ticket to heaven. Or it may not. But the fact remains that without trees, life on earth would be a living hell. Amen.

ah! the joys of greening a village!

2008-08-09T03:07:00.000-07:00

The greening of this village had its beginnings in the most unlikely of places. At a birthday party. One of our volunteers ended up in his old buddy's house with his buddy's new friends. He didn't know them too well. Conversation was sparse. They were mostly techies with their own set of jokes. He just laughed along with them, not because he found them funny, but simply because laughter is contagious.
Anyway after a while, the tree planting genes in him took center stage and he was explaining how trees were being planted in the bangalore soil(silicon valley, to the techie) and how they could be a part of it. The discourse paid off. Two people wanted to plant a tree each and bought a treesforfree 'gift certificate' that the well equipped volunteer readily whisked out of his bag.

But that wasn't all.

One of the techies was curious for longer than his brethren. It turned out that he had a country cousin(quite literally) who hailed from a village on the outskirts of bangalore. And his cousin was a part of a youth group who worked for the welfare of the Gunjur village community and also planted trees, as part of their program.
He wanted to know if treesforfree planted trees in rural areas too.

"No, we haven't planted in villages as yet, but we'd love to." said the volunteer. After all, villages have the luxury of space and more so, they understand the value of trees more than city dwellers do. They view trees as rainmakers, as life savers and as abodes of the gods. If veneration for trees is alive, it resides in the villages.

Numbers were exchanged. The rest, as they say, iss tree planting history.

Janet got a few calls. Janet made a few calls. She visited the village and surveyed it. She took a BBMP official along and got him to survey it. He sanctioned free tree guards for the entire project! (God bless him!) The donations for the trees miraculously poured in. The pits were dug.

And on a sunny weekend, The Gunjur village youth association, the village school children, elders and of course Janet and her tree planting squad had a field day.

And the village was richer by 1000 trees!!

The BBMP oficials who came to inspect the site and provide tree guards fell victim to the deadly OCTPS virus (Obsessive Compulsive Tree Planting Syndrome). As a result, they ended up planting 2,500 trees around a few lakes in the same village!

Raising the total number to 3,500 trees!!!

We can rest assured that these trees will be around, healing the environment and providing for countless beings for many years because, thankfully, the juggernaut of 'development' prefers to haunt the urban areas.

janet and her volunteers. profiled by the times of india!

2008-06-26T22:39:00.000-07:00

hail treesforfree.org!

2008-06-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

PAGE, a leading German design magazine has featured the GOLD CLIO award winning work done for treesforfree.org. Although we can't understand what they've written about us, sharing the stage with the world's best designers sure feels great. Hail!

wear a treesforfree.org tee. let the world know you love trees.

2008-06-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

Currently, they're available only in this hue of blue in sizes, S,M, L & XL. If you'd like to add this to your wardrobe and make a green statement, please contact us. They cost 250 Rupees each.

gift a treesforfree gift certificate. give a gift that keeps giving.

2008-06-19T01:55:00.000-07:00

The next time you're looking for a gift, please consider giving a treesforfree.org gift certificate. It looks and feels just like any "gift voucher". Just that it's a lot more than a cool gift. It's a "global cool" gift. That's because each certificate helps plant a tree that absorbs greenhouse gases and cools the globe.

This tree will be around for many many years, healing the earth, and providing for countless beings, day and night, non stop. We can't think of many gifts that can match up to this. The best part is, it costs just 100 rupees to gift 1 tree. So, for the budget that one usually has for gifts, many trees can be gifted.

But have you ever wondered why we give gifts in the first place?

We'd like to think that gifts are a way of sharing. A way of showing that we care for each other. A healthy habit that cuts across cultures and forges relationships.

We all gift because we can't go empty handed to a particular occasion. But if you think about it, how many of the gifts we give are actually needed? Are actually useful? More often than not, we give just for the sake of giving.

So the next time you're thinking of giving a gift, we urge you to also give it a thought and consider gifting a tree planting certificate.

The ones who receive it will surely be touched by it.
And nature will thank you for it.

treesforfree.org's planthathon in the times of India!

2008-06-18T04:34:00.000-07:00

Apart from concerned citizens, we're hoping all the CEOs, CFOs and CSR department heads who care about bangalore read this. And do something about it.

treesforfree.org's "Plantathon" in the Indian Express!

2008-06-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

Marathon- An event where people run the streets to raise awareness and funds to further medical research.

Walkathon- An event where people walk the streets to raise awareness for feeding the poor.

So why not have a 'Plantathon'? An event where people take to the streets, but instead of walking or running, they plant trees along the streets. They raise awareness and funds. They increase the green cover which triggers off a healing chain reaction and above all, decreases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and cools the globe?

If we can improve our situation by the tiniest measure, and while we're at it, have some fun digging in the dirt, why not?

So, that's what we're doing. We're having a Plantathon! And we're having a blast!
But we don't want to keep all this joy to ourselves. We'd like everyone else(the whole world, if possible) to join in, plant trees and enjoy themselves.

So, to take the message to the world (ok, not the world, but to Bangloreans) our volunteers formed a human chain at the traffic junction opposite Cubbon park. They held hands. They held up the signature treesforfree.org *starbursts* . They held on till the skies held up. For, very soon, the heavens burst open and it rained cats and dogs. (We, at treesforfree.org have a suggestion to nature's powers that be: next time it rains, please consider raining trees, as their population is declining, unlike that of acts and dogs who clearly don't seem to have a problem.)

The good news is that the press crew from Indian Express got our pictures in time and got the message across. But in case you still haven't got it, here it is:

Help us plant as many trees as possible. We're planting 2000 trees through the month of June. We're hoping you'll help us plant a million times more (ok, ok, not a million, but you get the intention). Please consider gifting trees to mark any special occasion. Encourage others to do so. Become a monthly tree planting member. Encourage others to do so. Donate. Ask your company to donate. Join the plantathon in any way you can.

Remember, every tree counts.

treesforfree.org wins merit One Show Award at New York for public service radio!

2008-05-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

The One show awards are the Oscars of advertising. It is a fiercely competed award with hundreds of agencies sending thousands of entries from across the world. And the simple radio spot done for treesforfree.org made it. Chirp! Chirp!

treesforfree.org wins Clio Gold Award at Miami for Environmental Design !

2008-05-20T22:06:00.000-07:00

The “Bangalore Mirror” newspaper article (click on the first image) says it all.
Now if you know anyone who knows the powers that be in Cubbon Park, please let them know what happened to an idea that they rejected (they pulled down these starbursts that were conveying the benefits of trees to hundreds of kids and families). Please ask them if they would like to put up these signs once again. For the benefit of many.

Planting trees in memory of a mother. And healing mother earth.

2008-04-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

Trees are a lot like mothers.

They only give selflessly without expecting anything in return. They nourish, they shelter and they nurture. They're always there to listen to you. You can hug them anytime you're feeling low and know that they'll comfort you. You can turn to them anytime, and they'll never disappoint.

Through the changing seasons, they remain grounded in reality, thus inspiring us with their example to remain equanimous through the ups and downs of life.

Quite like mothers who dish out delicacies from seemingly ordinary ingredients, trees too produce fruits and medicines and flowers and leaves from mere dirt and decaying matter.

Trees, like mothers, have the limitless capacity to provide for children other than her own. Be in an ant or an elephant, a tree knows no distinction. It just provides everything it can.

Trees, like mothers, love unconditionally. An angry person who throws stones at a tree will only get a soothing shower of flowers and fruits in return.

Quite aptly, Deepak Joshi, an advertising professional, planted 100 trees as a living tribute to his mother. These are a few pictures from the planting of the first 50 trees in location that any mother would approve of - a children's school.

Our fundraising box- raises eyebrows too.

2008-03-14T02:12:00.000-07:00

"But haven't you cut a tree to make this?"
"On one hand, you plant trees. On the other, you cut trees to make these?"
"But by buying this, aren't you increasing the demand for wood and cutting more trees?"

Our fund raising box is used to hearing comments like these.

It's also used to seeing people immediately pull out their wallets and fill it with donations.

In the end, it receives more donations from optimistic souls than comments from pessimistic ones.

treesforfree volunteers often point out to the fine print on the donation box. It reads "Made from existing logged wood."

But it hardly makes a difference to the naysayers' skeptical mind so intent on finding fault that it fails to see where it's coming from and what it's leading to.

The way we see it, we're using dead tree trunks for a specific reason. We're using it to highlight an alarming statistic. A burning issue that needs our attention. Right here. Right now.

As you read this, trees are being felled. To meet your needs. To meet my needs. To meet all our needs. And often it's to meet our greed than need. But we're not leaving it at that. We're also offering a solution. We're inviting one and all to be a part of the solution to a problem that affects one and all.

Also, we don't go out there and cut trees. Nor do we buy first grade wood. We only use junk wood that would otherwise end up as firewood. And we're trying to use it for the common good. Not to make money or to please our fancy.

Still not convinced? Then we have two things to say to you.
1. We've planted more than enough trees to compensate for the wood we've used to make these boxes.
2. Get well soon.

A treesforfree.org film.

2008-03-13T00:35:00.001-07:00

We hope this film inspires many to plant trees. For the benefit of many.

0 to 200 trees in 6 hours!

2008-03-07T01:03:00.000-08:00

It's everywhere these days. Call it a new-age misnomer. Call it a case of mistaken identity. Call it what you want but you can't ignore it. Places and people with names that completely contradict their true character.

A "Pine street" without a shadow of a pine tree. A "Sampige road" without the faintest whiff of a sampige flower. A "Tropical paradise" that has as many trees as a desert. As it turned out, we ended up in a "garden city" - a private residential community - starved of trees.

The target for the day was to plant 200 trees.

It was a sultry Saturday morning. Janet's volunteers along with residents of the layout and 30 girls from Sarvagya, an aided school for girls run by Janet's sister assembled under the shade of the only two trees the layout had-a giant peepul and a neem.

In true gurukul manner, treesforfree volunteers addressed the students. They were introduced to trees, the benefits of planting trees, and the role trees play in our lives. By the end of the talk, the girls were raring to go plant some trees.

After a quick round of tea, all tree saplings broke loose( from their pouches, that is) and went straight into the ground. One could have called it high-speed planting. The more experienced volunteers had a tough time keeping up and ensuring that the trees were planted, soil tamped down and watered properly.

While the plants were watered by the volunteers, the volunteers were served water by the grateful residents.

A sure sign of hope for the future were the holes excavated for planting. The holes had been dug by boring through layers of dense tarmac, stone boulders and dry dead mud. These holes were filled with living plants, fertile red earth and much hope.

As one set of volunteers left, another set of volunteers came in. The planting continued. And 200 trees were added to the garden city, bringing more than its name to life.

Homo(dern) sapien.

2008-02-27T00:37:00.000-08:00

Only trees absorb greenhouse gases and cool the globe. No man made device can do this. This poster of ours' shows how our "modern" lifestyle, directly or indirectly, causes emissions of greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming.

It urges the viewer to plant trees and offset the emissions that one's lifestyle is responsible for. The actual poster stands 6 feet tall.

Everyone's invited!

2008-02-26T03:54:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not- This neem tree talks!

2008-02-26T03:15:00.000-08:00

Just when it seems like all gods and spirits have abandoned us, and our future is dark, this kannada newspaper article comes as a sunbeam of hope.

It reports of how a neem tree near Mulabagal, karnataka, halted the progress of a road expansion crew by speaking to them. "Leave me alone. Don't chop me." said the tree to the dumbfounded crew.

A tender coconut vendor, who hails from Mulabagal, met one of our volunteers and added that the tree also warned of a curse befalling the future generations of those who cut it. Curses befalling the families of those who cut trees like the sacred peepul tree is well known and deeply feared.

Although this fear seems to be evaporating from the hearts of those in south India, it is very much alive in the north. Gardeners in Delhi refuse to uproot even a tiny peepul tree sapling that has begun sprouting from a building wall even if they are offered up to 1000 rupees to do so. Morals over money. There is hope!

The article goes on to narrate how repeated efforts to chop the tree failed. An earth moving excavator that attempted to uproot the tree apparently "went back". And the tree refused to be pacified by shamans. "Leave me alone. Don't chop me." is what the tree kept saying.

The article ends by mentioning another tree -a mango tree- further down the same road that is guarded by a cobra that appears every time an attempt is made to chop it.

These trees are (hopefully still) on the Bangalore-Chennai-Tirupati highway. With tree spirits on the way and leading to the holy shrine of tirupati, this highway is attracting hordes of pilgrims and seekers.

What's a temple without trees?

2008-02-24T22:22:00.000-08:00

Throughout history, across geographies and cultures, tree worship can be seen, in one form or the other.

This reverence, although often shrouded in mysticism and superstition, stems from a simple, universal fact of life:

“No trees. No life.”

However, simplicity, it turns out, doesn't appeal to the restless human mind.

NEW! IMPROVED!! ADVANCED!!! LOUDER!!! FASTER!!! That’s what the human mind pursues.

Our wise ancestors, who saw this during their time, and in the years to come, knew it would threaten the delicate balance of life. So to prevent an ecological disaster, they accorded trees with a sacred status.

The logic behind this was simple.

“What’s sacred cannot be harmed or destroyed. It can only be conserved. Thus ensuring a healthy population of trees (and a healthy planet with it.)” Simply genius!

Thus sacred groves were the earliest forms of conservation that can be found in all cultures. These groves were sacred places where trees and plants were allowed to grow undisturbed and where reptiles, birds and animals could live freely without fear of poaching or interference by man.

Sacred groves were the origin of the temples, whose columns were initially trees, and later of the Christian churches which still evoke it by the alignment of its pillars, the semidarkness within it, and the soft coloured light that filters through its stained glass windows.

As long as this fear of tree spirits and gods lived in the hearts of people, their lungs were filled with pure, fresh and clean air.

As with all things in life, this respect for trees also decayed and died.

And the effects are here for all to see. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that traps the suns rays (better known as GLOBAL WARMING) which heats up the oceans which cause hurricanes and storms of greater intensity which shifts the climate pattern, which causes increased rainfall in some areas and drought and famine in other…and it only gets worse.

The point is, the ecological disasters we’re faced with today is a direct result of deforestation.

And hence afforestation, it seems, is the surest way to reverse this chain of events. But we're no test –tube- toting- jargon spewing -scientists -with reams- of- research- paper to flaunt.

We're just people who dig holes and plant trees in the hope of doing our bit.

So pardon our ignorance if the truth is otherwise and enjoy these pictures of trees we planted around a temple in a quiet residential layout near yelahanka, bangalore.

The ultimate green car ever?

2008-02-19T01:23:00.000-08:00

In a world where electric cars, hybrid cars, solar cars, fuel cell cars and whatnot cars are trying to prove themselves a darker shade of green, here's one that beats every single one of them. Hands Down.

It has almost every shade of green imaginable. It offsets it's emissions on the go. It has 100% natural air conditioning. And comes with a uninterrupted supply of leaf fresh oxygen.

And this green machine belongs to janet, the founder of treesforfree.org.

You'll find her in the backseat under a green canopy of not one, but many trees. Enjoying the cool, natural breeze, talking on the phone, asking for directions to a tree planting site.

In this picture, the tender green leaves you see belongs to the most sacred tree of all-the peepul tree.

How many people in the world have the luxury of sitting under one in a traffic jam?

As far as space goes, janet shares it with the trees, the tree planting equipment, papers, snacks, water bottles, a small pillow to rest her neck, cut tree stumps (that double up as fundraising boxes), bumper stickers and maybe a volunteer to keep her company.

"It's very cramped. I wish i had a bigger vehicle that i can carry more saplings and tree guards and labourers." says Janet.

Hopefully, by the grace of all the tree spirits, someone will make Janet's wish come true.

"I want one of those!"

2008-02-18T23:20:00.000-08:00

That's what this boy said when he saw a volunteer carrying a few tree saplings to be planted.

"You know, that'll grow into a big tree?", said the volunteer.

He nods.

"You know how to plant it?"

He nods.

"You know you need plenty of space to plant it?"

He nods again.

He says that his father does some gardening work, and knows to plant trees.

"I want one of those!", he repeats.

His sister stands behind him, watching with a tree-like expressionless gaze.

We tell him to join us and learn how to plant some trees.

As it turns out, the sapling he chose gets planted too. His eager smile makes way for an expression of part glum and part hope. We make him plant a tree and ask him to pose. Although the tree has already been planted, he poses like he's doing so, with the practiced poise of a seasoned politician.

His sister watches, with a gaze like RK Laxman's common man.

Once the picture's taken, he resumes his look of part glum and part hope expecting to go home with a sapling.

No one present there had the heart to dispappoint him.

He walked along with us to janet's car, loaded with saplings as always. Janet picked out the king of all saplings, the neem sapling, for him.

The result? Another set of poses and smiles with his prize posession :)

To free a christmas tree.

2008-02-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

The best place for a tree is in the ground. In the womb of mother earth. Where it can take root, get all its nutrients, grow freely, flourish, and provide for the rest of mother earth's children.

And it's no different for a Christmas tree.

Yet somehow, over the years, the ill fated Christmas tree has be uprooted from the ground, constricted into a pot, dragged indoors, stunted, electrified and trimmed to suit man's whim's and fancies. All to spread some christmas cheer.

One such tree had managed to grow 9 feet tall in a pot. Any further growth could be best described as a struggle or a miracle.

Being a tree lover, the volunteer wanted to "free" it by planting it in the ground.
It was a case of "Seek and ye shall find".

As it tuned out, four months later, a Muslim wanted a Christmas tree in front of her house, in the ground. As the good lord said, "Ask and ye shall receive."

We merely played the role of a medium in completing the task and freeing the poor tree. And we got much help from some little angels (see pics).

If you have a Christmas tree that needs to be freed or have the space to free one, call and we shall come.

Future generations healing their future.

2008-02-14T23:06:00.000-08:00

"You're sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree long ago."
said Warren Buffet.

"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now."
said another person whose name got buried in the sands of time.

"Catch them young, teach them to plant trees and watch them grow."
is what we say. And do too.

Involving children plays a central role in the success of our tree planting activity. For, tomorrow, it is children who will decide the fate of the trees, of countless species, of the planet and the quality of their own lives with it.
Sensitizing them at a young impressionable age, is what we aim to do.

We might be around. We might not. But what matters most is what we leave behind. And we don't mean just more trees and a healthy ecosystem. We really need to leave behind a generation of healthy minds.

Of the many schools where we've planted trees, the most recent ones were GEAR International school. and St. Joseph's Boys school.

Kids and sand go hand in hand. Now imagine the teacher's ask the kids to dig around the ground, soil their hands, clothes and plant trees...ooh, it's every kid's fantasy come true. You should see it to believe it.

In the open air, under the open sky, even minds open up. And this is when we speak to the kids and sow seeds of nature care in their fertile minds.