Episcopal Press and News
NORTHERN MICHIGAN: Planting 12,000 trees for Earth Day
Episcopal News Service, Marquette, Michigan. April 22, 2009 [042209-03]
Greg Peterson, Volunteer Media Advisor for Earthkeepers
Despite a major snowstorm a day before, bishops and leaders from ten faith traditions including the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan on April 22 planted the first of 12,000 trees during an Earth Day ceremony on the shores of Lake Superior.
Standing on a hillside surrounded by huge pine trees two bishops and several other faith leaders blessed a three-foot native species white spruce tree and took turns shoveling dirt into the hole.
The storm dumped up to 20 inches of snow in parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, however several earlier weeks of mild weather ensured the ground was not frozen. The event was held on Presque Isle, a wooded nature area. Anticipating the cold April weather, organizers earlier decided to plant the rest of the trees on May 3 when the weather is more appropriate.
Upper Peninsula EarthKeepers is a coalition of ten faith traditions (Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist,
Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddhist, Quakers) with over 150 congregations participating.
Other participants are the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team. The trees have been purchased or donated by the EarthKeeper team, nonprofit organizations, lumber companies and greenhouses, said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director. Faith groups are encouraged to plant the seedlings across northern Michigan.
Episcopal EarthKeeper team member Nancy Auer of Houghton, Michigan said in an interview that there are good reasons to plant trees "in a region of the country known for trees," including minimizing the effects of logging. "We harvest those trees. Every tree has value in that they absorb our carbon emissions and those carbon emissions are increasing. God asks us to be stewards the earth and it can be as simple as planting a tree," Auer said.
One of the founders of EarthKeepers was the late Jim Kelsey, who was serving as bishop of Northern Michigan when he was killed in a car accident in May, 2007. He was the first signer of the interfaith EarthKeeper Covenant.
Two employees of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan reflected on what the event would have meant to Kelsey. "I think he'd try to find a place for a tree in his own yard for one and he'd want to plant one at the office," said Jane Cisluycis, diocesan operations coordinator. "Since his mantra was about inclusiveness, the fact that the circle is widening would have been really important to him," said Cisluycis, referring to the recent addition of another faith tradition to the EarthKeepers.
Kelsey would have been "pleased that the EarthKeepers are getting stronger and continuing and more people are getting involved; it hasn't stopped," said Kathy Lenten, a member of the diocese Episcopal Ministry Support Team.
An annual Jewish holiday celebrates the blossoming of the almond trees in Israel at the start of spring, said Dr. Constance Arnold, president of the board of Temple Beth Sholom. "Tu B'Shvat is a very ancient holiday we observe yearly," said Arnold. "This is a reminder of the importance of trees."
Northern Great Lakes Synod Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes said "trees matter" and encouraged Sunday school classes, confirmation classes, men and women's groups and others to plant as many trees as possible.
"Our interfaith tree-planting effort is more than another conservation project," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, CTI executive director and EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder. "With prayers, hymns and the blessing of 12,000 seedlings, it's a gentle proclamation of a new consciousness and commitment among our faith communities to care for God's creation."
Organizers said congregations can still request trees by calling Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore, the project faith community communications coordinator, at 906-228-2388. Faith groups can plant the trees anywhere they decide and give out trees to members and others.