“Tree is the best panacea for the survival of the society.” Trees play a very significant role in the survival of the society. From top to root, importance of trees cannot be described with a single pen. We use timber in office, railways, houses, schools, toys, medicine, clothes and paper, etc. Its multiple uses can never be denied. A tree in all its forms has been a friend of mankind since times immemorial.

At times it has aided mankind by imprinting upon itself tales of bygone era by taking the form of a fossil, etc. It cannot be denied that all these usage comes into being only after the tree has been chopped down and stripped of its branches. Few would believe in the statement that a living tree is of much greater value than a dead tree. This is true. Plant and human developed together in the nature. The both are interdependent. The waste of one is the food of the other.

Trees keep our environment free from pollution and provide the best remedy for and many contagious diseases. Cutting of trees has added a lot of environment degradations. In many areas, we fail to hear about the rainfall. Consequently, these are in the state of utter drought. Crops fail; people and animals die for want of starvation and food. Soil erosion becomes too acute to revoke side by side many rare species also extinct from the other whose importance can never be denied, trees supply oxygen to the atmosphere. The green leaves produce starch- as essential part of food. They provide us cool and fresh air, and thereby we remain hale and healthy. Aesthetically they bring beauty and color to life. Indirectly, they are instruments in developing the arts and culture of this world. Their gradual destruction is slowly taking the life away from earth. Nature is falling sick in their absence.

In the coming era, pollution and global warming has endangered our lives. Therefore, it would be in man’s own interest to protect the plants and trees.

As Christmas is approaching I started wondering how green would be the Christmas this year for different people. Yeah, I know your Christmas tree is green, but is it eco-friendly? Now you got the point. A conscious customer may experience a hard time choosing the most earth-friendly decorations for the holiday, but this time of the year the major doubt is between choosing an artificial tree or a live one. If a live tree is chosen, you buy a potted tree or a cut tree?

You should keep in mind that a live, fresh tree is biodegradable and nowadays most Christmas fresh trees are grown on local tree farms instead of the forest. Also, plotted trees are able to grown on its container for up to four years, giving you enjoyment for years and saving you some bucks. When the tree isn’t fitting on the container anymore, plant it on your yard and you’ll remind of great moments from your Christmas while your tree grows. Making this option you help sustaining your local economy as well as saving the environment.

If you don’t want a live tree, remember that artificial trees are usually NOT biodegradable. Also, close to 90% of artificial trees are made in China and they have almost no environmental restrictions there. And there’s always the risk that some of the trees contain harmful chemicals (such as PVC or lead). Ok, you’re stick with this idea of an artificial tree, so at least be a little environmentally conscious. Refurbish your artificial tree and use it year after year and adding natural elements such as fallen pine branches to give your tree a new look and feel.

You don’t want the responsibility of taking care of a live tree and also want to help the environment by not using an artificial tree? No problem! Create your own tree made from objects in your house and your tree will be unique.

By Daniel Walker

Sunday morning, as I gazed out the church window, I noticed an outcropping of large trees across the road.  (No, I was not bored; the sermon was actually quite interesting.) I had seen those same trees many times before;  yet my eyes were drawn to the top of the tallest tree, the point where it met the waiting, clear blue sky.  At the very top of this tree I noticed that I could make out individual leaves blowing in the cool autumn breeze.  Then it struck me, there, way at the top, was one solo leaf, higher than all the rest.  Of all the thousands of leaves on that tree, why was that one lone leaf singled out to be the highest?  At that moment a thought occurred to me, “does that leaf have the right to be proud of being the highest on the tree?”

Trees are complicated organisms.  That single solitary leaf is connected by a tiny stem to a larger branch.  That branch is connected to a bigger limb. The limb is connected to the main trunk of the tree. The trunk is connected to the tap roots.  The tap roots are connected to the feeder roots.  The feeder roots are embedded in the soil.  The soil is sitting on the sub-soil.  The sub-soil is sitting on bedrock.  The bedrock is resting on the earths’ mantle.  The mantle is floating on liquid rock.

With that elaborate support structure, could that leaf rightfully be proud of being the highest?  Of course not, it was there only because of the huge support structure that took it to that height.  In fact, there was another leaf that could have been thrust upward at any moment, fetching the coveted highest position.  To be honest with itself, and the whole world, that one leaf should consider itself blessed to be pushed into that high position by all the other parts of the tree.

How many of us have taken full credit for something that we really did not accomplish on our own?  How many of us could have given more applause to the teams of people who pushed us up the tree, allowing us to alight on our lofty perch?  How many of us have been plucked off that tiny twig by a passing wind or an errant bird only then to realize how we had gotten there to begin with?  Did we complain about our circumstance or did we realize that we enjoyed our time at the top only through the blessings of a grand structure that supported our growth?

Before we take credit for our lone success, give deep thought to all those who helped us attain that success.  Give proper credit for those who supported us and yet freely take credit for whatever part we played in the venture.

Remember this also; in the autumn, all of the leaves on a tree fall to the ground and are recycled into new leaves next spring.  We are not alone at the top or on the bottom.  We are community!  We are blessed!  We are all in this together!

What part of the tree are you?