Rye-ght on Schedule

I mentioned in our last entry that, in so many words, we didn't start this non-profit for the money.

Of course we didn't. However, we are learning more and more about the generosity of donors and the importance of that willingness to give.

Because we have had such immense support during the first year of fundraising and planning, we have already secured 400 trees to be planted this spring, four schools to receive our first orchards, several more schools on the queue for future years, and the foundation for our fruit tree nursery.

The winter rye we planted last fall is the only growing greenery in our fields as we watch snow fall this morning. The rest of the grass is decomposing, creating heat, and melting snow that lands on top. The rye fields, however, not only glow green on a sunny and snow-free day, but glow white when the snow falls and sticks to its vibrant stems.

This cover crop serves as a reminder that we are prepared; our soil is growing more and more nourished, and we have our resources lined up to plant 1,000 trees in 2012. Our rye is growing, and we are ready. But we are also reminded that ReTreeUS is young.

Notice the white caps on both tiny hills in this picture. The snow sticks, and shows up better, on each of those plots, where we tilled and planted rye as our tree nursery cover crop.

Eventually, we hope to have a regular, annual flow of funding, so that we know every program will run and every yearly goal will be accomplished.

In our first year so far, we have just enough. Just enough to get our exciting program going. We are thankful for this, and we look forward to more financial support, ensuring that more schools will receive our orchards, more students will be exposed to hands-on learning in beautiful, sustainable orchards, and more children will grow into adults who love the earth and know how to take care of it.

We have just enough, and so does our earth. If we teach our children well, as ReTreeUS will, if we all use our resources wisely...there is enough for everyone--every baby, every child, and every adult--to live comfortably. To have everything we need, and to appreciate the beauty of a healthy, bountiful planet.

We are grateful to our supporters for recognizing that it is our goal to use resources wisely, and to teach children to do the same; to ensure that there are trees, food, and clean water for everyone.

Those same supporters are helping accomplish this goal in a myriad of ways. It seems everyone who knows of us is starting off the year with enthusiastic resolve. We have volunteers helping to perfect our curriculum, volunteers to work our land and help build our orchard exhibits. We have volunteers putting up posters and spreading the word about our upcoming events.

And for the event that's just around the corner, we have many people planning to attend, and many others still who have donated to our silent auction! We would like to extend a special note of gratitude to the following silent auction donors:

Cricket Hunt School, which is donating a special prize for a CHS family raffle
Matt Loosigian, award-winning children's musician, for his donated CD
Lost Valley Ski Area, for two donated ski tickets
Two Epic Designs, for their donated organic t-shirt prints

...and other individuals who are giving surf boards, exercise equipment, baked goods, and more!

Many thanks to all who plan to attend our benefit dinner at Flatbread Pizza, in Portland, on January 31st. For every pizza sold that evening, Flatbread will donate $3.50 to the ReTreeUS program.

It's a great opportunity to eat good food, spend time with friends, get deals on cool items, learn more about us, and--most of all--join the burgeoning, exciting movement of ReTreeUS.

We are new, but also ready....and we're rye-ght on time.