Planting for the Future

24 Planting for the Future Jim Flinn and his family have been taking part in Earth Day celebrations for as long as he can remember. Each spring, the Flinn family puts down a few more roots. This year, Jim decided to invite some of his classmates to join the family planting trees on Earth Day. " Did you know that each day, one mature tree produces enough oxygen for four people to breathe?" Jim asked his friends enthusiastically. Before anyone could respond, he continued, " But that's not all. Trees also remove the harmful carbon dioxide that pollutes our air. " According to Jim, what is good for the earth, is good for everyone. “ My parents have always encouraged me to be good to the earth, " he explained to his classmates. “ They say that we should respect our planet and make sure that it's healthy. " The Flinn family set aside the whole weekend for planting trees. So did Jim's friends.

When the trees arrived, the Flinns made sure they had lots of water. Then, with shovels and pails, they headed out to the field and started digging. " First, make a big hole, " explained Jim, who knew what he was doing after years of practice. " Make sure the roots will fit into the hole. Put a little water in the bottom of the hole and put your tree inside. Then, cover the roots and fill the hole with dirt. And use your feet to pack it in well around the new tree. " You could tell that this young boy took pride in what he and his family did each spring. “ We don't have to plant hundreds of trees, " said Jim's father. " Even if you can only plant one tree each year, it will add up in the end. As the saying goes, every little bit helps. " After five hours of hard work, twenty trees were planted on the site. Seeing the new trees standing upright neatly, Jim's friends decided to join the event again next time.