When Danu Macon of Barnardsville was 21 years old, he made a commitment to himself that every year he would plant at least one more tree than he had the year before. “That started easy enough because I planted 30 trees that first year,” says Macon. “But I’ve been building up. Last year, I talked my family into reforesting a whole 2.5 acres of their farm up in Maryland. We planted 1,100 trees. So this year I have to plant 1,101.”
To see his vision come to life, Macon started the 1,000 Fruit Trees for Western NC project. Folks around WNC fill out an online form on Macon’s website, pay for their fruit tree, and then Macon brings the tree to the homes of the participants and plants it. (If you’re wondering whether the project ought to be called “1,101 fruit trees for WNC,” Macon says not to worry. “I’m going to plant some other trees that aren’t fruit trees to make up that last 101.”)
Macon explains that the driving force behind this project is the knowledge that some day future generations will enjoy the literal fruits of his labor. “In order for the children of today to have abundance when they mature tomorrow, we need to have fruit trees planted today that will also become mature tomorrow,” says Macon. “The trees will feed them and their children. This project is about the continuity of life and about connecting to the sources of our food and to nature.”
To help Macon plant 1,000 fruit trees, fill out the form on his website wholetreepermaculture.tumblr.com.
Editor’s note: As part of our monthlong celebration of sustainable ways of living and working in our local community, Xpress is highlighting some of those who are taking action on a variety of creative and inspiring initiatives.
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