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The Redwood Forest



What have I learned from trees?  (so far)

 *Reach for the ground as well as the stars.

The environment you come from (your roots) helps determine the risks you will take your life. (The branches). 

This is important especially for educators. It is my job to use the curriculum I am given to expose my students to cultures, ideas and opportunities that will help to make them global thinkers. A large part of the craft of teaching is the ability to branch off of wonderfully written children's literature to engage your students minds in magical discussions about pertinent things. 

* Celebrate rainy days

Water is the lifeblood of our planet. Trees play a large role in increasing rainfall.  In fact, scientists believe 33-40% of precipitation is due to evapotranspiration from forests.  Evapotranspiration is the process by which trees elevate water from the ground, through their roots up to their canopies and up into the air.  It is an efficient way to liberate ground water and allow it to come down again as rain.  Without trees, most of the ground water would return to the oceans and mix with salt water without ever being used.  Trees can lift up to 100 gallons of water from the ground into the air in one day. Teaching the water cycle just got better!

* Know that the brightest blossoms are not always on the tallest trees.

Value all trees....value all people....value all children

* If you want green and living thoughts, spend time in a green and living forest.

Go to the forest! Go to a park! Explore your back yard! Nature is uplifting and good for the soul. It helps you breath better and think clearer.

*Grow wherever you are planted!

Learn from everything you do everyday. Take something away-good or bad- from everywhere you are, everything you do and everyone you meet. 

*Sometimes, all there is to do is endure.

When the Redwood Trees lose their canopies to lightening strikes, the branches around the area begin to form a new canopy. In life, things happen to us that cannot be helped, cannot be fixed, or simply take time to get through. Many times we must just endure. 

*Drink plenty of water

When trees are dehydrated their bark begins to peel and their leaves shrivel up and fall to the earth.  Their branches get brittle and their overall appearance is lethargic. The same is true with humans. We have learned over time how important water is to our health. In fact, so much so, that Americans used about 50 billion plastic water bottles last year. However, the U.S.'s recycling rate for plastic is only 23 percent, which means 38 billion water bottles are put into our landfills each year. That's not to say the natural water sources we are depleting to fill these bottles. Choose an alternative like a stainless steel reusable bottle or a plastic bottle that is refillable with tap water.......I digress.......

Water keeps our skin soft, our brains working and our vital organs functioning. It gives us energy and keeps us feeling good.

*Embrace the community you live in

Redwood trees have shallow root systems that extend over one hundred feet from the base, intertwining with the roots of other redwoods. This increases their stability during strong winds and floods. The trees depend on each other in the forest just as we depend on our neighbors, co-workers and friends for emotional support and comradery. Be kind to others, be a good friend to others.

Oh I forgot to add......Grow a thick skin!

A Redwood trees skin can grow to two feet thick. That is amazing!
A "thick skin" can shield us from life's little disappointments. One thing I see, more often than not,  is people's inability to ignore things or to let things roll off. This causes anxiety and stress that affects themselves, their families and friends. Let it go!  Walk away! Try not to take things so personally. Often times they don't have anything to do with you. Stay positive...spread peace!

Beauty despite fire damage

Growing out of rocks

Look at the trees growing out of the rocks in front of the presidents