Like many little girls and boys in the 80’s, it was in grade school that I first read Shel Silverstein’s book, The Giving Tree. A thick hardcover, it featured Silverstein’s characteristic prose, illustrated by simple black and white line drawings. Despite the plain pictures and the intimidation I felt by the sheer length of the book (64 pages!!), at the age of eight I figured I’d take a stab at it. My teacher had recommended it, and since it was part of our book club reading, I could get a gold star once I finished reading it. (If only gold stars were enough to coerce adults into doing things!) And so, I opened the bright green cover and began reading. “Once there was a tree… and she loved a little boy.”
When I finally got to the last page, I was terribly disappointed. This talking apple tree had given everything she had to a little boy – first her apples, then her branches, and then even her trunk. As the selfish boy grew into a selfish man, the magnificent tree was reduced to a mere stump. At eight years old, I knew I liked trees, but I sure didn’t like stumps, selfish kids, or this book! I let the book fall to the floor and stormed out of my room to go play with my My Little Ponies instead.
Today, The Giving Tree is broadly accepted as a timeless parable about generosity and selfless love. But when I reread the book, now twenty years later, I think it is saying more than that. First published in 1964, The Giving Tree seems to be questioning humankind’s role in the world and our current predicament. Silverstein is calling into question our relationship with nature – a relationship that takes and takes from nature, that does not think about future consequences, and that is never satisfied. Silverstein seems to be warning us that our bleak future is one filled with grumpy old men sitting on tree stumps.
Photo: Stumps in Washington D.C. empty lot
But this is not the way it has to be – it is not man vs. nature. All the things we do in this world do not have to be at the sacrifice or to the detriment of nature. While it is true that trees provide us so many things absolutely free, they don’t have to be reduced to stumps to do this. We all know that living, breathing, beautiful trees give us oxygen, food, and shade. They prevent erosion and clean our waters.
Photo: Beech tree at Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale
But did you also know that trees can improve the viability of our communities? Scientists are beginning to find out what we already knew – that people like trees and feel more comfortable around green space than concrete. In a 2003 study that compared residents in low-income building projects in Chicago, it was found that residents who had trees outside their doors, had stronger social ties and used the outdoors more. Furthermore, residents who had trees also felt a greater sense of safety and experienced fewer crimes in their neighborhood.* Stronger communities, less crime, and healthier neighborhoods are what every government strives for, and far too often fails. Instead of building a stronger police force, Chicago and other cities should be investing in the planting of trees, especially in poor neighborhoods which are often devoid of greenery. The author of the study suggests that trees may play a pivotal role in drawing residents outside, which enables informal contact among neighbors and stronger social ties to develop. Whatever the mechanism, it is amazing that trees can have such a positive, measurable impact on our neighborhoods and communities.
Photo: Stump and seedling of famed Fairhaven Beech at Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay
All trees are truly giving trees, providing us with never-ending environmental and social benefits. This Arbor Day, if you see a stump, plant a tree in its place. And if you don’t see a stump, plant a tree anyway. You’ll be sure to get a gold star!
*Source: Kuo, F.E. 2003. The role of arboriculture in a healthy social ecology. Journal of Arboriculture 29(3): 148 – 154.
