It’s a new year. New things are happening. New journeys are underway. Have you given any thought to what your journey will be like this year? Will you make resolutions that continue to grow and develop even after you have put them in the back of your mind—say, in February?
Lots of resolutions are made surrounding our health, finances, and desire to take on new hobbies. But there are resolutions that you can start and watch as they flourish on their own.
What are these amazing resolutions? Olive trees.
For those who care about the environment, watching the earth become healthy and prosperous, you want a resolution that does the same thing. And you want it to last all year long. Or maybe even for hundreds of years!
New Year
Awareness about our environment and the need to take care of it has reached the top of many people’s minds. Those who are passionate about seeing the earth thrive and restored to what it once was are the ones who want to see people’s relationship with the natural environment change.
We often take advantage of our natural world, thinking it will be around forever or that our carbon footprint is small enough that its impact doesn’t matter much.
The start of a new year is a great time to make efforts to change the way we think in ways that influence our habits, reflect our priorities, and allow us to implement lasting resolutions.
New Resolutions
One New Year’s resolution that impacts the world is planting a tree. Trees can be described as our life support in more ways than one. They provide fresh air, fruit, jobs, and so much more.
Planting Trees Gives Life
There is no denying that our environment truly feeds us and plays an important role in our lives. If we are serious about making a change, we need introspection. Ask yourself…
- How important is the environment to me?
- Do I take the land’s life-giving properties for granted, or am I preserving and restoring—teaching future generations to do the same?
- Am I rejuvenating life that has been buried, revealing a beautiful landscape and healthy environment, or do I think it’s someone else’s responsibility to sow the seeds that grow?
Here are a few reasons to consider a new and different resolution in 2019—one that involves planting trees and caring about the environment for future generations.
Planting in the New Year
- Planting provides economic sustainability. This may not be a reason that comes to mind when you think about saving the environment, but your actions of planting and preserving the environment actually create jobs for a number of people.
A great deal of organizations plant trees as a one-time event. However, when those trees aren’t nurtured, they eventually dry up and produce nothing.
There must be ongoing care for the trees in order for the trees to provide for us. This includes not only the work put into planting them but also jobs for those who pick up where the planting left off.
What’s more is to choose a type of plant that can provide years of job sustainability such as the olive tree. Did you know the average life span of an olive tree is 500 years? This is a tremendous return on your investment, not only for the environment but also for economic stability!
- Planting leaves a legacy. The legacy of planting trees makes an impact on both those who are physically close to the trees and those who sponsor the trees.
For My Olive Tree, the olive trees we plant rejuvenate a once barren land, and you and your family can be certain the trees are cared for and represent solidarity with Israel.
This physical act of restoration sends a message to those in the land, as well as to those around you. It says that you care about the world’s people and the environment. What a legacy to pass along!
- Planting for biodiversity. There are a number of organizations that promote reforestation in a variety of ways. However, there are few that plant olive trees, along with the Seven Species mentioned in Deuteronomy 8, in Israel—the ancient land where they once thrived.
Israel, known for its innovative approach to technology and agricultural advancements, started conserving the environment almost a century ago. Simcha Blass, a Jewish inventor and chief water engineer of Israel in the 1930s, made the accidental discovery of drip irrigation resulting in a process that provided plants with healthy water flow while conserving water.
Israeli drip irrigation technology is also being used on farms in California today. During the drought of 2015, farmers in the United States were searching for innovative ways to conserve water; through drip irrigation, some used 35% less water compared to those with surface or sprinkler irrigation.
One farmer reported getting “70% more tomatoes per 1,000 gallons of water,” according to an article published in The New York Times.
- Planting reflects our character. We’ve all heard of it… and it came from Jesus Himself.
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…”—Matthew 7:12
When we live by this Golden Rule, there is mighty movement! If you care about the environment, about the people, and about the land of Israel, then you want your character and actions to reflect that. Who God has made you to be provides hope in a unique way for His people—for generations to come.
Don’t let anyone tell you who you are. Look to God’s Word to gain an understanding of your unique character.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”—Ephesians 2:10
New Year of Trees
The New Year of Trees is a Jewish celebration known as Tu B'Shevat. In modern times, it has been observed by planting trees in celebration of the upcoming spring season, a new season of growth. Its origins are found in the Jewish calendar that marks a tree one year older on Tu B’Shevat.
This holiday occurs each year in the month of Shevat on the 15th day. This can be anywhere from the end of January to the beginning of February on the Western Gregorian calendar. It’s also known as Israel’s Arbor Day.
This unique Jewish holiday, though not known by many, celebrates the enormity of creation. It’s a time to reflect on the gift God gave us in the earth and a time in which we can actively and intentionally participate in harnessing its potential.
Would you like to take the next step and plant for a bigger purpose? Go HERE to find out about how you can commemorate a special event in your life on this unique holiday of Tu B’Shevat.
