Apr 26: AYUDH TO Tree Planting at Neilson Park

Planting trees for Earth Day

On Sunday, April 26, three members of the AYUDH Toronto and two AYUDH mentors together planted trees in Neilson Park in Etobicoke, to celebrate Earth Day (April 22). The Neilson Park tree planting event was organized by the City of Toronto. It was a beautiful Spring day, and there was a huge turnout from the local community. Though the event was supposed to last two hours, after the first hour, hundreds of native trees and shrubs had been planted, and there seemed to be little left to do. As the crowd drifted away, one of the AYUDH mentors suggested that their group continue helping to spread the remaining mulch around the newly planted saplings, a task that might otherwise have been completed by Toronto Parks staff.

As they continued spreading much, a Parks staff began checking the newly planted saplings by performing the 'tug test': if the staff can easily pull up the sapling by tugging on its main trunk, it has not been planted correctly. The saplings that aren't planted well will usually not survive because they dry out in the summer, or they are pushed out of the soil by ice pockets in winter. Many saplings needed to be replanted. The AYUDHs were on task, digging deeper holes, and tucking the soil firmly around the roots of each sapling. After another hour, all the saplings were replanted. Toronto Parks staff were extremely grateful to have the AYUDHs' help to the very end, and praised their careful work.

Time and again, Amma reminds us constantly to do our work with shraddha (loving attention) and to take care of our Mother Earth. At this event, AYUDH Toronto members got to put both these teachings into practice! Everyone enjoyed tree planting so much that the team is looking for another opportunity to plant more trees this Spring. Stay tuned for the next tree planting date!