National Arbor Week is celebrated annually from 1 – 7 September in South Africa, and occurs six days longer than the rest of the world’s single Arbor Day. It was started in 1983, and having been successfully held around the country for numerous years, communities petitioned the government in 1999 to turn the annual day of tree appreciation into a full awareness week.
Not only are trees necessary for our continued existence for breathing, but they also provide beauty, shade, a home to local birdlife, and are a source of building materials, medicines, and foods. During Arbour Week, communities and schools gather together to plant trees, start edible community gardens and celebrate the importance of trees in our daily lives.
How can you participate in Arbor Week?
The Vertical Public Food Garden, created by The City of Eden, is a new addition to Buitenkant Street in Cape Town. They’re having their grand unveiling this Saturday 23 August 2014 from 11:00 – 14:00, as part of a community initiative. Visit them to learn more about sustainable community activities and find out how to get involved. Go to the Vertical Public Food Garden unveiling, enter the R40 raffle and stand a chance to win your own vertical food garden. Find out more!
Participate in the Tree of Life Mosaic with Upcycle. The event will be held at Booysens Hotel, Johannesburg, from 10:00 to late on Sunday 31 August 2014. You can either donate bottle caps, or if you have time, you can assist in creating a tree (or forest) of life from plastic bottle lids. Lunch will be available at the Booysens Hotel and will stick with the green theme by providing vegetarian and vegan items. Eco-friendly suppliers and green initiatives are welcome to market their products at the event.
Get involved with Greenpop, one of the fastest growing tree-planting initiatives in South Africa and Zambia. You can sign up as an intern or volunteer with the company at their home base in Cape Town, or you can come along to participate in monthly tree planting events. They focus on reforestation and greening the “grey” communal areas of schools, crèches, and communities, by planting indigenous trees, and fruit trees. Find out more!
Stay at Go Green Self Catering Accommodation in Seapoint, one of Cape Town’s more enviable suburbs. This luxurious self-catering accommodations’ commitment to being green doesn’t end with their eco-friendly facilities such as solar heating, energy saving bulbs, and recycling. They just happen to go the extra mile by planting a tree for every guest who stays for 4 nights or more. Certificates are then sent to the guest, detailing where and when the tree purchased on their behalf has been planted! Find out more.
What to Do this Arbor Week:
- Take your family on a picnic – you’ll get to enjoy the spring weather
- Eat at a farm-to-fork restaurant – they only use seasonal and ethical produce
- Head to a local nursery and buy some more greenery for your garden
- Go hiking and appreciate the natural beauty around you
- Support companies such as Food & Trees for Africa and Sustainable.co.za
- Contact the Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries government department to find out how you and your community can get involved during Arbor Week
- Book an eco-friendly escape for your next holiday
- Watch this inspiring video and then start your own veggie garden!
Let us know what green initiatives you plan to engage in for Arbor Week, in the comments below!
Main image credited to lejade (Flickr)
