The Greening of Gavin

Our Tree Day

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“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” ~ Martin Luther

Our tree day started at 10am this morning, when we arrived at the banks of Toolern Creek, that runs through our town.  

I was greeted by enthusiastic members of the Friends of Toolern Creek, who were ready and waiting with masses of tree, shrub and native grass seedlings.

The native flora that we were planting were a grass called Poa Labillardieri or Poa Lab for short.  It is indigenous to our region.  The trees were Yellow Gum.

As we were not veterains of tree planting, we opted to plant the grass.  Lyn, the President of the FOTC, got out the hole digger and got straight to work.

It was pretty easy work, just pop a seedling into each hole and backfill.  Each tray of grass held 100 seedlings.

Ben was simply amazing.  He was a grass planting machine, and I was very proud of him.  We worked really well as a team.  Even when Lyn had to duck away on the occasion, to sort out the other workers, Ben kept digging his own holes with his trowel and planted more grass.  He was really enjoying himself.

In the two and a half hours we worked, we rejuvenated a 20 x 20 metre square area of creek bank. In the end we had planted 600 Poa lab grasses, and the others put in about 20 yellow gum.

These are some of the seedlings that Ben and I were responsible for.  We felt really good.
I found a picture of what this native Tussock grass looks like when it is fully grown.  It is a good looking plant and its flowers attract native birds and butterflies.
Finally we walked down to the creek itself, which was flowing fast after the recent rains.  It is clean and healthy, thanks to the Friends of Toolern Creek and its many willing volunteers.
We had a great day, and will do it again next year.
Did anyone else plant a tree today?

National Tree Day – Winner

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The winner of the competition is Brooke Gray from Seymour, Victoria.  Congratulations.  Please send through your details ASAP, so that we can send through your $100 Bunnings Warehouse voucher express post, kindly donated by Toyota Australia.

SO… 
Catch! calls the Once-ler. 
He lets something fall. 
It’s a Truffula Seed. 
It’s the last one of all! 
You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds. 
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs. 
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. 
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. 
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. 
Then the Lorax 
and all of his friends 
may come back.

Happy planting where ever you may be over the weekend on this beautiful planet we call home!

National Tree Day Competition

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“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.
And I’m asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs–“

… to join in and plant some native trees and shrubs on National Tree Day, because National Tree Day (Sunday, 29 July) and Schools Tree Day (Friday, 27 July) is fast approaching.  

Ben and I will be out lending a hand in our local community and helping The Friends of Toolern Creek to plant this Sunday.  We want to help preserve our local environment, and will be planting local native trees and shrubs.  Details about local plantings events can be found at the Planet Ark find-a-site page.


More than 17 million native trees and shrubs have been planted by approximately 2.5 million volunteers over the years participating in this event.

Did you know that National Tree Day was co-founded by Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee in 1996?  Well it certainly has come a long way since the late 90’s, as the media release I received explains;

“This year, National Tree Day is organised by Planet Ark in partnership with Toyota and its extensive Dealer network and encourages all Australians to come together with their local community, sporting group or local school to plant trees and give back to the environment.

In what has become Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature care event, sports stars, environmentalists, media personalities and country music greats each year team up with local communities to get their hands dirty in support of Toyota’s involvement in National Tree Day.

2012 marks Toyota’s 13th year of support for the nationwide campaign which encourages communities to help preserve the environment for future generations.”

I like the way that Planet Ark and Toyota both support the event.  It shows what an NGO and a Corporation can do working hand in hand for the good of our environment.

Fortunately, for Australian residents, Toyota Australia has also sent me a $100 Bunnings Warehouse gift voucher to give-away to one of my readers with which to purchase and plant native trees, shrubs and grasses in their local area.

I apologise to my international readers,and I am sorry there is no voucher available for you. However, I do urge you to go plant a tree anyway, and get the kids involved.

So you Aussie readers, all you have to do is leave me a comment of 50 words or less, describing the place that you would plant your native trees and shrubs and why you would plant there if you won the voucher.  Oh, and a small plug about this post and the National Tree Day event via any form of social media (via the Facebook, Twitter, email etc. icons at the bottom of this post) would be greatly appreciated.

The best entry will be judged by Kim, Ben and I, and will be drawn on Thursday evening at 7.30pm AEST.  The winner can then contact me via email and the voucher will be sent to you post haste, hopefully getting there in time for the event.  The judges decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.  


Thanks to Planet Ark and Toyota Australia for their sponsorship/support of this great event.

So get those creative juices flowing, and don’t forget to check if there is a local event in your area and register your interest.

Oh, and good luck with your entry in the contest!

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” ~ Greek proverb