CommuniTREE
– an environmentally themed event to commemorate, educate and
participate in all things TREE! Beneath the magnificent live oak trees
that surround the Bath House Cultural Center on White Rock Lake, join us
in fellowship of nature greatest archetype on Autumn Equinox weekend.
Learn about proper TREE care, emulate TREE energy, peruse local
artisTREE, visit with a multitude of TREE organizations and share
prayers for peace on the World TREE. Be the change you wish to see…
celebration CommuniTREE!

Full Schedule online at www.EarthRhythms.org.

Amy
Martin, executive director of Earth Rhythms, relates: “This event is an
outgrowth over the group’s long-time relationship with several 100+
year old elm trees behind the Bath House Cultural Center, where we have
held many festivals. When the trees were cut down due to ill health,
Earth Rhythms commemorated one by having artist Julia Schloss paint a
butterfly on the stump. It was eventually cut off and the slab turned
into an art table for the facility. Another tree was honored with a
“Goodbye to a Tree” service before it was cut down. Both were so well
received that CommuniTREE was a natural outgrowth.”

This year, 2011, has been designed by the United Nations as the International Year of the Forests (http://www.celebrateforests.com/)
A Celebrate Forests campaign has been created for this by National
Association of State Foresters (NASF), the USDA Forest Service, and the
American Forest Foundation (AFF).

Throughout
history trees have been revered and seen as sacred symbols of power,
wisdom, healing, fertility and even life itself.  The World Tree or Tree
of Life is found in virtually every culture and religion, symbolizing
the union of heaven and earth and the interconnection of life. Trees
teach us to grow our roots in fertile soil and reach for our dreams
while reminding us to live in balance and harmony.

Trees
are anchors of most ecosystems, stabilizing soil and preventing erosion
while filtering pollutants from rain and ground water. Worldwatch
Institute estimates at least 321 million acres of trees need to be
planted just to restore and maintain the productivity of soil and water
resources. Trees produce half of the atmosphere’s oxygen, while the
average tree absorbs of 13 pounds CO2 each year. Shade from trees can
reduce utility bills for air conditioning by 15 to 50 percent.

Dallas
area neighborhoods with mature trees can be up to 11 degrees cooler
than new neighborhoods without trees, and a one-degree rise in
temperature equals a 2% increase in peak electricity consumption; and
cities are 5 to 9 degrees warmer than rural areas, with 3% to 8% of
summer electric use going to compensate for this urban "heat island"
effect. Statistics from Dallas Urban Forestry