Planting Hope in the Time of Covid-19

In the autumn of 2019, Diana visited the town of Windsor, Ontario for a book signing and speaking event at the Ojibway Nature Centre, sponsored by the Pelee Island Bird Observatory.

Inspired by Diana’s two-day visit, a group of women who dubbed themselves the DBK Book Club, set the task for the next year to plant 100 trees. This short film by Pat Jeflyn documents the group’s endeavours. The group met once a week to study Diana’s book and devised a plan, even in spite of the calamitous arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Come spring, one member offered her rural property which provided plenty of space for planting while socially distancing. Masked up and armed with advice and knowledge from various local environmental groups, the DBK Book Club arrived with 100 seedlings in hand. The trees were purchased from the Essex Conservation Authority at around $1.75 each. Out of the 100 trees planted in 2020, nearly 15 have died and have already been replaced with a new round of planting along with an additional 50.

Watch the following video to see how you can plan and organize a local tree planting event of your own. The path to sustainable reforestation isn’t one that needs to be tread alone – planting trees can be a fun, communal project.