Tree Planting Song: In Movement and Meaning
As taught in the Forest Schools and sung beneath open skies
“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause.”
Action: Stand firmly upon the Earth in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), feet hip-width apart, grounding through the soles like roots spreading deep into the soil. Bring your hands together before your chest in Anjali Mudra (Prayer Pose). This is your alignment with purpose, your stillness before growth. Close your eyes, breathe deeply. You are the seed.
“Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward.”
Action: Spread your toes, gripping the Earth. Feel your roots go down, down, down into the deep womb of the Earth. Then inhale, raise your arms slowly outward and then overhead in Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Mountain Pose or Volcano Pose). Let your palms meet above your head. Reach upward as if growing to the sun. Your spine becomes the trunk; your fingers, the tips of branches piercing the sky. Hold this powerful ascent with courage in your chest.
“Bend to the winds of heaven.”
Action: Keep your arms raised and sway gently from side to side in Mountain Pose Raised Arms Hips Sway Flow. Be supple, resilient. Feel the breeze of heaven play upon your leaves. The wind is change, and you, noble tree, must bend but never break. Like the Trembling Aspen and the Saskatoon, your strength lies in your flexibility.
“And learn tranquility.”
Action: Circle your arms down and around in a wide arc, as though drawing down sunlight and starlight. Bring your hands once more to your heart in Anjali Mudra. Bow your head slightly. In stillness you find peace. In rootedness, wisdom. In reverence, a bond with all life.
And then, as the wind stills and the Earth listens, the Watu Wa Miti, the Forest Scouts, speak their Threefold Promise aloud:
“I promise to plant ten trees each year,
To protect trees everywhere,
And to perform one good deed every day.”
These words are not only spoken—they are lived by us all. This is the pledge of all of us who are the children of the world who walk softly upon the Earth, hands soiled with hope, hearts tuned to the rhythms of the forest.
Let us all rise, hand in hand across nations and lands, under one sky. Let our branches intertwine in peace. For as St. Barbe said, “The Green Front marches forward.” Let us go forth as trees in the wind—firm in our roots, wide in our embrace.
For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park
For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
For more information:
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )
Donate your old vehicle, here’s how!
Support using Canada Helps
Support via a recycling bottle donation
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
- Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
- Make it your own
- Spread the word about the UN Decade
- Let’s Bring Back Forests
- Let’s Green Our Cities
““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven…and learn tranquility.”
Richard St. Barbe Baker
Forests of Memory. Forests of Learning. Forests for Life. 