100,000 trees to give away before he dies

Amy Woolvett

THE COAST GUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

A society and its people are determined to be great when old men plant trees knowing they will never sit in their shade. Aristotle

A tree enthusiast and farmer will be donating 50 trees to the town of Shelburne on Earth week in his goal to give away 100,000 trees before he dies.

John Stuart is a farmer in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and has spent the last 50 years planting and giving away trees to communities.

He tells how he would dig up and plant trees along the streets in London with his Grandfather and how his Grandfather had done the same with his father. The cycle of giving and planting trees have gone on for generations in his family dating back to the early 1800’s.

“This is more than about giving away trees,” he explains, “this is about creating public awareness in communities.”

He always has the trees planted during Earth week and always by children in the community.

“If you give a child a pattern to do something that’s good then maybe one of those kids will take the initiative and do the same thing when they are older,” he says.

Stuart has now given away 25,000 trees in six provinces across Canada.

He wants to teach children and society to take pride in their communities and take ownership for their trees and towns.

“Children don’t learn that unless someone takes the time to teach them,” he says.

The school children at Hillcrest Academy will be planting with Stuart, Black Walnut, Red Oak, Shag Bark Hickory, Green Ash, White Ash, Red Rum and Maple.

“I only plant hard wood trees and it goes back to Aristotle,” Stuart says, “I want to be remembered for 150 years…we are only as good as what we give back to our society.”