It’s Arbor Day

The best way to support the Arbor Day trend, is to make a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation.

Today, in America, many are celebrating ARBOR DAY, a national observance that when I was a kid, seemed to be only ‘observed’ by elementary schools and the novel planting of a tiny spruce seedling or a Norway Maple seedling. Frankly, I think the masses didn’t care as much for the Earth Day / Eco movement, leaving any celebrations to environmentalist Hippies, school children eager for a day off in spring, or to the handful of nature freaks.

Today, it’s a different world. As the world finally awakens to the reality of global warming, terms related to environmentalism are everyday -the Kyoto effect, recycling, sustainablilty, if you are a brand or a major corporation and not using these temrs in your marketing plan or product, you are far behind the curve. Today it’s becoming more than trendy to become a ‘green’ world. But, it’s still trendy. Just yesterday, I was having a conversation with a friend who is a principle at a major design firm with clients like Coke, Starbucks, Target and Nike, about movements in design and business. We were discussing the strange evolution of “hot news’ vs ‘real news’ Specifically, he said ” Have you noticed how at quickly business trends have moved away from the ‘green’ movement towards one that exploits the Obama haters trend about blaming the worlds problems on “stimulus package”?” There is hardly a commercial on TV now, that doesn’t spoof this, from furniture stores to monologues on ELLEN.

But the green movement continues, which is a good thing, for we want it to me main stream. I think it’s OK that Miracle Gro is releasing an Organic fertilizer. That’s a good thing. It’s OK that Frito Lay is test marketing a biodigradable packaging that turns to compost in a few week for their SUNCHIPS brand. ANd, it’s OK that everyone from VISA to POP TARTS is jumping of the eco band wagon. Sure, Volvo driving, Whole Foods shopping, Organic consumers are snubbing their noses at Big Business exploiting this trend, but…..I think this is one thing which is OK to exploit. Even though the reason for such support may only be to increase sales. Who benifits in the end? We all do.

Today, this weekend, take some time to educate your kids on the importance of Plants in our world. Plant a shrub or tree, learn more about the history of Arbor day ( check out this link which is interactive). Get dirty. And don’t just do it on Arbor Day, do it for a birthday, an aniversary, Arbor Day is everyday, for it doesn’t just celebrate life supporting trees, it celebrates life, itself.