Why plant a tree when we can plant a forest - a pocket forest, to be precise!

Simply by using a variety of small native saplings instead of large, traditional nursery trees, we can plant at least 20 times as many trees and shrubs with less money and effort. If we plant them close together, generally 2-3 feet apart, we can create a diverse ecosystem bursting with life that also soaks up stormwater and CO2 from the atmosphere. We also gain unexpected benefits, like less maintenance and shockingly fast growth rates.

During this webinar, Basil Camu from Leaf & Limb will teach us the approach he and his colleagues use for planting and maintaining pocket forests, one that has been sharpened to balance ecological requirements and real-world budget constraints.

He'll also teach us how to use the same methodology to create a new type of privacy row, one that supports an abundance of birds and insects. These are called thickets (or hedgerows in the UK), and they provide greater resilience in the face of new pests. He'll also share fun touches, like adding edible natives such as blueberries and Chickasaw plum that we and our neighbors can enjoy together.

As a bonus, once we learn these approaches, we'll discuss ways we can collect seeds and grow our own saplings in easy-to-construct air-pruning beds. Better yet, we can invite friends and neighbors to join the fun! Growing trees together is a wonderful way to have fun, teach others, and get them involved in what are becoming global efforts to help heal Earth.