Why Do We Celebrate Arbor Day?
Arbor Day is a national holiday in the United States which encourages the planting and preservation of trees. For an event so essential to the survival of humanity, the holiday is often taken for granted, particularly by folks who seem to care less about the ecosystem.
The origin of Arbor Day can be traced to 1854. Then, a man named Julius Sterling Morton and his wife had just moved to an area in Nebraska. They were said to have purchased a property of 160 acres. And all through the length and breadth of the property, there was no tree in sight. The absence of trees and foliage in the area now known as Nebraska City affected both aesthetics and local agriculture.
Morton, who appeared to be an environmentalist, proceeded to plant over 1000 trees on land once desolate and plain. A few years later, when he became the editor of Nebraska's maiden newspaper, Morton used the avenue to enlighten his readers on the ecological importance of trees. He also got involved with the state's Board of Agriculture. An opportunity which he fully maximized to resonate with the lack of and the need for forestation in the area.
In 1872, he proposed to the Board of Agriculture that a day be set aside for Nebraskans to plant trees within the community. The board conceded, and Arbor day was birthed. Originally, the event was referred to as Sylvan Day, associated with forest trees. However, the event was later renamed Arbor Day after Morton suggested that the event be made to reflect all trees.
Arbor Day was first celebrated on April 10, 1872. Morton championed the maiden event, and participants planted thousands of trees. Persons who actively participated and planted correctly were awarded prizes. This spiked enthusiasm amongst the locals and tales of the event's success spread fast to neighboring states.
By 1882, people practiced the tradition across a handful of states. It also allowed schools in the United States to participate in the celebration. The event did not become an official state holiday until 1885. And when it did, April 22 was the approved date for Nebraskans in recognition of Morton's birthday and the favorable tree planting weather condition.
How Flexispot's Activities Contribute To The Conservation Of Trees
At this point, it's perfectly normal to ask questions like, "Why is a furniture manufacturer putting up an eco supportive front?", "Are you asking us to plant trees for you to cut them down?" and "Are your operations not in direct contrast with the goals of the Arbor Day celebration?". If you have these questions and more on your mind, please believe us when we say that they are extremely valid.
However, you should note that Flexispot is not your regular ergonomic furniture maker. The brand leans towards green initiatives and maximizes them to the fullest. Thus, when a bamboo product is sold on the Flexispot site, the company plants a tree in its place and issues the customer a 'Plant A Tree' certificate. This green initiative is the Tree Plantation Drive, a collaborative effort between FlexiSpot and One Tree Planted.
Also, FlexiSpot thrives on Clean & Green Production. In essence, bamboo products are put together using eco-friendly alternatives to real wood. The production process is reputed to leave little to no trace of carbon. And even under these seemingly tight manufacturing conditions, Flexispot products still top the bulk of ergonomic furniture in the industry.
States In America That Recognise Arbor Day
Two decades after the first official Arbor Day event, all other states in the nation recognized and began to observe the event. All states except Delaware did not begin to observe the holiday until the 1990s.
All states in the United States observe Arbor Day, but on different dates. While most states observe it on the last Friday in April, other states like Alaska and Maine observe it in May. Some states observe it in February, March, November, or January. Alabama and California observe a week-long celebration in February and March, respectively.
Fun Activities To Mark Arbor Day
Arbor Day allows you to engage in tons of fun activities. These activities range from outdoor games and eco-friendly events to environmentally friendly furniture investments that you can make from the comfort of your home.
Below are a couple of fun activities that you can engage in to commemorate Arbor Day:
Plant A Tree
There's no better way to spend Arbor Day than to carry out the activity for which the event was instituted. And that's by planting a tree.
Planting a tree is fun and easy. You could rally a group of friends together, get your root mass and dig into the dirt. While there are so many guides to planting a tree, note that the most important rule of planting is to ensure that you dig a proper planting hole. The hole should be three times wider than the root's current mass. This will allow the tree to spread its roots and trunk properly.
Invest In Eco-friendly Furniture & Accessories
Another way to mark this ecocentric celebration is by investing in furniture. And not just any furniture. You have a duty to yourself and the environment to invest only in eco-friendly furniture. This is because investing in furniture that's not environmentally friendly will encourage such manufacturers to continue toying with the ecosystem.
On the other hand, investing in eco-friendly furniture goes a great way in encouraging environmentally compliant manufacturers. It'll also promote the application of green initiatives in the industry and create ideal furniture awareness amongst other purchasers.
As already established, Flexispot is a leading eco-friendly furniture manufacturer. The brand's products are also available to be purchased at extremely pocket-friendly prices.
Standing Desks
On the FlexiSpot online store, you'd find a catalog of standing desks to choose from. There are height adjustable standing desks and fixed desks too. You'll also find signature table structures in different sizes. And they all provide ergonomic relief to your back, neck, and spine.
One Flexispot standing desk worth investing in is the Premium Standing Desk (E7). In the spirit of Arbor Day, it'll interest you to know that this desk is BIFMA certified. Amongst other things, BIFMA evaluates the environmental consciousness of a desk. And a desk is only certified after it fulfills these conditions.
Thus, this desk has successfully passed the required standard and is perfectly safe for use.
The Premium Standing Desk (E7) also affords users super stability. Each leg column has a 0.05mm thickness. The holeless design of the legs offers a sleek appearance that adds an aesthetic touch to every room.
Every inch of the desk's frame is coated in Nordson Enviro Coat powder. This coating powder is not just environmentally friendly. It also makes the desk durable and sustainable. As a result, the desk is not susceptible to wear and tear. It is also built to be resistant to high temperatures.
In addition, the Premium Standing Desk (E7) is multiple-user friendly. It's suitable for every family member as it serves users who are 4'2" to 6'4". Tall users can pair the desk with a converter for different height ranges.
Take Time To Enjoy Nature
Arbor Day, or Arbor Week (as it applies in some states), is an opportunity for you to get out and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. If you missed out on any outdoor fun activity the year before, you could make up for it with this holiday. And there are so many outdoor activities that you can engage in.
Hiking
This is one of the best times in the year to go hiking. There'll be fewer people on the trails, allowing room to enjoy the scenery without interruptions. You can go hiking on your favorite trail. And if you don't have one, here's a chance to find one and meet new people while at it. All you need is a backpack filled with food and outdoor supplies. For more fun, you can go with a group of friends. Or there's the option of joining a hiking tour.
Picnics
Since the weather is warm during Arbor, an outdoor picnic will be a great idea. You and a group of friends could volunteer with a tree-planting or any other environmentally friendly organization. And after a few hours of digging and planting, you can settle down to enjoy a hearty picnic.
Identify-That-Tree Game
This is a fun Arbor Day game for kids. It entails a scavenger hunt where kids get to identify as many trees as possible by their names. The kid who can identify the most trees gets some form of reward. It could be a potted plant (to build future plant moms and dads). Or it could be other gifts and monetary benefits.
Tree-planting organizations can also run this event virtually on their social media handles. It'll help create awareness about Arbor Day and the organization's activities.
Enlighten People About Arbor Day
There are still so many people who know nothing about Arbor Day. At the same time, more knowledge about the event but can't understand its importance. Awareness drives this becomes essential to help enlighten others about the importance of the day's event.
To celebrate Arbor Day, you can volunteer at an environmental organization's awareness drive. You can also organize one yourself. It doesn't have to be something big. At best, it could be a little gathering of people in your community with creative measures in place to help create awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Arbor Day Only Celebrated In America?
No. Several other countries observe tree-planting holidays in their unique way. Countries like the Netherlands, British Virgin Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Lesotho, and others all observe Arbor Day. The world's first Arbor Day celebration is reported to have been held in Spain in 1954.
Our Earth Day & Arbor Day The Same?
Both events might seem similar; however, you should note that they are not the same. Arbor Day highlights the importance of planting trees and their effects on the environment. On the other hand, Earth Day seeks to promote the planet's well-being. It thus highlights eco-friendly ideas like preserving endangered species, clean energy, recycling, proper waste collection, and the likes.
Why Is Nebraska Home To The Arbor Day Celebration?
The idea of Arbor Day in the United States was birthed in Nebraska City by a man named Julius Sterling Morton. He championed the first Arbor Day observance, which was also held in Nebraska in 1872.
When Did Arbor Day Become A National Holiday
Arbor Day became a national holiday in 1970, following a declaration by President Richard Nixon.
How Many States In America Recognize Arbor Day
All American states recognize the National Arbor Day holiday. However, the dates may differ as most states seek to observe the holiday in tree-friendly weather conditions.
