Ode to the Woods

I am the heat of your hearth
on cold winter nights,
the friendly shade screening you
from the summer sun,
and my fruits
refreshing draughts
quenching your thirst
as you journey on.

I am the beam that
holds your house,
the board of your table,
the bed on which you lie,
and the timber
that builds your boat.

I am the handle of your hoe,
the door of your homestead,
the wood of your cradle,
and the shell of your coffin.

I am the bread of kindness
and the flower of beauty.

Ye who pass by, listen to my words:
Harm Me Not.

Used in Portugese forests for over 1000 years.

Help conserve energy by shading and cooling homes and buildings, break urban heat islands and reduce the need for air-conditioning.

Reduce water consumption and increase atmospheric moisture.

Prevent water runoff and soil erosion by breaking rainfall and holding moisture.

Produce food and mulch.

Provide a canopy and habitat for wildlife.

Transform barren areas and provide buffers from harsh urban landscapes.

Increase property values, and also increase economic stability by attracting and keeping businesses in a community by creating feelings of relaxation and well-being.

Studies show that people linger and shop longer along tree-lined streets.

Studies show that trees help relieve psychological stress associated with life in metropolitan areas.

Provide protection against the increase in cancer-causing ultraviolet rays due to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Reduce glare, provide visual barriers and fire and wind breaks.

Provide wood for fuel and crafts.

Provide employment.

Accentuate the seasons.

Source: "A Simple Act of Planting a Tree", Treepeople and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture as provided by Trees Forever