Spring 2025 Tree Party
600 conifers were added on Saturday May 10, from 10 am - 5 pm. Our new forest at the west farm now has over 1200 Red Pine, White Pine and Norway Spruce from our community forest plantings in 2024 and 2025. Check out the video from 2024.
Changes
Since Bill Gates opined in 2023 that planting trees to combat climate change is complete nonsense, Eco Building Products and Love Farm decided to plant a forest. Even though every single tree is a freaking miracle, our lovely planet is all about interdependent life systems. A forest isn't just a collection of trees, it's also a mycelial network for immunity and communication. A Northern Michigan forest includes rabbits, raptors, grasses, bugs, the water cycle, soil microbes, glacial scapings, ancient sea beds, charcoal and yep, human beings who can choose to regenerate and protect wild places.
Bill now owns or controls ~270k acres or 1% of American farmland. With all that responsibility, I imagine Bill thinking to himself... a few trees here and there might feel good to plant, but robust ecosystems are what's really needed, whether or not human activity is causing the changes to climate. Rather than a few trees, let's plant whole forests!
Ok Bill, we're on it.
Certainly, the skies in Northern Michigan look pretty strange some days, so something has changed. Maybe we could get jet planes to switch back to the fuel they were burning back in the 70s, when the skies were oh so blue, and jet contrails were rare, very thin and faded out fast. I was 10 in 1973 and watched flights from my grandparents porch on Long Island, New York. Laguardia and JFK Airports had plenty of traffic.
Invitation
In the spring of 2025, Eco Building Products of Elberta is giving 600+ trees to Love Farm of Beulah. This contribution is in addition to Eco's annual donation of 1% of profits to regional non-profits. Would you like to help us plant trees?
Volunteer on Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 am - 5:00 pm followed by the CSPP, (Carbon Sequestration Potluck and Party). Please RSVP for either the tree planting, the CSPP or both.
HELP US PUT THESE...
HERE!
Location, Time, RSVP
Location
Love Farm West Farm
3730 Highland Drive
Beulah, Michigan 49617
Smart phone warning! There are two Highland Drives in Beulah. Love Farm is on the ridge above the north shore of Crystal Lake, (not in the village of Beulah on the east end of Crystal Lake).
Date
Saturday May 10
Time
10:00 am - 10:30 am > orientation and planting tutorial
10:30 am - 5:00 > planting
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm > party
RSVP
Dan phone 231 eight eight two-0460 or email friends AT love DOT farm
Jim phone 231 six five one-9834 jimb AT eco-buildingproducts.com
Preparing to work
We'll be working in pairs. If you're not coming as one of two, we'll hook you up with a groovy planting partner. Bring gloves if you got 'em. Weather could be variable, dress in layers. We'll be working on sloping fields in full sun, if there is sun. Wide brimmed hats could be helpful, but be sure they are well connected to your head in case of wind.
Kids
Children are welcome but must be over 13 to be planting as part of pair, otherwise they can be a (well behaved) third or fourth member of an adult pair. Under 13 kids should not dig or be close to exposed soil. This is because we are working in an old orchard and the soil of legacy Northern Michigan orchards is often contaminated with heavy metals. Tree planting is safe, but children tend to want to play and dig in the dirt, and that's not ok here.
Exposed sandy soil could contain lead and arsenic. Little kids are not allowed to dig.
Dogs
Friendly, easy going dogs are welcome, no spazzy or barky dogs, no cat chasers.
CSPP (Carbon Sequestration Potluck and Party)
We will be making food for folks, and a dish to pass is always welcome. We encourage vegetarian and organic fare. Please label your dish with ingredients.
Movie production
The day will be documented with ground cameras and a drone. We'll have releases for adults to sign for themselves and their kids. The movie or movies will be posted on love.farm and eco-buildingproducts.com. If you prefer to be incognito, we'll have "no close up" ribbons for to wear so the camera operators can avoid recording your face.
Message from Eco Building Products
Each year Eco Building Products contributes one percent of its gross profits to local and regional nonprofits. This year, Eco Building Products will also plant 
600 trees coniferous trees.
On Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 am we hope to have at least 8 volunteer pairs (16 people total) planting 75 trees each. Might you be willing and able to help us accomplish this goal? We will meet at love Farm located near Crystal Highlands. We estimate it will take six hours to do the planting and then we will transition from planting to celebrating with a Carbon Sequestration Potluck Party. Please let me know if you are willing and able to join in the fun! We’d love to have you planting, but if that doesn’t work for you, we would also love to have you join in the post planting celebration.