Earth Systems Science, Inc.

Successful 3rd Annual Free Fruit Tree Distribution at Wat Thai

Feb 15, 2006

The 3rd Annual TreePeople Free Fruit Tree Distribution at Wat Thai Los Angeles successfully gave out 150 fruit trees to local residents. ESSI volunteers turned out to launch the 2006 community service activity calendar with gusto! Saifon Lee, Earth Systems Science, Inc. Director of Programs started this effort at Wat Thai Los Angeles in 2004. The 2006 ESSI volunteers (in alphabetical order) were: Jaime Aguilera, Katie Aguilera, Alex Arboleda, Andy Arboleda, Miriam Beuzerion, Puah Beuzerion, Robert Cong, Yen Duong, Cynthia Guthrie, Tuyen La, Terri Lai. Catareya Laosunthornsiri, Gregory Lee, Yaoziuatl Martinez, Robert Rodriguez, Erika Rodriguez, Margarita Rodriguez, Veronica Rojas, Huihui Yuan, Jessica Wei, and Lucy Wei. This year, members of Kasetsart University Alumni Association of USA (Chavalit Nilawat, Polkan Kanchanasatit, and Preeda Tuwatunanurak) assisted the ESSI volunteers.

Kasetsart University is the largest agricultural research university in Thailand. It is fitting that these alumni, though far from their native land, still carry the spirit of service and agriculture in their hearts and turn it into action. The cooperative spirit of this year?’s effort is further evidence of the ESSI slogan ?“Networking is better than Not Working?”. Plans are being made to expand this initial cooperative effort with KUAA-USA more fully for next year?’s Free Fruit Tree Distribution.

While waiting for the distribution to begin, people could view ESSI display boards about ESSI, its programs, proper tree planting methods and the many benefits of planting trees in general. This year, TreePeople had requested getting feedback from past free fruit tree recipients, so ESSI put out the call for interviews. The ESSI interview asked such questions as the year they got the tree, kind of tree, the condition of the tree (e.g. alive-healthy, alive-not health, dead), and the month and year they got the first fruit. Other questions asked were: Was it hard to plant the tree? Was it hard to care for the tree? Did the fruit taste good? What do you think about the program? What can you do to help this program to continue? Other comments.

Many people were very positive in their responses, praising the fruit tree program as a great way to get people to plant trees and do something for the environment. Sirichai R. reported getting a full tree of apricots in the first year! ?“It was so great! I had so many apricots I was giving them away to my co-workers and neighbors. My mother especially loved the apricots. They were so sweet!?” he exclaimed in the interview. Steve Hofvendahl, TreePeople Free Fruit Tree Program Coordinator, took time from his very busy schedule to visit the ESSI distribution effort. said ?“It?’s very unusual to get apricots the first year. Usually it takes 2 years before they bare fruit.?” Sunisa N. wasn?’t as fortunate. Her peach tree bore fruit in the first year, but animals got them before they could mature.

The free fruit tree program has other benefits in addition to the obvious desire of people to get fresh fruit. Trees help clean the air pollution in the LA area. Trees play a big role in watershed management, helping to keep more water in the area. If properly located, they can shade a home and reduce utility costs in the summer. Trees add value to your property. And, as Sunisa N. found out, fruit trees are a food source for local wildlife.

Yes, Virginia, there is wildlife in urban LA. Many of us are simply too busy and distracted by the rush of our high tech lives to notice the many other creatures sharing our yards and neighborhoods. Some are local residents; others stop here on their annual migrations. ESSI cooperates with the National Wildlife Federation to train and encourage people to create and maintain urban Backyard Wildlife Habitats?™. ?“I know it can be disappointing and discouraging for some folks to go through the effort of planting a fruit tree only to see squirrels, birds, and other wildlife get the fruit. But as an environmentalist, I don?’t have problem sharing with them. After all, urban LA developed because people destroyed the homes (habitat) of these creatures. So I see this as giving back. Besides, it is wholly appropriate to give to nature, especially when you consider we are here today, a Wat Thai Los Angeles, a Buddhist temple. Buddha teaches respect for all life,?” stated Greg Lee.

Last year, ESSI raised funds for the Thai Red Cross Tsunami relief effort and for its own Thailand Summer 2005 Rural Environmental Education Enhancement Pilot Program (REEEPP) Na Fa Elementary School Library project. Though the funds raised were small in contrast to other groups, unlike other non-profits, 100% of the raised funds go directly to the specified beneficiaries. No one is ESSI gets a salary. There is no office. Overhead is so minimal the volunteers easily handle it. ESSI uses a cost-recovery operating mode where dedicated volunteers directly shoulder the costs for the programs when outside funding sources are not available (which is most often the case).

This year, the focus was on networking and a smooth transition. (See a related article about the administrative changes in ESSI.) The KUAA representatives approached ESSI after the 2nd Annual Free Fruit Tree distribution at Wat Thai in 2005. ?“It was a very positive sign from the Thai alumni to reach out beyond the Thai community. We welcomed their participation and look forward to further cooperation in the future,?” said Greg Lee, former ESSI CEO. ?“We pride ourselves on our effective and cultural diverse programs. Though we run our TreePeople Free Fruit Tree Distribution effort at Wat Thai, there are many non-Thais who come to get the trees. And certainly our volunteers include Thais and non-Thais.?”

New volunteers and even some relatives joined long-time ESSI volunteers. ?“We had a great time?” and ?“It was fun?” were often mentioned comments from the experience hands and newcomers. The key slogan at ESSI is ?“Community-based Environmental Education for Families and Sustainable Neighborhoods.?” Among the 21 ESSI volunteers were 3 married couples, 3-generations of one family 2 generations of another, and 2 sets of sisters. The trans-generational composition of the ESSI volunteers is living proof that ESSI programs are open to ?“youth of all ages.?” (The youngest volunteer is 7 years old?…and out of courtesy, we won?’t mention the age of the most experienced youth in the group.)

The TreePeople Free Fruit Tree Distribution at Wat Thai Los Angeles was a success. It successfully delivered free fruit trees to the Wat Thai-North Hollywood community. It allowed ESSI and KUAA-USA to effectively network and dream of future activities. It brought together long-time ESSI volunteers to begin another year of community service. At the same time, new volunteers joined ESSI and made some new friends. It?’s this kind of positive energy that is a major reason for so many ESSI volunteers to get involved.