With the holiday season in full swing, Manomet’s Clear Water Carbon Fund (CWCF) is working with the Holmes Farm at Manomet headquarters to make Christmas tree buying more sustainable.
The Fund plants trees along deforested river banks to protect clean water, restore wildlife habitat and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This year, the Holmes Farm is piloting a project to include a new planting from the Fund in the price of a Christmas tree. The Clear Water Carbon Fund will use these resources to plant trees in four watersheds in northern New England: the Lake Memphremagog and White River watersheds in Vermont and the Sebago Lake and Androscoggin River watersheds in Maine.
If the pilot is successful, the CWCF plans to expand to other Christmas tree buyers in other regions next year.
Holiday shoppers can also give the gift of clean water, improved wildlife habitat and reduced atmospheric carbon this holiday season by planting trees for holiday gifts. For $10, a tree can be planted to honor a family member, friend or colleague. Gift recipients will receive an artistic holiday card or personalized e-card commemorating the purchase and illustrating its significance.
“Trees are meaningful gifts that keep on giving as they grow,” said Manomet Program Manager Ethel Wilkerson. “Each tree planted will remove over 570 pounds of carbon from the atmosphere over time and will protect clean water and wildlife habitat.”
Click here to give a tree this holiday season.
-Catharina Damrell