by Yoony Kim
At Kitchen Ink Publishing, we celebrate all the fun holidays, including National Hot Dog Day, Cereal Day, and Grilled Cheese Day. But days like Arbor Day remind us that our earth needs nurturing too. This special holiday encourages us to plant trees, care more for our environment, and appreciate and protect our world.
What is Arbor Day?
Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April in the United States. It is dedicated to planting and caring for trees, and it is believed that this is the best time to plant trees.
Arbor Day began in Nebraska in 1872 by J.Sterling Morton. Morton was a journalist and nature enthusiast who believed planting trees was the key to making this world greener and beautiful. He recognized the need for more green in the largely treeless state and proposed that there should be a day specifically dedicated to planting trees. On the first Arbor Day, Nebraskans planted more than one million trees!
Morton’s Arbor Day concept quickly spread across the United States, and in 1970, President Nixon officially declared this day as a national holiday.
Why is Arbor Day important?
Trees clean the air we breathe, provide homes for wildlife, offer delicious foods like apples and nuts, prevent erosion, and provide shelter for us.
How can we celebrate Arbor Day?
Arbor Day is the perfect opportunity for families to get outside, plant something green, or enjoy nature. Each year, nearly one million trees are planted by schools and communities. Whether you live in a city, a suburb, or the countryside, there are many meaningful ways to contribute!
- Visit or volunteer at a community garden
- Plant a tree together
- You can find local organizations hosting public planting events that welcome families to join!
- Checkout this non-profit organization https://www.arborday.org/ to plant a tree by signing a pledge!
- Start a mini garden at home
- Plant herbs such as rosemary, basil, or chives in small pots at home. You could add them to a fun, kid-friendly recipe -perhaps from one of Kitchen Ink Publishing’s cookbooks!