BUNNY IN THE CITY: Friend-raiser explores the value of trees – Savannah Morning News

I love trees! From live oaks in Louisiana, sequoias in California to Cypress trees deep in south Georgia swamps, I have traipsed across the country to see natures tallest treasures. So today is super easy to drive up Habersham Street to the Savannah Tree Foundation Georgia Arbor Day Block Party at Green Truck Pub.

Checking out the colorful tents, live demonstrations and a cool green produce truck, I head over to talk with foundation Executive Director Zoe Rinker. Charged with preserving, protecting and planting urban trees locally, Zoe tells me, Green Truck Pub wanted to celebrate their 10th anniversary and came up with the idea of celebrating trees on Arbor Day.

Loving how this event focused on families that plant together stay together, it makes senses that the next people I see are Hunter Cattle Co. A fan since day one, I hug Del and Debra Ferguson, then take a seat on a hay bale to get an update on my favorite grass fed, no antibiotics, hormones, ingredients or preservatives cattle family.

With close to 1,000 cattle on their 300 acre farm and with partnering farmers, Del tells me they are selling grass fed beef to Green Truck Pub, Elle Tran and Local on 17 and how excited they are to debut their clean, natural meadow bloom tallow soaps and lotions.

After a pic of them with sons Daniel and Riley, I trot over for pics of photo reluctant Nancy Hayward with Constantinos Papaconstantinou and Jen Hayward, then the leader of all things healthy, the indomitable Paula Kreissler.

I once said, wherever she leads I will follow, and I cannot express how I love and admire the woman that made smoking indoors illegal and has changed local school food plans. After a long hug of love, I pose her with Joa Bello and Melissa Memory winners of the best names of the day.

Next I pose Zoes husband Rob with Savannah Tree Foundation board member Jody Trumbull and office administrator Haley Gary. The Florida native tells me, Savannahs trees are the entire reason we moved to here. It took us three years to get here and we want to put down roots.

Another person with love of trees is with Evergreen Tree Service, Jenna and Robert Cuilty. Busy snipping and shaping a small evergreen, the Savannah loving couple tell me, We are tree care solutions and do everything from plant health care to tree removal and pruning.

Across from their tent is a big group of guys making a lot of noise with their wood turning mid-lathe. With 43 members offering free demonstrations on the last Thursday of each month at Georgia State Railroad Museum, I pause to hear Lowcountry Turners President Dan Lee talk about the bowls, platters and vessels on his display table.

Dan shows birch from his backyard, cherry wood from Hurricane Matthew and a live oak from Wilmington Island, then the finished product. I may be obsessed with this new-to-me nonprofit as I watch Lonnie Bott make nice little cuts into a tulip poplar wood blank, then hand me a colorful tiny spin top!

Dragging my feet away, I head over to pose Mark Bowen from Forsyth Farmers Market in front of his fresh produce truck, then pause Savannah Derby Devil member Kiona Heredia aka CleoCatra, Sarah Handy aka Handy Dufresne, and Ivette Foreit aka Ms. Elle Crisis for a fun pic.

Slowing down, I wait for Zoe to wrangle Green Truck Pubs Whitney and Josh Yates away from a standing-room-only restaurant. We love trees, and planting trees is the best way we can give back to the community that supports us. Having a friend-raiser along with matching donations all month will make our goal of 10 trees possible, shares the fellow tree lovers.

With a final lap through the perfect Sunday party, Zoe shares, Today was particularly exciting because of all the children attending, thats truly who we are planting for. The trees we plant today will continue to provide shade, clean the air and beautify our community well into the future.

Amen! With future plans to track down some aspens in Yellowstone National Park, I will remain content to live in a city cuddled by the long arms of century-old oaks, swaying pines and magnificent magnolias. Thank you Savannah Tree Foundation for being the ultimate caretaker of our natural treasures!

Invite Bunny to your gathering, gala or other social event. Contact Bunny at 912-844-1122 or email her at bunnyware@aol.com.

Read more:
BUNNY IN THE CITY: Friend-raiser explores the value of trees - Savannah Morning News