During the month of October, all three of Whole Earth’s Austin stores will be collecting funds at our cash registers for a very worthy non-profit organization, TreeFolks, Inc. We are kicking off the funddrive with a giveaway of free tree saplings at our 1014 N. Lamar store in Austin on Saturday, October 1^st. Come by between noon and 2:00 pm that day for a free addition to your landscape – and don’t forget to make a small donation to assist TreeFolks fulfill their vital work in and around Austin.

Who is TreeFolks anyway?

TreeFolks grows the urban forest of Central Texas through tree planting, education and community partnerships.  Since 1989, TreeFolks has planted tens of thousands of trees in Austin area parks, schools, housing projects, medians, residential right of ways, community gardens, preserves and green belts.  They do this by partnering with businesses, schools, local governments, community groups and individuals to create a healthier environment and enhance the quality of urban life in Central Texas through the advancement of urban forestry initiatives.

Their flagship program, NeighborWoods, annually delivers 3,600 free street trees to residential properties in the Austin Energy service area to reduce the urban heat island effect.  Other programs include CommuniTrees, the Urban Orchard Project, and CityShade.  Each promotes tree planting and care by providing expertise, trees, and coordination to support the establishment of new trees thereby improving the environment and building community relationships.

TreeFolks provides speakers to a wide range of audiences about the value of trees and their care. They provide outreach to schools, libraries, festivals and fairs, to community leaders, professional organizations, and to businesses and neighborhood groups. With a small staff of four hardy folks, they reach an annual average of 11,000 people and plants nearly 10,000 trees through broad based community support.

Their mission simply stated is: TreeFolks grows the urban forest of Central Texas through tree planting, education, and community partnerships.

More details at the HAAM Benefit Day site.

An estimated 49 million Americans are food-insecure. Of those 49 million, almost 17 million are children and 5 million are seniors. Last year, over 37 million people used a Food Bank for emergency food assistance. The San Antonio Food Bank’s SA Goes Orange Campaign offers companies and individuals the opportunity to make a difference by raising funds and awareness for hunger reliefe. SA Goes Orange engages San Antonians in public awareness and fundraising activities that will ultimately help the San Antonio Food Bank end hunger in Southwest Texas. For more info on how you can help during SA Goes Orange visit www.safoodbank.org.

Of course, the next time you visit our Whole Earth store in the Quarry Market, please take time to make a small donation to this very worthy cause. You can also leave canned and dry goods at any of the participating businesses in Quarry Market for the entire month of September, 2011.

If you are planning a visit to Seminole Canyon in the near future, you may have to change your plans. As of July 27th, the Park is temporarily closed due to problems with the public water supply system. The Park hopes to have the problem resolved soon.

For detailed information about Seminole Canyon visit the website of Texas Parks and Wildlife.

For the most up-to-date information please contact the Park at 432-292-4464

April was ‘Earth Month’ at Whole Earth. One of the components was to raise money for local environmental organizations around the state of Texas. Our store in the Quarry Market Center in San Antonio collected donations from our customers, staff, and friends for the benefit of Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, an innovative non-profit doing wonderful projects all over Bexar County.

Shown above from the left is Max Kokinda, Whole Earth store manager, presenting a check for over $1,400 to Susan Hughes, Green Spaces Executive Director, and Blair Condon on the right, also a Green Spaces manager. They plan to employ the funds in their ‘Picture Your World’ youth photography program: one that fosters an appreciation of nature, art, and creativity in elementary school students in San Antonio.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all the community-minded folks in San Antonio who contributed to this Earth Month endeavor. Great job!