Grow A New Year

For many, the new year is marked by a single night of celebration and resolutions. Most of the weeks to come are usually spent tackling the promises you made to yourself that night and picking up healthy habits for the upcoming year. Within the Jewish faith, the first few weeks of a new year are marked by a time to focus on the blessings of nature. Last Thursday was the end of Tu B'Shvat, or the beginning of the “New Year for Trees.” Tu B'Shvat honors the bounties of nature and agriculture with a feast composed of fruits like grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. It is also a time to plant new trees, and over the last hundred years it has spurred such movements as environmental preservation and reforestation across Israel. 

The tradition of agricultural awareness within Tu B'Shvat is something that we can all easily adopt into our own lives. 

 

Winter is the prime time of year for planting in Southern California. Getting your hands dirty planting a tree, as laborious as it may sound, is a rewarding commitment. And just like we strive to fill our bodies with local produce, it is just as important to fill our gardens with native plants. Miss out on getting a free fruit tree at the market last week? Don't let that stop you from from any gardening endeavors!

We suggest planting a manzanita tree: In Los Angeles, trees like the manzanita, with its rich bark and enticing flowers, attract native pollinators and birds and come in a wide variety. While a beautiful addition to a native garden, planting a manzanita can also be important for water supply. The movement of their leaves in direction away from the sun keeps them from losing moisture, or transpiring. In this natural movement it avoids photosynthesis, preserving the water from escaping the plant. This lack of negative environmental impact goes hand-in-hand with the biggest new year’s goal of all: taking care of our planet.

If you are having troubles launching yourself into 2014 and a new routine, think of what can be understood by agriculture. In giving locally to your farmers and your environment, you can also reap the benefits.

More information regarding the manzanita in Los Angeles at, http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/31/home/hm-manzanita31

By Katelyn Stark
Contributing Writer