I love trees. My first major in college was Forestry, and my favorite classes my freshman year were in Dendrology. I had never heard of that word before. Dendro-logy. The study of trees from the ancient Greek δένδρον, dendron, meaning "tree." So cool.

Sometimes I think I should have stuck it out. I still cherish my leaf collection - and my twig collection. Who knew that you could identify tree species by their buds, leaf scars, and pith characteristics? But when we finally advanced into the classes about clear-cutting and slash-and-burn extraction, I eased my way toward the exit door and eventually discovered Recreation and Parks. But I do love trees.

And now I get to live on the same patch of earth with this tree. She is an American Elm - Ulmus americana. Funny how the Latin never leaves you once you learn it. Some guys with the Texas Forest Service came out one day, said she might be as many as 200 years old. Of course, we won't know unless we cut the tree down and count her rings - but we're not going to do that. They did take measurements and currently have this tree recorded as the largest American Elm in the state of Texas!

While that is impressive, her value is not based on a competition. If a larger one is discovered, she will be no less magnificent. She has been planted by God's hand and maybe a bird's dropping so many generations ago - standing as a matriarch now, watching temporary residents like me come and go. This place is her home, and I feel like there is much she could tell me if I but listen. I sit under her canopy and am reminded of some lines I highlighted in an introduction of a book called Trees by Andreas Feininger. I was about 19 years old - and the words still draw me in.

“I try to understand the message of the trees by giving my thoughts free rein. I feel great patience and tenacity, humility and acceptance of the inevitable – qualities that well befit proud man. I think about the purpose of all life and ask myself: What is the purpose of a tree? What is the purpose of an animal? What is the purpose of man? And it occurs to me that perhaps the purpose of all living things is simply living – to play our nature assigned role in the great drama of life; to participate, be it on ever so modest a scale, in the orderly unfolding of the cosmos. Unknowingly, if a tree; instinctively, if an animal; with full awareness, if man. To take what we need, but no more. To know that we exist on borrowed substance. And, when the time we are given has run out, to return this substance to the great treasury of the earth so that other living things may use it again and, in using it, pass on that mysterious force we call life. To be of open mind and free of prejudice, feeling, though human, related to the animals and plants, a cog in the machinery of the universe, a humble yet vital part, privileged to wield immense power, yet honor-bound to respect the rights of other living things. And, above all, to treasure the gift of life.”

Is that part of the message of trees - to treasure the gift of life?

The Tree of Life is a powerful and timeless symbol - speaking to all cultures, faiths, and traditions. In our home, like many of yours, this image lives with us, on our entryway wall and as a decorative trivet for the table. Evergreen trees of life are brought in our living rooms at Christmas time when much of our landscape outside is dormant. We remember names and stories of ancestors in a family tree.

Trees are all around us if we but notice.

In the primeval garden of Genesis, it is from the Tree of Life that we are invited to eat. In the closing chapter of Revelation, it is still growing - producing fruit - and its leaves are offered to us all "for the healing of the nations." What a remarkable gift - Life and Healing.

Do the leaves of the biblical Tree of Life have magical, super healing powers? How about this tree on the farm? It is beautiful but...I don't know.

Maybe the Tree's gift over the ages doesn't come from the leaves of the tree or the lumber we can harvest from the trunk of her body when all we see is a monetary or "private property" economy. Maybe the truer context through which we can hear the message of these Trees of Life is when we see our habitats* through the lens of a gift economy. (*habitats = where we live, work, and play)

In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer says, "in the gift economy, gifts are not free. The essence of the gift is that it creates a set of relationships. The currency of a gift economy is, at its root, reciprocity. In Western thinking, private land is understood as a 'bundle of rights,' whereas in a gift economy, property has a 'bundle of responsibilities' attached."

Perhaps mutual reciprocity is a requirement for germination of any small seed that can become a source of Life and Healing. In this exchange, we give, receive, and reciprocate.

If this is part of the message of the Tree, then today was a time for us to give back by caring for the matriarch Ulmus americana on the farm (and maybe in Texas). Thanks to Richard Lavery with Leatherface Tree Service for his offering his gifts and skills to this task. It was truly a joy to watch.

While you don't have to climb a tree today, at least remember the delight you felt when doing that. It was a relationship - you and the tree. Never forget that feeling. We are created to live in a gift economy, held together in a web of reciprocity. When we do, our own roots can take hold and offer healing.

One more week to get tix for final Taste of Summer Dinner

Sunday, August 11, 5pm-8pm

"What Can I Do?"

This 3-part Summer Dinner Series has been carefully crafted around good food, affordability, transformative education, and community building. Each meal is locally sourced from neighboring farms and purposely intended to highlight our local food system here in north Texas.

This series has been a delightful experience for us on the farm and for our guests. We started with a robust table conversation in June around "What is Regenerative?", then continued in July with "What is Local?", and now we must put thoughts into action with "What Can I Do?"

Susie Marshall, founder and executive director of Grow North Texas, will present her thoughts and facilitate our conversation. Joining her and offering our live music for the evening will be singer-songwriter, minister, and blogger from Dallas Eric Folkerth. You will love his music and want to take home a CD or two.

This is informal and casual so if you want to bring a favorite beverage (alcoholic or otherwise), any side dishes of your own, or even a bag of chips, feel free.

But here are some of the yummy options that will be provided by The Heritage Table in Frisco:

* Sangria Salad - Jubilant greens, roasted strawberries, red wine braised beets, sangria ricotta vinaigrette, fresh mint, lemon zest

* Chicken & Lokše - skewered house-made chicken sausage & chicken klobása meatballs, grilled potato flatbread, rustic red pepper lecsó sauce, whipped goat cheese and ricotta, house giardiniera

* Dessert - assorted pies

What a great evening this should be. See you on the farm!

(Who's bringing the deviled eggs?)

Susie Marshall - Eric Folkerth

Make room in your freezer, fridge, and pantry for

Chicken, Beef, Eggs, and Honey

Turn in your order with rodney@sistergrovefarm.com

We've got something new cooking for the fall.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned.

Thanks for being part of our story.