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Sunday, July 29, 2007

Another Milestone

Today we planted our 100th Flame Tree of the 2007 rainy season!

Considering that we only planted 22 Flame Trees last year, this is a very significant number.

It took several groups and individuals collaborating to get these trees in the ground. We started way back in February. I asked Brad Doerr, a Mariana Island Nature Alliance member, to start growing Flame Trees for me. I told him that I didn't have money to pay him then, but by the time the trees were ready to plant, I would have figured something out.

We came up with an Adopt-a-Flame Tree program. For $20, anyone in the world could have a Flame Tree planted in their name. We sold trees at the Flame Tree Arts Festival, the MINA Annual Meeting, and online.

Over 100 trees were adopted.

We started planting on June 19, the one year anniversary of Beautify CNMI's first tree planting. Then each weekend we would plant a few trees. We've had help from MINA, Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, Rep. Cinta Kaipat's Office & Family, Isa CNMI, Friends of the Mariana Islands, and a few dozen community volunteers.

We're not finished, but a big thank you to everyone who has helped us reach this milestone!

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