http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/525642.html?nav=5003

EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder Rev. Jon Magnuson writes the first of seven columns in five northern Michigan newspapers asking people to respect the earth and promoting the planting of 12,000 trees across the Upper Peninsula by interfaith EarthKeepers.

Magnuson is the executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, Michigan and the campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University.

This column appeared in the Mining Journal - the daily newspaper in Marquette, Michigan

After reading Rev. Magnuson's column please read these project details:
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org/earth-day-2009.html

Planting 12,000 Trees: Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper team to plant a forest for Earth Day 2009

(Marquette, Michigan) - The Upper Peninsula interfaith EarthKeepers will create the equivalent of a forest across the Lake Superior basin for Earth Day 2009 as 12,000 trees are planted by about 100 churches and temples in northern Michigan.
"The EarthKeeper project this year is one where people from across the Upper Peninsula will see tangible results of their earth stewardship," said Gail Griffith, EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair. "I hope that congregations involve their young people in their planning and planting."
"Each year the staff at the Superior Watershed Partnership looks forward to helping the EarthKeepers coordinate an event," said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director. "It's fun and it helps further our long term protection and restoration goals for local watersheds and the Great Lakes."
The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team.
Founded in 2004, the Earth Keeper Covenant has been signed by the bishops/leaders of ten faith communities: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddist and the Lake Superior Friends (Quakers).
"Our interfaith tree planting effort is more than another conservation project," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, CTI executive director and EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder. "With prayers, hymns and the blessing of 12,000 seedlings, it's a gentle proclamation of a new consciousness and commitment among our faith communities to care for God's creation."
Lindquist said the trees "will be wrapped individually in a plastic bag with planting instructions."
"Kids love helping to plant trees," said Lindquist, EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder. "We encourage people to take them home or camp and to plant them as soon as possible and to water them."
The public and media are invited to an Earth Day 2009 Blessing of the Trees planting ceremony with representatives of ten faith traditions at 3:30 p.m. on Wed., April 22 next to the Presque Isle pavilion in Marquette.
A blessing and planting of 12,000 trees will be held at various times on Sunday, May 3 at about 100 churches and temples across the Upper Peninsula.
Most of the trees will be planted on May 3, 2009
Trees will be picked up at local conservation district offices in the U.P. on Sat., May 2.
Faith groups can plant the trees anywhere they decide and give out trees to members and others.
It's not to late to request trees for your church or temple: Call Kyra Fillmore at 906-228-2388 For technical tree planting info call the Superior Watershed Partnership at 906-228-6095
Details:
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org/earth-day-2009.html
Links:
http://www.upearthkeepers.org
http://www.superiorwatersheds.org
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org