Learning from the Trees

By Bill Wadt – Bill Wadt is a member of the board of the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation

The theme of this article is “Learning from the Trees”. I also want to weave in two of my favorite quotes. One from Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” And one from Gandhi: “Be the change you want to create.”

First the trees. Not just any trees. I want to talk about the trees that the County planted a few years ago along Central Avenue near C. B. Fox and the Post Office. At the time there was a lot of controversy because the County had proposed taking down some large cottonwoods to which people had become attached. I know the feeling. We have a beautiful, large sunburst honey locust in front of our house. This year it was clearly being attacked by something. With the help of the Extension Service, we learned it was mites, which was a relief since there was something we could do about it.

Responding to outcries from the community the County spent lots of money to remove the old trees, store them over the winter and then replant them in addition to planting new trees. Not surprisingly, many of the old trees didn’t make it and those that did look a bit out of place.
County councilors, staff and the business community had worked together to make Central Avenue more appealing for pedestrians by adding trees, attractive street lights, and some traffic calming features. They were trying to create a better future for all of us, taking a lead from Peter Drucker.

Initially, the new trees looked spindly, but over time the foresight of the County and business leaders has become evident as Central Avenue is steadily becoming more appealing for people to walk or sip coffee in front of Starbucks or eat al fresco in front of Ruby K’s or “semi” al fresco at Central Avenue Grill with the front windows rolled up.

To me, the lesson is that we can work together to create a better future. Creating that future also means that sometimes we need to let go of the past. Trying to hold on to it can sometimes be a very expensive and counterproductive proposition even though well intentioned.

Planting a tree embodies the long-term, strategic view that is required to create a better future. Planting the right tree also embodies concepts of sustainability. Not all trees will flourish here. Some may flourish, but only with resources, such as water, which we cannot sustain. Finally, planting anything new has inherent risk. We can’t all profit without taking some risk.

We have plenty of challenges and opportunities as community. Gandhi’s quote challenges us personally, to get involved and model the changes in the community that we want to create. This includes shopping locally, actively supporting our schools, participating in community forums, adopting more sustainable lifestyles, and helping others. This community has an incredible wealth of talent, creativity, and resources. Working together, taking risks on a better future, letting go of the past, and planting the right trees, we can continue to create a more vital and sustainable community.