Why I believe planting trees is the purest form of community service.
This week’s guest post is by Raissanatou Mairou, who shares how planting trees has shaped their understanding of community, nature, and the lasting impact of small, meaningful actions.
Whenever I think about why I love planting trees, my mind always goes back to that one summer in 2013 during my trip to visit my uncle and aunt in another city. I used to play outside with my cousins every day, and one afternoon we ran into one of their neighbors who was heading to her farm to cultivate maize and other crops. She handed each of us a few grains to plant. I got maize, while three of my cousins received groundnut seeds.
We rushed home immediately, as we were excited to start. I had no experience, so my older cousins showed me how to dig the soil in little sections, place the grains gently inside, and water them. It was simple, but to me it was memorable. Waiting for the plants to germinate was one of the most exciting experiences of my childhood, and I’m still grateful it happened. Watching those tiny seeds turn into living, growing plants made me appreciate the beauty and complexity of life on a deeper level.
As I grew older, that memory stayed with me. And when I learned that my faith considers planting trees a form of ongoing charity, everything made even more sense. Islam teaches that planting benefits not only people but every creature that interacts with that tree; birds that nest in it, animals that eat from it, insects that find shelter, and anyone who rests under its shade during heat, cold, or rain. The list of benefits is endless, and I’ve always found that incredibly beautiful. As someone who has always loved nature, discovering that my beliefs aligned with something so meaningful made me even more passionate about planting whenever I have the chance.
I still get happy and excited imagining the future: a squirrel climbing the tree I planted, a bird resting on its branches, or a stranger finding shade beneath it on a hot day. That thought alone motivates me again and again.
I would encourage anyone to try planting at least once, especially with other people. It is really fun and seeing how a small grain grows into something so big is wonderful on its own, but knowing that such a simple action can carry so much lasting good makes it even more powerful. To me, that’s why planting a tree will always feel like the purest form of community service.