Mel Lechte is an escapee from corporate industry. Disillusioned by the focus on profit and quick turnarounds over people and planet, she founded Organic Crew. Organic Crew is a sustainable, ethical, environmentally responsible clothing brand based in Melbourne. With a mantra of Be Informed, Be Involved and make a Difference, it is not surprising that Mel was keen to work with Fifteen Trees. Organic Crew currently donates sixty trees per quarter.
Mel herself has been planting trees since she was a teenager and has passed her environmental ethics on to her own children. Her son recently won the Landcare award at his school. She believes, as we do at Fifteen Trees, that change starts with individuals. Small efforts by many hands create communities of improvement, who work toward systemic and lasting change on a broader scale.
It’s fitting that one of the first projects Organic Crew sponsored (with 60 trees) was a very specific, site-oriented planting at Staughton Vale (Vic). The Brisbane Ranges Landcare Group is in the process of planting protective barriers in the form of trees, around an ancient River red-gum, the largest known specimen in the City of Greater Geelong. The new trees will protect the elder from root compaction by carelessly parked vehicles and restore the wider common area to a more natural, fauna-friendly state. This planting is the first of several more planned for the site.
Protecting the elder tree!
So many of the small businesses we work with are highly motivated to build a better, more sustainable world. Organic Crew is no exception. Its commitment to ethically sourced labour, fair trade principles and organically grown raw materials is reflected in its founder’s personal ethics. And now, those same values are helping protect our ancient trees and green spaces for future generations to enjoy.
Article by Sarah Hart.
Sarah is an emerging self-taught artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven creative work. Her aim is to delight, to reveal glimpses of everyday beauty, and to celebrate flights of the ordinary. Sarah works across a range of media, with an abiding interest in pen and ink, mixed media and the human form. Facebook – Sarah Hart Creative.
If you are interested in sponsoring one of our tree planting projects please contact Colleen on 0400 040 650 or [email protected]
Protection comes naturally to the staff at Australasian Protective Services, so it synchs perfectly with their drive to also protect habitat, humans and the planet via Fifteen Trees native tree planting projects.
‘We wanted to honour our teams’ invaluable contributions and growth with a gift that reflects a positive impact for our beautiful country. Trees planted in their name symbolises to us the strength, resilience, and growth team members have shown during their time with us’. Health Nest
We cannot do without trees nor bees. Ana and Sven from Amber Drop Honey, recognise that we are all interconnected, and that there is no future in taking without giving back.
Mel herself has been planting trees since she was a teenager and has passed her environmental ethics on to her own children. Her son recently won the Landcare award at his school. She believes, as we do at Fifteen Trees, that change starts with individuals. Small efforts by many hands create communities of improvement, who work toward systemic and lasting change on a broader scale.
It’s fitting that one of the first projects Organic Crew sponsored (with 60 trees) was a very specific, site-oriented planting at Staughton Vale (Vic). The Brisbane Ranges Landcare Group is in the process of planting protective barriers in the form of trees, around an ancient River red-gum, the largest known specimen in the City of Greater Geelong. The new trees will protect the elder from root compaction by carelessly parked vehicles and restore the wider common area to a more natural, fauna-friendly state. This planting is the first of several more planned for the site.
