Mother Teresa had it right when she wrote about the power of the collective coming together to creating something wonderful! And here at Fifteen Trees we regularly see the power of the collective when we gather together trees from numerous businesses and organisations.

We can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.

Mother Teresa

To date, 4 businesses and organisations together have contributed 70 trees towards a particularly lovely revegetation planting project at Barfold in Central Victoria (Taungurung & Dja Dja Wurrung Country). This generosity has been made more epic by the fact that they are small to medium enterprises (SME) or organisations. Being a small business ourselves, we know the challenges they face. Out of this act, an epic amount of Australian fauna, right down to the tiniest insect, will have new habitat.

Shout-out to the following:

10 trees

• Pony Parties Melbourne. Thank you Janet for your years of support.

15 trees

• In February 2024, Melbourne Data Analytics Platform (MDAP) at the University of Melbourne hosted an event to showcase the breadth of our Faculty-supported collaborations. Four researchers presented short overviews of their research and the collaboration process from their unique perspective. These trees have been planted as a thank you for their valued time.
  • David Challis (Arts) Computational methods for artwork authentication using hyperspectral imaging
  •     Andrew Anderson (MDHS) Analysing decisions with the LATER model: an open-source tool
  •     Jo Birch(Science) Unlocking diverse herbarium specimen associated data to accelerate biodiversity and evolutionary research
  •     Rachel Colla(MGSE) Stories of Hope

• Fifteen Trees were planted on the behalf of Bette Phillips-Campbell ‘it is with real appreciation that we thank you for your unique and valued presentation to our members‘. Linda Black (AACHPP).

30 trees

• Alex at The Missing Link, has once again supported our revegetation projects through the purchase of these trees.

The aim of this 300 tree revegetation project is to create habitat for indigenous fauna. It includes a wildlife corridor between neighbouring remnant vegetation and the existing roadside and creek vegetation. The area has been fenced off to livestock and the little trees are ‘holding their own’ against local kangaroos and wallabies who like to nibble the new vegetation.

Trees planted included Red River gums, Swamp Gums, Silver Wattles and Hop Bushes. It took the small landcare group 3 days to plant out all 300 trees. We thank them for their efforts in looking after our native environment.

Here’s an interesting fact – you don’t have to be a big business to make a big impact. You can be a small business, even a tiny one, and still make a significant positive contribution to the environment. We already know that small businesses are vital for local economies, that they keep money in the community and support local interests in myriad different ways. They also provide opportunities for entrepreneurs, create meaningful jobs, and on the whole give greater job satisfaction than large corporations. Small business is powerful! The key to making an environmental difference has nothing to do with size, and everything with taking the right action, at the right time, with the right partners.

Small business owners are masters of ingenuity when it comes to incorporating tree planting into their business practices. Never underestimate small business. When it comes to reducing carbon footprints, they are a climate force to be reckoned with!

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can assist you in becoming a more sustainable business, please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen B. Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.