A light rain fell steadily that weekend morning, but nothing stopped the more than 100 volunteers of the Tomorrow’s Forest Foundation who gathered in Podenii Noi, Prahova county. Hands in the soil and smiles on their faces, they wrote a beautiful story about what it truly means to care for the nature around us.
A forgotten pasture becomes a hope for green
The planting site tells a familiar story often seen in the hillside villages: a former communal pasture, now overrun by spontaneous vegetation, abandoned and forgotten. What many would consider unproductive land became, for Tomorrow’s Forest Foundation, an opportunity to create something lasting and full of life.
“We would like to thank the more than 100 volunteers who joined us to plant nearly one hectare,” said Mihail Caradaică, Executive Director of the Foundation. “Today we’re establishing a plantation of oak, ash, and wild cherry on a former pasture — an issue we often encounter in hillside villages.”
The solution? Clearing the terrain and planting native forest species that will not only transform the landscape but will also provide a healthy ecosystem for future generations.
More than a day of planting
However, the event in Podenii Noi means far more than numbers and hectares planted. It is about people choosing to spend a weekend working for the common good. It is about students learning that textbook theory comes alive when you pick up a shovel and plant a seedling with your own hands.
Students from the “Dr. Nicolae Rucăreanu” Forestry Technological High School in Brașov were taking part for the sixth time in such activities. For them, these events are not just a break from regular classes but real-life lessons.
“One gram of practice is worth a kilogram of theory,” emphasise teachers Ovidiu Aparaschivei and Doru Machedon. And the students agree enthusiastically: many ninth-graders tell their parents about these experiences, generating a wave of interest that goes far beyond the school gates.
When work becomes joy
Cosmin and Rebeca, two of the participating students, speak with heartwarming passion: “It is a beautiful experience that contributes to protecting the environment. As forestry students, it is normal to help. The atmosphere is pleasant and gives us the joy of seeing the results of our work in a few years, turning into a thriving forest.”
This is perhaps the most beautiful aspect of reforestation actions: one does not work for immediate results, but for a future built with every planted seedling. It is an act of faith in tomorrow, a gesture of responsibility towards those who will come after us.
Only the beginning
Mihail Caradaică speaks about ambitious plans for the area: “Today’s event is just a first step — we want to continue and aim to afforest the entire area of over four hectares next spring and autumn.”
Four hectares of new forest. Four hectares where majestic oaks, slender ash trees, and wild cherry will grow. Four hectares that will capture carbon, shelter wildlife, and cool the summer air for local residents.
What does this story teach us?
The action in Podenii Noi shows how much can be achieved when a community comes together. Wonderful volunteers, new and old friends, students and teachers — all planted side by side, united by a shared purpose.
In a world facing a climate crisis, such initiatives remind us that solutions exist and are within reach. We just need to pick up the shovels and take responsibility for the environment we live in.
The more than 1.2 million seedlings planted by the Tomorrow’s Forest Foundation in Romania are proof that change is possible. Every forest begins with a single tree. Every movement begins with a single person who decides to take the first step.
And in Podenii Noi, more than 100 people took that step on the same day, under the same rain, with the same enthusiasm.
We thank our friends at Ethics Beauty who joined the planting with a cheerful and colourful team, and our partners at Acia Forest Group, who ensure silvicultural services for the Podenii Noi project.
This plantation was made possible thanks to the donations of our amazing volunteers: get involved and help give life to new forests!
