Standing Together Like Trees in an Orchard

I love trees. Trees and rocks. When I was a kid I went into the garden every night and I picked out a rock and held it when I went to sleep. I found it comforting. Still do. But now, living in Maine and walking every day, it’s the trees that call to me.

I’ve been studying them. Tall pines, with perfect posture, whose branches stand alone, perfect symmetry, older than me sometimes. They speak to me, and to each other. I started to study them. Read about them. And, I was shocked at how they take care of each other. Send their roots to another tree who is suffering, and even after a tree is dead, the rest of the forest sends nutrition through the root network that keep that tree standing. A metaphor?

Orchards too are marvels of nature’s design—a community of trees that thrive or falter as one. If one tree bears fruit, the entire orchard becomes a place of abundance. But if one tree stands barren, the rest inevitably follow. So I take this phenomenon as a profound metaphor for the state of our nation and the collective responsibility we hold as citizens. In this moment of political and social uncertainty, we are in the orchard. Our future depends on whether we choose to stand together and bear fruit—or let division and neglect leave us barren.

Did you know fruit trees don’t thrive in isolation. They require cross-pollination, shared resources, and a healthy environment to succeed. And perhaps most importantly, when one tree begins to falter, the others send their roots over to help. Through the underground network of roots and fungi, trees share nutrients and even water, sustaining each other in times of need. This mutual care ensures that no tree is left to struggle alone and that the orchard as a whole can thrive. Isn’t that the American way? We take care of each other. When one of us struggles, the rest step in—not just out of kindness, but because our shared well-being depends on it.

Similarly, the way I see our democracy depends on each of us doing our part: voting, advocating, and actively participating in the process that shapes our collective future. If one of us fails to show up—if one segment of our community disengages—our nation, like the orchard, begins to falter. The fruit we hope to harvest—a thriving economy, social justice, environmental stewardship—will never grow. But when we extend our roots to support each other, to nourish those who are struggling, we create a network of strength that benefits everyone.

We failed to show up over the past decades. In my opinion, those following Trump with blind loyalty are with him because we were not there for them. When Reagan decimated the middle class with his legacy of corporate greed and no responsibility to those that built those companies, they were left in the orchard without support. And, they saw us supporting those we knew about; people of color, LGBT, but that white middle class that offered their children less of a future than they had, were not on our radar. And, he spoke to them. Lied to them. Made them think their demise was someone else’s fault.

The orchard also reminds me of the power of unity. When trees are planted together, they share nutrients through their roots and offer mutual protection from the elements. This interconnectedness is a powerful defense against storms and droughts. In the same way, when we stand together—despite differences of opinion, background, or experience—we create resilience. Together, we can weather political and social storms. Together, we can ensure that every tree has the chance to bear fruit.

But unity is not passive. Just as an orchard requires careful tending—pruning, watering, fertilizing—our democracy demands effort. It’s not enough to hope that others will vote or trust that someone else will fight for justice. We each must do the work. Like tending a tree, our actions today determine the harvest of tomorrow.

And, we are tired. Scared. Depressed. Angry. But that has to be set aside now. I’m trying. Every day reminding myself I’m not without agency. I have power. But I believe that the power lies with all of us working the orchards of our culture, our communities, our great nation, together.

This is the essence of America. We thrive not as solitary individuals, but as a connected, caring community. When we see someone faltering, we extend our roots to help. When we falter ourselves, we trust that others will do the same for us. This spirit of mutual care and shared responsibility is what has always made our nation strong.

It’s not over. It’s not. So today, I’m thinking of the trees as I walk my road and I’m reminding myself that the woods I call my watering hole is filled with some of the best humans in the world. I depend on us all now to keep being vigilante and changing our behavior to get back what we lost from lack of cultivating.

So, stop buying on Amazon. Stop clicking on news that isn’t news. Cultivate your news sources. Join the ACLU. Every day, one more thing to stop this out of control train wreck of humans that threaten our future. And, feed the orchard. Tip well. Shop locally. Don’t go to Home Depot, go the extra miles to Lowe’s who supports what we do.

It’s time for sacrifice and discipline on our parts.