Planting Our Future
- sarahwilk24
- Nov 12, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
336 pieces | LEGO: 41707 (retired)
Assembled by Sarah Wilkinson, October 2024
Interaction Rating: 4 / 5 (interaction with the set is encouraged, but use extra care)
May 15, 2022
Sarah began volunteering with Southside ReLeaf, an organization dedicated to "re-leafing" Richmond's Southside through greening and advocating with neighbors, in the summer of 2020. As part of Sarah's volunteer work with Southside ReLeaf, she had a good excuse to get outside and play in the dirt anytime the organization hosted a tree planting. Hunter joined her about three months after they began dating for a tree planting in the Swansboro and Broadrock neighborhoods of South Richmond. It was sweltering hot that day, and the soil was hardened clay that resisted their attempts to dig into it, but they successfully planted two tulip poplar trees. They named the first one Tulip and the second one Tulip II.
September 24, 2022
In addition to planting trees, Southside ReLeaf also hosts tree giveaways to neighbors in South Richmond to help increase the tree canopy through plantings on private residences. Hunter joined Sarah in volunteering at the tree giveaway at Broad Rock Community Center and met Sarah's colleagues, Sheri, Amy, and Melissa, for the first time. He took two shifts loading small trees into his car and delivering them to residents who had pre-ordered them. He ended up teaming up with another volunteer to help a homeowner plant a winterberry tree. Meanwhile, Sarah stayed at the main giveaway and helped hand out trees to those who came to collect them. They relaxed in the grass near some redbud trees when Hunter returned from his deliveries.
November 11, 2022
Hunter tagged along with Sarah for a tree planting in the Davee Gardens neighborhood one fall weekend. The trees they helped plant were quite large; one even required a forklift to lift into the hole they had dug. The ground was soft from rain, but Richmond's soil is heavy on clay, so it was a day of intense labor. Sarah didn't mind too much, though, since she was able to watch Hunter's muscles ripple and flex as he worked.
Hunter practicing his Vanna White impression at the Davee Gardens tree planting.
1) Hunter posing with shovels after planting two tulip poplar trees.
2) Hunter working with a group of volunteers to prune a root ball before planting a tree at Davee Gardens.