The Permaculture Group Announces the return of its program "Planting Christmas"

The Permaculture Group, a local business committed to "sealing the bonds that allow communities to thrive", is back for a second consecutive year with its 'Planting Christmas' native Christmas tree sale. Maui residents can begin placing orders on a variety of live, potted native tree species, all between 4 and 7 feet tall – perfect for decorating and displaying inside or outside the home during the holidays.

Last year, company founder and Olinda resident Joseph Imhoff initiated 'Planting Christmas', a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) project that supports local native tree farmers and encourages Maui residents to reconsider cutting down a tree for the holidays. Imhoff asks Maui to re-think the Christmas tradition of decorating an imported pine tree, and suggests everyone decorate a live, potted, native tree instead. "Last year, several containers of dead pine trees were turned away from the Islands because they were infested with wasps," Imhoff recalls. "As you might imagine, shipping in Christmas trees creates a world of problems with invasive species, andcompletely discounts the value of our local tree farmers. There's an easy solution to that – buy local!"

In December 2007, The Permaculture Group saw a growing response to this project, which launched several weeks before the infested shipping containers arrived in Hawaiian waters. "It is a big part of our company's mission to encourage Maui to support our local farmers, and it thrills me to think that more people are considering having a local, 'no-cut' and "non-invasive species' Christmas this year. "

'Planting Christmas' makes it convenient for Maui residents to buy a young, living tree that is native to Maui, decorate it for the holidays, and then plant it after Christmas. The Permaculture Group has partnered with local native tree farmers, who have grown the trees from seed and have cared for them to get their lives off to a good start. Imhoff hand-selects trees that are suited for an in-home setting, purchases them from the farmer, and consults with each customer to make sure they're buying the tree that is best for their area. Interested buyers can also request delivery and planting assistance.

While searching for the perfect native trees for this year's inventory, Imhoff decided on the Ha'o, Koa, and Koai`a species. The trees now stand from 4 to 7 ft. tall, and are suited for several different areas of the islands. The Ha'o thrive in dry, sunny climates. The Koa does best Upcountry at elevations above 2,000 feet, and the Koai`a (or "dwarf koa") can handle lower elevations and drier climates. The trees start at $50 each and availability is limited.

For the past several years, Imhoff and his wife have used young, live, native Hawaiian trees as their holiday tree, and have planted the trees with their New Year resolutions in January. "The holiday trees that I've planted are growing big and healthy, and its quite rewarding to watch", Imhoff says. "Every time I plant a Koa tree, I'm reminded that the slopes of Upcountry Maui used to be a huge, dense Koa Forest. It was a completely different environment up until the 1800's when people decided to harvest Haleakala's precious timbers. I feel proud take an active role this holiday season, and inspire everyone in Maui to replant the native forest in your own back yard. Every day new people move here, and each of them should be planting trees. It's fun, it makes sense, and it's a gift to future generations."

For more information, or to order your tree for the 2008 holiday season, please call Joseph Imhoff at 808-250-1469, or email your order to proudtobuylocal@gmail.com  To purchase the trees online, customers can make secure payments at www.permaculturegroup.com

The Permaculture Group is committed to sealing the bonds that allow communities to thrive. Through its Community-Supported Agriculture projects (CSAs), The Permaculture Group creates creative, engaging opportunities for community members on Maui to participate in lifestyle changes that support the local economy. This includes supporting local farmers, native reforestation projects, food security issues, and promoting local organizations and events that have a focus on community health. For more information, please visit: http://www.permaculturegroup.com/.

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Joseph Imhoff
Founder & CEO
The Permaculture Group
1135 Makawao Ave, PMB #182
Makawao, HI 96768
808-250-1469
www.permaculturegroup.com