Frequently asked questions

Can I pick where my trees are planted?

Currently, we do not have the capability to allow users to choose where their trees are planted. This is because there are a number of factors that can change very quickly before the trees are scheduled to be planted. To name a few: (1) the weather, (2) trees available and their condition, (3) the locals' need for employment, and (4) the areas available to plant in.

How do you pick where your trees are planted?

We do not target specific projects or countries. Instead, people in developing communities come to tentree and our partners for help. As a project succeeds, it isn’t long before other communities in that area ask to participate. These days, e-mail and our website have greatly sped up this process and therefore the numbers of villages served, with the number of trees planted, is growing rapidly.

If I don’t register my code, will the trees still be planted?

Yes, either way your trees will be planted.

What if I bought tentree in the past? (before the tree codes)

If you purchased tentree in the past and would like a code, just send us a picture of your item to info@tentree.com and we will set you up with a code.

Do you use pesticides on the nurseries?

No, we do not use pesticides on any of the reforestation sites.

Is there a dollar value per tree?

Trees are quite valuable, though the value varies from place to place and by the types of trees planted. While trees can provide many useful products, such as fuelwood, fodder, fruits, fertilizers, oils, and construction materials, the majority of our trees are planted by people to provide for the needs of their families, rather than for direct material gain. Therefore, we do not put a dollar value on each tree.

How do I know the trees won’t be cut down?

Many of the trees initially planted are, in fact, designed to be cut back periodically, as these are species that coppice (grow back vigorously after harvesting) time and again. These trees sustainably meet the needs of the participants, and the net result is a rapidly and constantly growing diversity within the reforested lands. Therefore, the projects you support are not only permanent but are expanding, growing in diversity and ecological benefits, year after year

Do you plant only indigenous species?

The issue of invasive species is something we deal with in as careful a manner as possible. We primarily use species that are already naturalized in an area or are native to the area, but as many of our projects involve working on degraded lands, one of the main criteria is finding trees that will grow quickly and will establish an environment that allows for the native flora to return. While our goal is the rapid and continued return of indigenous diversity to these lands, the damage to the forests that once stood there makes it impossible to begin with a wide range of indigenous trees and other plants. Many of the climax species that once inhabited the forest are unable to withstand harsh, direct sunlight. They need the shade that is no longer there. In order to restore the biodiversity, we must plant multi-purpose, fast-growing trees to create conditions that allow the native species to thrive. In this process, we are quite careful to avoid using invasive species, but we do not restrict ourselves to strictly native species. We have learned over the years that by initially introducing the proper pioneer tree species, we can bring back the former conditions. Within a very short time, we can bring about the natural regeneration of much of the past diversity that we all desire.

Why should I care about planting trees?

You should plant trees because you care about both people and the environment, and because our program brings more benefits to the people of these threatened lands–and to the environment we share with them–than any other program out there. We are working closely with communities around the world. We offer a grassroots model of development focused on environmental and economic sustainability

Can you send me some trees?

No. Unfortunately we cannot send trees out to individuals, as our fulfillment center does not have the proper cold storage required to house and tend to trees kept in inventory.

What happens to the trees if I return my shirt?

As we reconcile the number of trees planted on a quarterly basis (for planning and verification purposes), we are able to address this issue - therefore trees will not be planted for a returned item. In most cases, however, the item is later re-purchased and we do plant the trees :).

Can we come plant with you?

For planting projects in Canada, we contract out local crews. If you are looking to get involved with tree planting in Canada,please check out www.replant.ca; for US reforestation sites, check out www.americanforests.org. In developing countries, it is important to hire locals to plant the trees so that (1) we give employment to those in need and (2) they take pride in their work and ensure survival of the new forest. As a result, we cannot allow people to plant with us in these areas. For those that are generously willing to give of their time and energy, we would ask that they redirect their efforts towards helping spread the word about tentree. Our need is not so much to have another “worker” but rather, how can we grow tentree to the point where we are paying THOUSANDS of overseas workers who would not otherwise be employed? If our goal is truly to “Protect the world we play in”, then we need help raising up a community of people who will help us spread the word and become ambassadors for tentree :). Will you help us?

When are my trees planted? How soon after the purchase?

tentree guarantees that all your trees will be planted within six months of your purchase. At the end of every three months, we compile the number of trees planted and distribute them amongst the countries who (1) have the next closest planting season and (2) have the greatest need for trees, space, trees available, and people available to plant. As our tree map explains, different countries have different planting seasons.

How long does it take for my trees to grow?

This depends entirely on the species that is planted, where it's planted, and if the tree is in a good mood or not!

What happens to the trees after you plant them?

They grow! We don't just employ the villagers to plant the trees and call it a day. Part of our process is teaching them the what, why, where and how of reforestation. So we teach them what they should and shouldn’t use, what they can cut down, what they need to leave alone, and how to responsibly care for their environment. The fact that they are planting the trees, combined with the training provided,allows them to feel a sense of ownership and pride in their forest. On top of all that, we hire guards for our reforestation sites to help keep grazing animals from eating up all the younger trees and prevent other people from coming in and cutting down what we've planted

Can you come plant at my school/neighbourhood?

tentree is always looking for new initiatives to get involved with. Please send us an e-mail at info@tentree.com and we will see if we can help out your cause!

Why don't you just plant trees and not sell clothes?

We love the idea of planting trees without selling clothes but that model simply isn't sustainable. It costs money to plant trees and to hire people in developing areas to help with planting. As this social aspect is part of our model, we need a source of income to offset the costs. This becomes increasingly important as we grow. Plus, we think our clothes look pretty good!

Can you provide proof of planting?

You can contact any of our partners and verify with them that our contributions, both financial and in person, have been made.

How do I know the trees are actually being planted?

tentree's partners have established photo stations at our planting sites, and have instructed the villagers on how to use a camera that geotags the photos with GPS coordinates where the photo was taken. Workers literally walk the perimeter of our planting sites with a GPS unit to trace the edge of the site, so we can share the information with those sponsoring that particular site. We also have before and after photos of each of the planting sites where we work. These progress photos will be periodically added to the treemap country locations.

Who are the charities you work with? Are you a charity?

We are not a charity so we do not accept donations. If you are looking to make a donation to a tree planting organization, we recommend American Forests, Tree Canada, Eden Projects, or Trees for the Future. If you are looking to donate to wildlife conservation, we recommend the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

How much does someone make planting trees in these areas?

Put simply, the wages are enough for the tree planters to become solid members of the upper-middle class within their society in terms of income. Most of the people we hire have never had a cash-paying job in their lives. Wages will vary based on the project nation, the economy, and their actual position with us. Managers will make more, and we do hire seasonal workers (part time for planting season) to help with the increased planting load. So, to keep things simple, we typically say that what we pay them is enough for them to become upper-middle class in their society. On the other hand, the trees result in a lot of cost savings, including:

1. Regenerating the soil, so farmers can save money on fertilizer.
2. Saving money on fodder, as leaves are used as animal feed.
3. Saving money on fuel wood,as they are growing it themselves.
4. Mango trees yield fruit,resulting in money saved on food.
5. If they harvest a surplus of any of these, they can sell to make profit.