A tree grows in Israel, but which one should be mine?

December 4, 2007 1:57 PM

What agency should I choose to plant a tree in Israel (as a gift in someone's honor)? Does it matter?

I'd like to plant a tree in Israel (or a few) for my mom for Chanukah, but I'm not sure which of the many agencies that popped up from the google search would be good. I was leaning towards treetoisrael.org, because I like that they plant fruit trees, but I've never heard of the organization and don't know how credible they are.
I was thinking of going with the JNF because they are reputable, but I don't want to buy $100 worth of trees.

The goals of the organization are important:
More environmental and less conservative and Zionistic yes, I know that planting a tree in Israel to begin with is Zionistic, and I would like the organization to be credible and mail her a certificate.

posted by rmless to shopping (8 comments total)

It doesn't cost nearly $100 with JNF. Not sure where you got that.
posted by kickingtheground at 2:00 PM on December 4, 2007

Oh, and treestoisrael.org appears to be associated with (run by) Hebron settlers. You might not want to be.
posted by kickingtheground at 2:03 PM on December 4, 2007

Ah, all I saw there was the EZ tree option. Now I see there is an individial option, but they I can't tell what kind of tree it is or where they plant it. Am I missing something again?
posted by rmless at 2:06 PM on December 4, 2007

jnf is what we always used throughout day school and camp. the little certificates are a staple of my childhood memories.
posted by prophetsearcher at 2:29 PM on December 4, 2007

I used JNF and I believe I only spent $30 at the time. This was a few years ago. It was for 1 tree. Maybe the $100 quote is for a small cluster?
posted by spec80 at 2:49 PM on December 4, 2007

It seems my memory is going. One tree is $18, 3 trees are $36. Info here.
posted by spec80 at 2:51 PM on December 4, 2007

Alright thanks, JNF it is.
posted by rmless at 3:42 PM on December 4, 2007

I have personally put trees in the ground in a JNF forest. Now I can't say that every tree purcahsed does get into the ground (some of the money surely is for upkeep and the like). But JNF folks handed us a bunch of trees and we planted them.

So that's pretty reputable.

Hope your mom likes 'em.
posted by zpousman at 8:35 PM on December 4, 2007