By the time you read this, thousands of fruit trees will bare been planted on California public school campuses from Sacramento to San Diego. A progressive tribe of modern-day Johnny Appleseeds have traveled the coast for the 5th year planting on-campus orchards in inner-city schools that include

Megan Watson, one of the visionaries behind Fruit Tree Tour explains, "By transforming schoolyards into living classrooms, we are waking up a new generation of urban youth to the wonders and wisdom of the natural world that nourishes our every need."

Traveling on hand-painted buses fueled by bio-deisel made from recycled veggie-oil, this year's team includes recent graduates from Brown University, Humboldt State University, Penn State and Tulane University along with eco-artists and organic farmers and permaculture practitioners.

Each year indigenous eiders are invited on tour to teach students about the long ago and forgotten ways of life of the native-Americans of the past. ChoQosh Auh'Ho'Oh, a Native American storyteller who taught cross-cultural communications for nearly two decades at the University of California Berkeley, will be onboard this year's tour sharing a sacred message of hope from Hopi elders.

The tour features a professional performance of green theater and eco-hip hop that helps urban students to see their school yards and neighborhoods as environments ripe for renewal. Also onboard are 65 West African djembes that give students an opportunity to both plant trees and play drums. During the "expression session," students write rhymes about making positive change in their communities and then put them to music on re-groovables, instruments made from recycled materials.

Fruit Tree Tour collaborates with many local grass-roots groups and other organizations including California Rare Fruit Growers, City of Los Angeles, Koreatown Youth Et Community Center, Lions Club, Los Angeles Et San Gabriel Watershed Council, Los Angeles Unified School District, University of California Botanical Gardens, and Watts Garden Club.--CK

   A veces pienso que no hay tiempo
   Que hater las cosas que quiero hater yo
   Pero me doy cuenta que el momento es ahora
   Si no advanzo mis suenos se demoran
   Tengo que practicar
   Por lo menos intentar de hater lo mejor que puedo
   No es justo set menos

   (EnglishTranslation:
   Sometimes I think there is not enough time
   To do the things I want to do
   But then I realize that the moment is now
   If I do not move forward with my dreams they
      will never actualize
   I need to practice
   And at least try to be the best I can be
   It's not fair to be less)

   If it's a change I want to see
   I know it needs to start with me
   That's why I save the seeds from the veggies and fruits
   I eat
   I plant them in the ground
   I want to spread abundance 'round
   Earth, water, sun, and air
   I know the fruits will bear
   Let's live sustainably
   love unconditionally
   feeling so free
   needing no one but we
   so plant a tree

   and you will see
   it will pass its seed through eternity
   so come on
   and be strong

--KORAL DELATIERRA

   If your body is a temple then health is wealth
   Combine deep study reach knowledge of self
   Go ahead take that magic book down off the shelf
   But first put down the video games
   'Cause TV and nature Just aren't the same
   Be inspired go outside you got the world to gain
   Let's plant this lot and pray for rain
   P to the 0 the S the I, T, I to the V and end with the E

--JAHSUN WILLIAMS

   At first a verse of water to quench thirst
   The seeds been waiting now they're ready to burst
   Grab that shovel let's dig in the dirt
   This is our chance to dance with earth
   Love yourself and know your worth
   More then all the money, the glitter, the gold
   NOW's YOUR TIME SHINE EXPRESS AND BE BOLD
   SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT AND SHOUT FROM YOUR SOUL
   POSITIVE LIVING IS OUR GOAL

   No class no creed no race no religion
   No fence no gate no divide no division
   One people one earth one aim for the living
   Be fed, break bread, be clothed, THANKSGIVING
   That is when we share this common vision

   CAN WE PLANT IT?
   YES WE CAN

--JAHSUN WILLIAMS

   The whole world's a family
   We've got to be aware
   We drink the same water
   Breathe the same air
   Let's plant a tree we'll all share-the fruit
   Respect all the branches
   Imagine the roots
   They reach to the earth for the food they need
   We look to the leaves for the air we breathe
   So gather 'round the tree

   Come on
   Speak your truth
   Put your hands on the drum
   The rhythm is the groove
   We're here to pursue
   This peace that we need
   So come on earth tribe
   Plant it and see:

--SANDRA BENSON