for every star a tree

For Every Star, A Tree started with the seed of a question: "what if we could heal the desert?"

Back in 2020, we began talking about if it were possible to grow a tree in the desert. Most people said no. But as we met more and more people in the community, the answer became clear: not only is it possible, it's necessary for survival.

In 2021, we aquired our first 10-acre parcel and immediately got to work. Friends, family, and neighbors came by to help us as we experimented with different growing methods in the middle of nowhere.

It was rough. The sun was beating down on us. There was no shade or water for miles. And every time we tried to plant, something—or someone—would inevitably come by to destroy it.

Most would give up by this point. But it was the middle of the pandemic, and the desert was the only place that felt "safe" enough to be outdoors and worry-free. With the soil dry, compacted, and seemingly lifeless, we continued to add compost, food scraps, and water.

What started as a curious question slowly made its way into a calling. As we continued our earthcare, we began seeing real results. Soil softened. Pollinators arrived. Plants survived where we were told they wouldn't.

The desert, in its silence, began to respond.

By 2023, our small experiments had grown into our first "Tiny Forest": a small but mighty dense 100sqft patch of biodiverse plantings inspired by the Miyawaki method. With support from generous supporters, donors, and partners from all around the world, we planted our first two sponsored Tiny Forests: the Guru Nanak Sacred Forest (sponsored by EcoSikh and Afforestt) and the KG Forest (sponsored by LocalHost). Though both were small in size—measuring at a circular 1,000sqft each—each patch represented something larger than the life around it.

Our pilot plantings proved that even a few square feet of intentional planting could create habitat, shade, biodiversity, and most importantly, hope.

As our momentum began to grow, so did our stewardship. We officially evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, giving shape and structure to a project that had already become much bigger than our initial imaginings. Our vision? To grow this work into a 10-acre regenerative oasis: a living example of what is possible when people choose earthcare over extraction, patience over technology, and action over quick dopamine hits.

By 2024, we were caring for a quarter acre of regenerative earth, filled with native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, pollinator gardens, and community-grown food. Along the way, we began welcoming volunteers, guests, families, and residents. Their support helped grow the land into a place not only for plants, but for people.

We've documented this journey from the very beginning. Flow The Desert is our Medium publication, where we openly documented the challenges, learning curves, small wins, and moments of wonder on this journey to help regenerate the earth. From that very first tree—a western sycamore, if you were wondering—to the food forest which is now taking root, For Every Star, A Tree has always been a poetic attempt at the seemingly impossible:

Is it possible to grow a tree in the desert?

The answer, unequivocally, is yes.