TheGivingTreeBand

There are many innovative and environmentally friendly aspects to the production of our upcoming album and third release. For starters, we were able to set up a temporary recording studio in the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center in rural Wisconsin. This is the first certified carbon neutral building, receiving the highest score ever from the LEED program of the US Green Building Council. It is managed by the Aldo Leopold Foundation, which includes the family of the legendary American conservationist...

There are many innovative and environmentally friendly aspects to the production of our upcoming album and third release. For starters, we were able to set up a temporary recording studio in the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center in rural Wisconsin. This is the first certified carbon neutral building, receiving the highest score ever from the LEED program of the US Green Building Council. It is managed by the Aldo Leopold Foundation, which includes the family of the legendary American conservationist. The center was built on the land where he did most of his research and with sustainably harvested wood from trees on the property that Leopold himself planted. With 198 solar panels and geo-thermal energy, the facility generates 110% of its power needs on site and sells the excess back to the electric company. The Leopold foundation was inspired by our commitment to sustainability and the synergy in our missions and allowed us to use a conference wing for a month (June 23 -July 19 2008). There are no overnight accomodations there. So, we camped 10 miles away in a state park, where we ate organic produce donated by Harmony Valley Farm, and commuted over 500 miles by bicycle to complete the solar-powered recording session. The album is being manufactured in the best possible manner with investments in wind technology to keep the project carbon neutral. The packaging will include paperboard cases made from 100% recycled and 100% postconsumer waste and printed on with nontoxic vegetable inks. The shrink wrap will be made from biodegradable corn cellulose. Trees will be planted to offset shipping pollution. We will provide consumers with information about free CD recycling programs for when they get sick of us (visit www.cdrecyclingforfree.com). CD's do contain high value recyclable plastic, and recycling CD's saves substantial amounts of energy and prevents significant amounts of both air and water pollution attributed to the manufacturing of this plastic from virgin material. The album is called Great Possessions. This was the working title of Aldo Leopold's classic book before it was published posthumously as A Sand County Almanac. Our album title is an expression of gratitude for the opportunity to record music in such a remarkable way and in such a remarkable place. It is said that the one who plants a tree is not the one who will enjoy its shade. Aldo Leopold planted thousands of trees every year for many years. He did not live to see them mature into a beautiful forest. Our good fortune enabled us to enjoy more than shade but the full fruit of Leopold's labor- The Legacy Center. For one month, it was our creative sanctuary and chance to live simply and harmoniously with the natural world. For this, we will always be grateful. We look forward to announcing a release date soon and sharing this new music with you.