We live in a neighborhood aptly named The Woodlands. We’re surrounded by loads of trees which offer up spectacular fall colors from every vantage point in the house. When you buy a house here you agree to abide by the rules of a covenant drawn up in the late 1980’s which disallows, among other things, clearing trees, erecting structures that might resemble “sheds” and creating “in-law” apartments.

Despite losing our copy of the covenant years ago, we have no shed, nor live-in in-laws, but we do regularly battle the roof damage caused by oversized, sappy pines and worry over maple roots encroaching on our well and septic system. Still we keep our trees, and along with them, the poison ivy, snakes and squirrels and the prevalent bird’s nests.

Not so for our neighbor who recently cleared her lawn of 95% of its mature landscaping after the house sat idle on the real estate market for almost a year. While some serious pruning was indeed in order, seems she hopes that the now wide-open vista from the street might enhance the curb appeal. Seems the covenant didn’t anticipate a severe downturn in housing prices. Seems the owner is missing the larger, longer-term impact here.

Take the case of James Martin II who cut down trees while landscaping his Greenwich, CT property only to be fined (who knew?) and instructed to replant. Getting caught red-handed inspired Martin to cultivate a green thumb and fueled his personal educational mission to adopt a daily conservation routine at home and in the wider community. Martin not only replanted, he also teamed up with newly-minted eco-warrior James Martin III (then 4 years old) in creating William is Going Green, the first in a series of books to feature William the Garbage Truck & Crew. William is Going Green follows a loud, smoky garbage truck that switches to a hybrid engine and discovers simple ways to conserve natural resources. A colorful and fun way to interest children in environmentalism, the entire William series will be printed with 100% recyclable materials. Snappy, simple prose and lively illustration makes the book a winner for early readers.

William the Garbage Truck & Crew partners with the New Jersey Nets —the first NBA team to go green—to support their “Read to Achieve” program and also their “Greenest Classroom” contest. A portion of the sales proceeds from the series will support the Arbor Day Foundation. Learn more @ williamthegarbagetruck.com.