Here we have assembled a few ideas to get you started. Any of these can be organized with a few or many people, for little or no money.

Taking Out the Garbage
Organize a garbage pick up. Choose a public area that is covered with litter. Equip participants with strong garbage bags, rubber or other gloves, and if possible bring some rakes, and something to scoop up garbage (industrial dustpans, shovels, even folded cardboard). Bring a bathroom scale.

If there is a large group, divided into teams. If smaller, give each individual a bag. If children are involved, tell them to beware of glass and other dangerous items. Have them call an adult to help.

You can award prizes to the team/individual that collects the most garbage, by weight. In addition, the whole group should enjoy a special treat, either pizza, cookies and hot chocolate, or - better for Tu B'Shvat - a small potted plant.

Don't Throw it Out - Recycle!
Recycling projects are good for schools and neighborhoods without a recycling program in place. Newspapers, cans, bottles, plastic, cardboard, and paper can all be easily recycled. Contact your local city council to find out what agency is responsible for recycling in your community. They can arrange for placement of appropriate containers and pick-up of the contents.

In schools, arrange for teachers to give each participating class a talk on the importance of recycling, including the limited nature of our natural resources. In a Jewish group, you can use some of the information from this site (see the Educators Guide)to discuss the Jewish perspective on ecology and conservation.

Children can bring an items from home to fill the containers, or can be encouraged to recycle elements from their lunches, like cans or plastic bottles.

Within a community, flyers tacked up around the neighborhood can announce the new service.

Turn Down the Heat!
In your home, you can host a family meeting and discuss ways to conserve energy and resources within your own home. Possible ways to conserve include: turning off the tap when brushing teeth, while soaping the dishes (turn on only to rinse), or any other time you're not directly using the water; turning down the heat at night and even during the day, maintaining a lower temperature than you currently do; and turning off lights and appliances in rooms when you are not using them.

If you have considered improving the energy-efficiency in your home through better insulation, or installing another energy-saving device - think about doing it now - in honor of Tu B'Shvat.

As Your Garden Grows
If you have room in your own home, a garden is a great way to enhance your appreciation of nature, and even enjoy some organic fruits and vegetables! Children enjoy gardening, especially seeing the seeds sprout and their own plants coming to life.

In many, communities, there is empty space or lot that can be converted into a community garden. Ask the municipality where you live if it can be re-zoned as a public space. There may be funding in the city for this type of communal project, which will help get things moving. Post signs or an ad in the local paper to attract interested neighbors. This is a good activity for uniting children, parents, single adults and seniors in a fun project.

If you start the ball rolling in January, by the time the bureaucratic issues have been worked out, it will probably be March or so. Then you can start clearing the space, preparing the soil and planting. The sky is the limit: plant vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees! With creativity, you can enjoy landscaping, even including bird houses or a pool for fish. Those with gardening experience can assist the novices, and by the end of the summer, you can have an oasis to be proud of.