This essay was first published in 1954, thirty years before Giono's subsequent book "The Man Who Planted Trees" (1985). — There is a lesson to be gained in the essay from Monsieur Giono's account of Elzeard Bouffier's amazing achievement. We can have a ravaged, unproductive barren land, or we can plant trees, reduce and control pollution of all kinds, and conserve our natural resources.

Alexander Smith, a 19th century poet, said "A man does not plant a tree for himself; he plants it for posterity." The next generation will have to live with the results of our actions. Unfortunately, posterity can suffer from our neglect as well as benefit from our attempts to preserve out natural resources.

Giono's account of Elzeard Bouffier's accomplishment is set in southeast France in the Basses-Alpes, a department within the region of Provence. Vergons, northwest of Nice, is the only town specifically mentioned by Giono in his essay.  

Pamphlet, Good Condition.