The spirit of generosity permeates the Christmas season. It’s a fact that is sometimes eclipsed by other concerns, like social obligations, money and commercialism.

Generosity was out in full force during the holidays and I noticed it in some interesting places this season.

 Here’s an example: On a trip to the grocery store, one day in December, I heard the familiar sound of the Salvation Army bells. But this time there were two people, each holding four choir bells, playing a familiar holiday melody. It struck me that the inherent value in that scene, aside from the cash being dropped in the collection box, was the generosity of the two volunteers, giving freely of their time and talent.

Here’s another one: As you might imagine, when someone is trying to think of a gift for yours truly, they might think: “…maybe something to do with trees?”

 Lo and behold, that’s what happened, but with a nice twist: My brother Dave and his wife Robin, gave us a gift basket containing only food items that come from trees: roasted pistachio nuts, local olive oil, dried apricots, coffee beans, chocolate, fresh local lemons, Nocino della Cristina (a locally made walnut liqueur) and my favorite: maple syrup

 Actually, we need a new back fence and I was hoping for a truckload of lumber — but it’s the thought that counts.

 Looking over the list is a good reminder of how dependent we are on trees for the products and benefits they provide out of their inherent generosity. Last time I counted, I came up with about three dozen distinct benefits provided by trees, divided into categories: architectural, engineering, esthetic, climate control, biological and socio-economic.

 Arborists are often called upon to appraise the value of trees. It’s a subject that always stimulates lively discussion, since “value” can have a number of meanings.  

One “approach to value” (“Guide for Plant Appraisal,” 9th edition) that arborists can use is the income approach. It is used to establish value based on the income generated by trees on a property — anything from lumber to lemons.  

Another is the market approach, which is more widely used in real estate appraisal than it is in tree appraisal.  Also known as the sales comparison approach, it is used to establish value based on the comparison of similar properties — apples-to-apples, so to speak.

 A third, and the most widely used, is the cost approach, which provides an indication of value by various methods: replacement cost, cost of repair, cost of cure and the trunk formula method. The latter provides a mathematical formula for calculating the dollar value of a tree that is too large to be transplanted. One factor in that method comes from a table giving a cost-per-square-inch of the surface area of a cross section of the trunk.  

Naturally, the subject engenders controversy and a great deal of legal maneuvering. No wonder the guide is in its ninth edition and arborists are asking when the 10th edition will come out.

Establishing monetary value seems rather arbitrary, even demeaning to these beautiful life forms. They certainly have some kind of inherent value that has nothing to do with money. I feel it has something to do with natural generosity.

Bill Pramuk is a registered consulting arborist. Visit his Web site, www.billpramuk.com, e-mail questions to info@billpramuk.com, or call him at 226-2884.