Quite a few names in the music industry have been making some attempts to make their craft more environmentally friendly in recent times which is great to see; but there’s “green” bands and then there’s the Giving Tree Band from Chicago.

Described as creating progressive old time, eco-billy, and indie folk rock, the band is also considered one of the pioneering green artists.  
 
The Giving Tree Band uses instruments made from recycled and reclaimed woods and the band leaders have vegan/organic diets.  

The Giving Tree Band is releasing their second album, Great Possessions, this summer.

For the album, the band was permitted to set up a temporary recording studio in the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center – the first certified carbon neutral building. With nearly 200 solar panels and geothermal energy, the facility generates 110% of its power needs on site and sells the excess back to the electric company. Band members commuted over 500 miles by bicycle during the recording sessions to get to and from the studio.

The actual album is being manufactured using wind power offsets to help keep the project carbon neutral. The packaging will include paperboard cases made from 100% recycled and 100% post-consumer waste and printed on with nontoxic vegetable inks. Even the shrink wrap will be made from biodegradable corn cellulose.

Trees will be planted to offset shipping pollution and the band will even provide consumers with information about free CD recycling programs for “when they get sick of us” :).  
 
The Chicago Sun-Times has already called Great Possessions the “greenest of albums.”
 
The Giving Tree Band even has a “vision statement”, first time I’ve come across that for a music group. It reads in part:
 
“The Giving Tree Band members consider it their duty, as musical artists, to serve, educate, and inspire. They view songwriting as an opportunity to explore ways to increase understanding and to improve the overall well-being of people and the environment”.  
 
More (green) power to them! You can learn more about the band and have a listen to their music at www.thegivingtreeband.com