Eric Brown, a biology teacher and 1985 Oxford Hills grad, had just composed a poem on how his school ought to form a new club with a focus on the environment. Before he hit "Send All," he stopped for a second and asked, "Do I really want to do this?"

He did.

Brown said he figured, "They can come, ignore it or whisper behind my back."

People came, and Lawrence High School's Gang Green got its start. For its first project, from January to June 2006, teachers recycled 12 tons of paper. After that, the club opened to students, too.

The big project this year: Brown's asked every school principal in Maine to plant a tree during Maine Arbor Week, the third week in May. Only a handful of schools have signed on so far, Sabattus Central School and Poland Regional High School among them.

Name: Eric Brown

Age: 40

Lives: Waterville

Relationship, married, single? Married 19 years

Ways in your own life you've gone green? I gave up all fast food in 1989! Not only is this great for the Earth, but my digestive system is also much happier.

Any suggested baby steps for people not willing to give up the SUV or make the trip to the transfer station to recycle tin cans? Listen. Think. Care. Act. Simple steps that everyone can do: Turn the thermostat down, turn the lights off, unplug the TV, the iPod or cell phone charger when not in use, hang up your clothes to dry, compost, go for a walk.

Your pitch to why schools should plant a tree next month? We learn in 10th-grade biology about photosynthesis, but we quickly forget its importance. Trees take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen as they produce sugar. So, the more trees, the less carbon dioxide rising into the atmosphere. As time goes on we will hear more about carbon dioxide sequestration. Trees do this naturally. Trees are also integral to the water cycle. Students learn these concepts and now can put them into action.

A recommended tree for western Maine: Sugar maple or Eastern white pine. The idea is that it come from a local nursery!

What drew you to teaching? My mom was a second-grade teacher. She taught skiing on the weekends and swimming in summer so my brothers and I could be active. I really enjoyed that we all had the same schedule. At first it was about being able to do that for my kids. But ultimately I think it was that my mom and my teachers at Oxford Hills made the job look fun.

In Human Anatomy class for juniors and seniors, how much giggling do you have to deal with? Students of today learn through "edu-tainment." There is giggling in my class every day! My students ask some CRAZY questions! Just use your imagination. Of course every day they ask, "When are we gonna get to the reproductive system?"

Last movie recommended to a friend? I have two. "Duma," great story, unbelievable photography. And "Steep," just because I love the mountains, skiing and snowboarding!

Last CD bought/downloaded? Jack Johnson, "Sleep Through the Static." This CD was produced using solar power.

Rumor has it you about wore the type off your "Purple Rain" cassette back in the '80s. True or plead the fifth? Probably true, but I remember more the intrigue of this line, "We're gonna party like it's 1999" from the artist formerly known as "the artist formerly known as Prince."

The intrigue? I think it was 1982 or '83, I was a sophomore or junior in high school, so to think about what life would be like in 1999, it seemed so far away. I probably imagined everyone driving around in George Jetsonmobiles! Now I wonder, is the future going to be like "Mad Max" (fighting over resources) or like "Star Wars" (technology saves the day!). I guess we'll all have to go Back to the Future to find out.