With the help of volunteers, Beuys planted 7,000 oak trees over five years in Kassel, Germany, each with an accompanying basalt stone.

[1] In response to the extensive urbanization of the setting the work was a long-term and large-scale artistic and ecological intervention with the goal of enduringly altering the living space of the city.

Contrary to its initiative, progressive features such a symbolic beginning requires a marker, in this instance a basalt column.

Future goals for the project included: a) an ongoing scheme of tree planting to be extended throughout the world as part of a global mission to effect environmental & social change "the purpose of educational activities"; b) a growth of awareness within the urban environment of the human dependence on the larger ecosystem educational outreach ; and c) an ongoing process whereby the society would be activated by means of human creative will social sculpture."

Completed in 1987 by his son, Wenzel, on the first anniversary of his father's death (and included in documenta 8), the project is still maintained by the city.

[5] The project was organized around Beuys' philosophy that 'everyone can be an artist' by acknowledging the creativity inherent in volunteers planting trees on their own.

[6] The Dia Art Foundation maintain 37 trees paired with stones in New York City and consider this installation of 7000 Oaks one of their 12 locations and sites they manage.