<div class="text-justify"> CASTLE OF THE LAST YEAR A fire in Sierra Nevada, California, is estimated to have killed more than 10 percent of the world's largest sequoia, the largest trees in the world. Sequoia can live with many fires during life spans that last for thousands of years; its bark is fire resistant and relies on fire to reproduce. But as climate change gets worse, wildfires are getting bigger and stronger. According to state officials, six of the seven major fires in California history have occurred about a year ago.  [Source](http://livecircular.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2_Drone-reforestation.jpg) To help restore deforested forests and reduce the effects of climate change, a number of young companies are seeking to distribute seeds from drones. At least three - Dendra Systems, CO2 Revolution, and Flash Forest - have promised to plant a billion trees or more. But it is not clear how the forests under the guided drone can work. One study found that less than 20 percent of drone seeds take root and grow into trees. None of these companies can disclose how many trees have grown successfully so far. Now, there is a new obstacle: the shortage of seeds that are expected to last for years is encouraging forest managers to make better use of all the seeds they have. After Castle Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection considered working with DroneSeed, a Seattle company that uses drones equivalent to washing machines to plant trees in six months of fire, to help restore Mountain Home State Forest. But the plan was foiled. Fletcher is currently working with Dendra Systems founder Irina Fedorenko at another company that aims to plant trees with small drones, especially for small landowners. In partnership with WeRobotics, Flying Forests wants to plant trees with drones in 30 countries. It evaluates projects in Kenya, Panama and Uganda. In April, the company distributed seeds on a hill near Reno as part of a US Forest Service pilot program. Fletcher estimates that 1 percent of those seedlings have begun to grow. Despite the low success rates, Fletcher says in areas where it is difficult for people to go or there is a shortage of staff, there is something better than something. A spokesman for the media told the U.S. Forest Service that it was considering using drones to repatriate firefighting, especially in hard-to-reach areas, but that "survival and cost have never been better compared to hand planting." Tree planting companies and government reforestation efforts will have to deal with ongoing seed shortages. A study by the World Resources Institute estimates that the US could plant 60 billion trees by 2040, but a study released earlier this year found that planting even half of that by 2040 would require federal nurseries to double its current production. Government forestry and conservation officials who wrote the report highlighting gaps in the national tree seed supply list also want more investment in seed collection and staff training. Thank you for reading... Regards @Winy </div>
Me encontré un amigo que estaba apunto de ser talado, mejor lo tome y lo planté en mi patio. Hoy es un pequeño árbol, pero en un futuro será un gran árbol que me dará sombra. Tener un árbol en tu jardín, es un acto de amabilidad para nuestro planeta.  También creo que es necesario tener más árboles porque en el fraccionamiento donde vivo hay muy pocos.  Estaré dándole seguimiento al crecimiento de este nuevo amigo, con suerte pronto gozaremos de una buena sombra y tal vez pueda colgar una hamaca. 
 I decided to devote at least 12 months of my life (and money) to an intense work for our planet. I have already quit my job and I'm getting rid of all substantial belongings. I am going to volunteer in two major environmental projects. First, I want to go to India to work with #IshaFoundation on Cauvery River revitalisation (aka #CauveryCalling aka #RallyForRivers) and following that, the plan is to head to Australia and help with the bushfire recovery efforts (btw. Please let me know if you know any reputable charities there?). The decision had been incubating inside me for some time. The more I saw the destruction caused by our so called "civilization", the more I felt responsible for this planet's future and wanted to act. I didn't want to limit myself to occasional donations to some remote charities. This is important as well, but someone has to get the hands dirty and do all the hard work. I feel that nothing else really matters right now and I will do as much as I can. No excuses. My hope is that this commitment will inspire at least one more person here on Steemit to join, what I call, a #ConstructiveRebellion and be part of a solution not the problem. Stop complaining, protesting, fighting and just do something constructive. Plant a tree, pick up a litter or move you money out of a fossil fuel financing bank to more eco oriented one (See #DefundFossilFuels - [link](https://www.ran.org/bankingonclimatechange2020/)). Do whatever. There is no "Planet B". I'm going all in and I will prove that anything is possible. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please. There is still a lot we can do to reverse the damage done. There is still hope but we have to work together and we have to act now. Join me!
... he descubierto el mejor eco-regalo del mundo #regalaunarbol #reforestacion #mundomejor #present<br/><br/>[](https://appics.com/referenced.html?ref=steemit.com&type=image&id=98944&url=https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/appics-content/c310847892480b737beced7579489f62-640&caption=I%20discovered%20the%20best%20eco-present%20ever!%20#reforestation%20#giveatree%20#betterworld//%20he%20descubierto%20el%20mejor%20eco-regalo%20del%20mundo%20#regalaunarbol%20#reforestacion%20#mundomejor%20#present&category=lifestyle&hashtags=nature+reforestation+tree+perfectpresent&author=casiqueno&profileImageUrl=https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/appics-content/null-640&permlink=appics-v1-appics-im-98944)<br/><br/>[](https://appics.com/referenced.html?ref=steemit.com&type=image&id=98944&url=https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/appics-content/c310847892480b737beced7579489f62-640&caption=I%20discovered%20the%20best%20eco-present%20ever!%20#reforestation%20#giveatree%20#betterworld//%20he%20descubierto%20el%20mejor%20eco-regalo%20del%20mundo%20#regalaunarbol%20#reforestacion%20#mundomejor%20#present&category=lifestyle&hashtags=nature+reforestation+tree+perfectpresent&author=casiqueno&profileImageUrl=https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/appics-content/null-640&permlink=appics-v1-appics-im-98944)
 Thanks to a couch surfer who accepted my brothers request. We arrived to zaye a wonderful flower exporter told us that she accepted us because of the community work we are doing and she wanted to share the NGO and project she is working with in the jungle. We happened to be with her over New Years and had an incredible time with her friends and an old sweet gentle abuelita dancing and enjoying the Ecuador New Year rituals. At this point I was planning to go north towards Colombia. But before we left zaye wanted to introduce us to her project manager via phone. Douglas told us everything in alignment with our work and projects, as the unpredictable travels go we took an over night bus that same night bus baaack to Coca for the third time to go to ‘Yachana Lodge’ which is located an hour south of coca. The over night bus turned into a full day journey thanks to a lil big mud slide in the road, but all in divine timing landed us over a few bridges near the Napo river at “Yachana“ an oasis, a sanctuary, a paradise that is making efforts to transform tourism, into eco-tourism. The locals refer to Douglas as the’ crazy gringo in the jungle,’ but originally from Kentucky he worked in the two most destructive forces on the planet; the oil and logging industry and after being successful entrepreneur and losing everything in the 80s economic collapse. So he decided to visit friends in Ecuador but never left and has now started started his sustainable projects. Now that he is aware of just how destructive the oils and logging is to nature he has dedicated his life to forest preservation, several eco projects around, education, eco-tourism, youth outreach, and indigenous relations.  We got to spend quality time with Douglas getting to know his 77 years of experience on earth, a generous heart he agreed to comp our stay in exchange of building relationship and walking us through his projects, NGO, foundation, and land trust. Our experience was everything we expected and more spending quality time getting to authentically connect, it was clear our third round back to the jungle was right where we were supposed to be. He humbly shared his accomplishments of his foundation, his school he had, and how our projects could possibly support each other.  After spending the night in a beautiful lodge, we started the following day with a small hike on the land where the wonderful staff are cutting out a new trail for eco-tourists with three huge grandmother cibo trees in route. After lunch he showed us all of the eco-educational projects. Starting with the sun dial, which was more of the sophisticated ones Iv seen with certain heights and lengths factoring into the shadowed time. Eco-Tourism isn’t anything new but is catching more attention in these later years. It seems as if more and more travelers want to be apart of something special that gives more sustenances to their vacations or travels. Of course it is instinctual to feel accomplished in life, Which is great it shows that responsibility is increasing in mass awareness that we need to do something about our suffering environment. The Yachana volunteer project is also an opportunity for Douglas to teach Eco tourism to those interested volunteers looking to give back to the environment.  In the Mariposerio (butterfly house) we learned that each species of butterfly uses only one type of plant species to lay their eggs and eat off of, they also won’t reproduce in artificial areas they have to be natural. Divine timing Allowed us to witness a butterfly climbing out of his pupa (cocoon), birthing stretching his crinkled wings dry for a good 30 minutes until they can fly, it was magical, mystical and metamorphical in deed. The butterfly house has a hydroponic and gravity fed pump operating the water and plants which is one of the subject Douglas will be teaching eco-tourists, youth and volunteers. On the roof of the main gathering hall is a two part water catching system, the first part for the first few gallons that washes out the leaves and dirt to be caught in a separate tube, which then a self locking mechanism is in place to start catching the now drinkable water into a large drum tank. The compost toilets have an added foot mixer for when your done doing your business, you simply step on the four pedal a few times to mix up the wood chips and Poo to craft an aerobic environment which takes care Of the smell we all know. The other addition is a tube that drys the to-become fertilizer so that the bacteria is killed off. Again another Eco-system very necessary sustainability and for living in the jungle. The solar power is connected to all of the facilities powering most of them, next to the solar panels is a demonstration unit that has a range of lights that tells how much power is being collected, his educational demonstration is having you keep your eyes on the lights and simply puts his hat on the solar power unit to watch the lights go down, indicating that solar power is instant. Right next to the solar power is a mini hydroelectric unit and RAM pump all for educational purposes.  Part of the tour we ended up in ‘nature’s classroom’ that sits in front of a massive cibo tree, where several bench seats 60 people, this is the spot he’s says he gets into more education. Right as you exit is the hillside their are fruit trees and vegetables with the names so people can learn. Up the way is his simple little house, and even further up the hills is more housing and kitchen facilities. Even further up the way is the work shop sitting next to the water treatment area that is treating the drinking water with Ozone treatment, electrified oxygen, 27k volts of captured air meets the captured water stream water and then is pumped to the facilities, he mentioned that this system is 2k times more effective than chlorine.  In the work shop they weld and build most of their structures, along with carpentry. The same workshop has corn beater, corn grinding, the chicken plucking machine, and a solar dryer for sustainable chicken farming, again all for educational purposes. His most current protect launching in a few weeks that we have agreed to be apart of is the sectioning out of the already 2,500 acres he owns into 100x100 meter ‘tracks’. Extensive research has indicated that each 100x100 meter ‘track’ of land is equivocate to 2.5 tons of sequestered atmospheric carbon. The average Ecuadorian carbon footprint uses 2.2 tons of carbon per year, which is equivalent to only one track of land to offset their carbon footprint. Not surprising the carbon footprint average for Americans use about 16 tons of carbon per year, meaning one would need 7 tracks of sponsored land in order to offset their personal carbon footprint.  So a careful business design is available to any one interested in supporting forest preservation. Bioneers can sponsor or buy and own one of these plots of land for 50 dollars which ensures that piece of land will never be cut down and that you will be supporting the availability of 2.5 tons carbon to be sequestered into the obvious oxygen we need to breath. The idea is to be more mindful of the energy we use in day to day life, which is why we are encouraging people to make efforts to reduce and offset their personal carbon footprint on your own means, even if it means supporting an eco project dedicated to this effort. All sponsors will receive monthly messages to stay updated with the programs progress, as well the opportunity go out and stay on the land at designated camping facilities if desired and even participate in any of the other sustainable educational learning programs to implement themselves.  We agreed to set up our ‘Spirit Quests’ Routine so that we can continue the work we have been doing in taking brothers/sistars to sacred sites all over the world to be of service. We also talked about Indigenous relations so that we can bridge worlds between the eco lodge and the indigenous communities that still prefer to live in their ways. Social programs and educational programs will be offered as incentive and cooperation to of course keep their forest safe. He also has plans to create a biological corridor along the river into one of the words most biodiverse National Parks, even more so that Galapagos so that animals can easily maneuver and possibly be observed for educational reasons. This project is still in the future but just to think to build relationships with these incredible species is our nature.
# Hi Steemit Family, This is a poster courtesy of The Rainforest Foundation.  Check out this link to see what extraordinary work is being done in various countries to protect our planets rainforests. There are impressive success stories to be found here. People are fighting to make a difference and there are victories won. https://rainforestfoundation.org https://youtu.be/yMxaBT-ILNw Every little you can do to contribute to reforestation of our planet is very worth while. If nothing else - this Christmas you can buy a Christmas tree with roots and plant it afterwards. If everyone did this one thing for example there would be millions more trees growing very quickly. In fact you can also have a word with the Christmas tree supplier and persuade them to only stock trees with roots for replanting. So as to do their bit for the planet too. It is Sunday so a great day to take a walk in the woods if you have some close, or if not just go sit under a tree somewhere and talk to it. Tell the trees we love them and appreciate them and tell we are planting more as fast as we can. Then go plant one... you will feel amazing for doing it! # Puravida 💚 https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUCfQWjkxh5KN5rz849creokYGrYrpJJJ4yPRzQ96LmzX/real%20footer.jpg  <img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZCemJhaSQLX8DysgYUjEyCcfmf6ke1XsEL3Y2iV3qkZY/Sallybeth23-Jungle-Separator.png"/></a>
# Happy Tree Tuesday! Today for Tree Tuesday I have not just one but a whole jungle of trees for you to enjoy! Thank you Costa Rica for your beautiful rainforest and all the life that grows within it!          # Did you remember to plant a tree? I would like to hear about your tree work if so. <img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZCemJhaSQLX8DysgYUjEyCcfmf6ke1XsEL3Y2iV3qkZY/Sallybeth23-Jungle-Separator.png"/></a> # puravida xx
# Hi Steemit Family! I want to share some fabulous positive news with you today. Most people are aware that reforestation on a massive scale is necessary to reverse many of the issues of climate change we are currently suffering. To hear of projects of reforestation is the most beautiful music to my ears....... so check this out. In Costa Rica the NOT FOR PROFIT organization [Community Carbon Trees](www.communitycarbontrees.org) Is busy undertaking fantastic projects of reforestation in Costa Rica. Watch this video.... https://youtu.be/8_PuCboQL4k  The organization founded 17 years ago by Jennifer Leigh Smith has so far planted just over half a million trees. 🌴 If you want to help planting trees you can donate through their website or if you are just truly inspired by what you see happening here in Costa Rica ....  then think about planting some young trees in your area too. You can do so much to help our planet - EVERY SINGLE tree planted is a blessing to this planet and your soul! I could write so much more to try and inspire you to plant a tree but I don’t want to overstretch your time or attention, we are all busy..... so it’s a short sweet message. Donate to people who are planting trees or go plant one or two yourself. The benefits of planting your own are EVEN MORE rewarding....... but that’s your choice. 😉 # Please plant a tree for our beautiful planet 🌏 <img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZCemJhaSQLX8DysgYUjEyCcfmf6ke1XsEL3Y2iV3qkZY/Sallybeth23-Jungle-Separator.png"/></a> # I will be planting trees with all proceeds from this post. 🌴
# Forest Manage screen time and plant real trees --- ## Screenshots <center><img alt="giphy (9).mp4" src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/steemhunt/production/steemhunt/2019-09-11/d29dc673-giphy (9)-thumb.jpg"/></center> --- ## Hunter's comment Here is another cool app for nature lovers and environment enthusiasts. Forest gets users engaged with their phones with specific objectives tailored towards a better environment for mankind. >Forest helps you to spend less time looking at your phone and more time focusing on the task at hand. If you exit the app, your tree dies - but if you complete your goal, you build a virtual forest and earn coins for real-life trees. [source](https://iywto.com/habitat/plant-trees/forest) --- ## Link https://iywto.com/habitat/plant-trees/forest --- <center><br/><br/> This is posted on Steemhunt - A place where you can dig products and earn STEEM. [View on Steemhunt.com](https://steemhunt.com/@gentleshaid/forest-manage-screen-time-and-plant-real-trees) </center>
# Tree Planet Use an app to plant tree in real life --- ## Screenshots <center><img alt="giphy (8).mp4" src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/steemhunt/production/steemhunt/2019-09-09/57f8a0b3-giphy (8)-thumb.jpg"/></center> --- ## Hunter's comment This is a really cool initiative towards saving the environment. Tree Planet is an app where users plant and nurture trees virtually while the revenue generated from advertising on the app is used to plant trees in real life. Users also get to choose where trees are planted in real life. Isn't that awesome! --- ## Link https://iywto.com/habitat/plant-trees/tree-planet --- <center><br/><br/> This is posted on Steemhunt - A place where you can dig products and earn STEEM. [View on Steemhunt.com](https://steemhunt.com/@gentleshaid/tree-planet-use-an-app-to-plant-tree-in-real-life) </center>
I am a person who feels the trees, my name is Elisa. Elisa. Arboles. I like the beauty of nature and also the idea of Steemit that allows us to realize a new way of living together, and I am seeing that Steemit grows like a huge tree. You know one thing, when I was little I liked to climb trees, although my grandmother was afraid that something would happen to me and she kept telling me "Elisa goes down that is dangerous". I liked to climb to the top, and feel how the wind moved the trunk to balance me. For me that precise moment is happiness.  to enjoy the cool shade of my friends the trees. They bring me peace when I look at them, breathe their perfumes and hear with pleasure their eyes that move and make like music. When I doubt, or I don't feel Being, I will embrace the trunks of the largest trees, and I remain attached to them until they recharge me with peace and energy. Do you know why I want to play with you? Well, it turns out that I have a very beautiful vision and it is that we plant all kinds of trees all together and reforest the planet Earth having fun.  I still don't know how to do but I am sure that we are many and that you may be interested in accompanying me on this positive adventure. I have a broken heart when I hear how many fires can be born at the same time in certain regions. and you? Also when they cut trees in great quantity I put myself in sorrow, and the solutions to erase these bad feelings of survival are coming, I invite you to open the door. So, dear Stemians, to continue with Steemit, together for a long time and have fun, we can each make a little thing, so that the trees give us freshness, new air, fruits and rain ... What do you think, do you sign up with me? How can we start, what can you do now in five minutes? I will give you news of what others do so that ideas come to us as stars and make this project shine our way. I await your comments. May you be happy and think of trees, Elisa Arboles
<center><img src='https://business.inquirer.net/files/2019/06/Reforestation-Photo-620x442.jpg' alt='Shared From Dlike' /></center> ##### Using world-class technologies, OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. group of Foresters continually puts forward the Company’s reforestation and rehabilitation projects. The mine has already planted more than 1.6 million trees in its rehabilitation areas within the Didipio Mine including reforestation plantations in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. The reforestation survival rate is an impressive 92%, above the Philippine national standard of 80%. Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/273290/mining-firm-achieves-high-reforestation-survival-rate#ixzz5sEMbQIwI Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook ##### <center><br><a href='https://business.inquirer.net/273290/mining-firm-achieves-high-reforestation-survival-rate?fbclid=IwAR30-DBNeggzuL_vtOECp8pVQcKOFXIvK7038VIu60mvbmKBNzU-YFY0ktE'>Source of shared Link</a><hr><br><a href='https://dlike.io/'><img src='https://dlike.io/images/dlike-logo.jpg'></a></center>
 <div class="text-justify"> **Hello again from @SenorCoconut,** **Today, we're going to ask a few questions to reflect the ethics and ideologies of one vendor at HSCO. [Crescendo Of Peace](https://homesteaderscoop.com/store/crescendoofpeace/). (@creascendoofpeace on steemit)!** **Building a community is about clear communication and the willingness to support one another. As [Homesteaders Co-op](https://homesteaderscoop.com) grows, we must keep in mind that the complexity and diversity of its moving parts may also expand, so here we are helping this free market stay running smooth together.** **We found it essential for the good of everyone to highlight the vendors of the HSCO market place. Wouldn't be nice to know the individuals and families offering their _goods and services_ a little more?** **Every week vendors are featured on the [web site](https://homesteaderscoop.com). As a community, we thought that every week, we should feature these vendors here on the Steem blockchain (@HomesteadersCoop) to give everyone that much more exposure.** ___ > *It takes a village to raise a child*, because when people help eachother life is easier for everyone involved. ___ **Without further ado, here are a few question I've conjured up... let's meet [Crescendo Of Peace](https://homesteaderscoop.com/store/crescendoofpeace/):** **SenorCoconut**: In the description of your online shop with HSCO, you’ve explain how your Art, Food and Medicine products are made, can you tell us about your thinking process and what kind of intentions you put into your creations? Feel free to talk about any other things you will be selling in the near future. **Crescendo of Peace**: For the most part, as odd as it may sound, I like to let the work define itself. What I mean by that is that I don't always plan out my creations, but allow my intuition, or my muse if you will, to choose the direction I take, and the materials or ingredients I use. This has served me well throughout my life, in cooking as well as making art, and a lot of things I've learned to do simply by trying to see if they would work. And, more often than not, they have, though there have also been a share of projects I've had to seriously tweak before they came out as I wanted. It's an evolutionary process, as is life. One example is my shagbark hickory syrup. When our forester first mentioned it to me, I had never heard of it, and it took some searching online to find a recipe, which I then used as my starting point. Over the years, however, I've gone with my intuition and altered the original recipe substantially, so that the syrup I make today is nothing like the first batches I made, and it keeps getting better and better. And it bears little resemblance to the commercial hickory syrups with which I am familiar. It is much deeper, richer, and more complex.  As far as intentions are concerned, my intentions in art, cooking, natural medicine, writing, and pretty much everything else are similar: I endeavor at all times, and in all ways, to be a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem. I don't always succeed, as I'm a fallible human, but I succeed a lot more often than I would if I didn't try. Another intention that goes along with that is to create in such a way that is not harmful to the environment. Again using hickory syrup as an example, I collect all the bark here on my place, so I know for a fact that nothing has been sprayed on or near these trees for at least nine years. I prefer collecting fallen bark, which is usually plentiful after a storm or high winds, and when I do collect directly from the tree, I collect only bark that has naturally separated from the trunk, and is ready to come off on its own. In that way I am not harming the mother tree, nor opening wounds that might lead to infection or infestation, thus shortening its' natural lifespan. Similarly, when collecting herbs, vegetables or fruit, I take care not to harm the plant in the process, to take only what I need, and if needed, to do any pruning that the plant needs to grow better.  I go by the rule taught to me by my grandmother, when collecting from plants in the wild; always leave some for the birds and animals, some for the next forager, and some for the plant to remain healthy and strong. Unless there is a life or death emergency, **never** take it all, as that is disrespectful to the plant, to the othrcreatures in its environment, and to nature. **SenorCoconut**: This next one may go hand in hand with “intentions” but I would love to hear about the desired outcome you're looking for in selling handmade or hand-picked product. How are you looking to connect with your customer base? **Crescendo of Peace**: I look to connect with people human to human, soul to soul. What else is there?  My overall desire is that people learn more about plants and grow them, that they learn more about health in order to grow healthier themselves, and that they expose themselves to more art, literature and music to feed their souls and become happier. And time in nature is always time well spent. When I owned my art and framing studio in Florida, several of my customers liked to just come hang out, as they liked my vibes and the vibes of my place, which was filled not only with art, but also with plants and animals. I'm basically a friendly person, I like people and generally steer clear of drama, so I've been called a calming influence, and some came by just to chill. My personality type is that of a peacemaker, and has been since childhood. Ideally my customers will become friends over time. Additionally, I consider myself to be accidentally in the position of educator, just because I'm interested in a lot of different things, and I've amassed a fair amount of knowledge over the years. I was also blessed with parents who nurtured and encourged that part of me, so I try to do that for others, where I am able, and to give them any information I think is important for them to know about what they are purchasing in that moment. As an example, if there is a story behind how I got started making a particular item, I often share that, if I think it will interest them. If the materials or ingredients are rare or uncommon, I share that information, and often a lively conversation begins from there. Or, more obviously, if they are purchasing heirloom seeds or a kombucha kit, I give the needed instructions for them to succeed with them the first time, and every time. **SenorCoconut**: Looking through your blog on steemit and your shop description on HSCO, you strike me as someone who really loves life, but also someone who is well aware of the damage we (humans) are creating to our planet. I think we can agree that through all that pollution and destruction, we've put ourselves on a dangerous path that could lead to human extinction if we don't change our ways. Without getting political, can you tell us your stance on “carbon footprint”? And if you don't mind talking about what you do to help reduce human impact. **Crescendo of Peace**: I went to college to become a marine biologist, and part of why I did not continue on that path is that, as an empath, what I was seeing happen to my beloved marine environment and her inhabitants was breaking my heart. Most of my charitable giving goes to environmental causes, and has since I was a teen. I grew up in coastal California, and spent much of my adult life in Tampa Bay, Florida, both of which are squarely on the environmental front lines. And in both states, despite glib talk by those in power, building permits are still being granted for sites with delicate and irreplaceable habitats, against scientific recommendations and plain common sense. Housing developments are being built in the Everglades, which is a travesty, and more and more water-hungry lawns keep popping up all over the desert Southwest. Individual humans can be incredibly intelligent. Governments, large and small, are generally not. As for reducing my own human impact, despite loving children, I chose against having children of my own. It seemed the kindest course of action overall, to them, and to the planet. I am sorry for depriving my parents of grandchildren. So my children have fur, feathers, fins and scales, and lots and lots of needles and leaves. I've planted well over a hundred fruit and nut trees and bushes, so far, along with numerous perennial and self-seeding herbs and vegetables, and I'm getting ready to start several patches of culinary and medicinal mushrooms. And I'm just getting started. Increasing the diversity on our place has always been one of my primary goals, as the more diverse the species being grown, the less likely that there will ever be a catastrophic crop failure . . . in any climactic situation, **something** is bound to do well, or at least adequately.  The massive monocropping that's been going on for the past hundred years or so is nothing more or less than idiocy in action, even without the toxic GE crops and chemicals. Any decent gardener knows that if you grow a whole bunch of any one thing, without a break, you're setting yourself up for a constant battle against the pests that like that crop, while providing zero habitat for beneficial insects and birds that would prey on those pests and keep them in check. In Florida, for example, over sixty precent of the agricultural land was planted in citrus, with predictable results. Yes, there is still a lot of citrus in Florida, though nowhere near as much as there once was. Most of the large groves are being hit with citrus greening, which is a fungal disease that is threatening the entire industry, which took hold because there were so very many susceptible trees being grown in close quarters. But I saw a video a few days ago by a man who was filming in Brooksville, Florida, about an hour north of Tampa, showing dozens and dozens of vibrant, healthy citrus trees, mostly tangerines, that were completely unaffected by citrus greening. They were growing wild. These were bird-planted trees, growing as understory in the dappled shade beneath much-larger oaks, with lots of other species all around, and they were thriving on neglect, with absolutely no input from humans of any kind. So. Acre after acre of citrus trees are being chopped down and bulldozed due to citrus greening, when the real answer isn't monocropping, chemical and antifungal sprays, but intercropping with **lots** of other species, **allowing** nature to be nature, and **allowing** life in all her glorious abundance to thrive. And the cirtus trees can thrive along with them. This is the beauty of permaculture and forest farming. Earth and **all** of nature has amazing and humbling regenerative abilities. We fallible humans simply need to get the heck out of the way and allow it to take place. **Now**. **SenorCoconut**: You mentioned that you are regenerating the native plant population and restoring your woods. Could you please go into details on how your products reflect the overall health and balance you wish the environment to have? **Crescendo of Peace**: Among the products I will ultimately have in my store are living plants and seeds, fresh and dried herbs, herbal tea blends, tinctures and extracts, and more, none of which would be possible without a healthy and balanced environment in place. My little corner of the southern Appalachians is second growth forest, as the old growth forest was chestnut-oak-hickory, which was changed forever when the American chestnut was wiped out by chestnut blight, a fungal disease introduced by planting ornamental chestnut trees from China and Japan. Yet another example of idiocy in action: we wiped out the foundation tree of the Appalachian forests, as literally one in every four trees was an Americn chestnut; along with generations, communities and entire lifestyles, all for the love of a foreign ornamental chestnut from China. That worked out well. The loss of the American chestnut may have also been the final nail that sealed the fate of the passenger pigeon, as chestnuts constituted the majority of their diet. Wholesale and unrestricted hunting didn't help either. So one of the goals closest to my heart is to bring back the American chestnut on my place, to bring back the chinkapin and hazelnut, also affected by introduced blight, to repopulate the understory plants, herbs and fungi that were here prior to European settlement, and to establish my place as a living seed bank for the Calfkiller River ecosystem, and the larger Caney Fork floodplain into which it drains. Thus far I've planted three Dunstan chestnut trees near the road, as Dunstan is a hybrid of roughly 7/8 American and 1/8 Chinese chestnut, reputed to be immune to the blight. One of them died back almost immediately after leafing out the first spring, and never resprouted. The second did fine that year, but died back the following year, but did resprout from the roots. The third has never died back. Oddly, though all three trees had remnants of blossoms when I bought them, none have bloomed here in the three years since planting. They are just now beginning to leaf out. As an experiment, and in hopes that it may help to confer some immunity to the blight, which may well be why these trees are failing to thrive, I will be planting horseradish around their base, as horseradish is antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal. I have two varieties of horseradish, and will be planting three of one variety around chestnut two, and three of the second variety around chestnut three. Wish me luck. In the meantime, I've ordered 24 germinated Dunstan chestnut seeds, along with five seedling American hazelnut trees, which tyically grew in close proximity to the native chestnuts. I am hoping that we can introduce these chestnuts at the edges of our woods, in areas where we take out trash trees, and along the river, which if successful will provide a lot of food for wildlife, as well as us, and be a step toward reclaiming our woods for native species. A further goal is to establish a series of medicinal gardens devoted to worldwide systems of care, such as an Ayurvedic garden, a Traditonal Chinese Medicine garden, a Native American medicine wheel garden, and so on, with the most important food plants as part of each medicinal garden. These will be situated in what is currently our front pasture area, near the road. I would ultimately like to reclaim some additional land that has been clear cut, strip mined or otherwise environmentally trashed, and bring it back into productivity with an intelligent succession of native plants, with the ultimate goal of establishing highly productive mixed chestnut woods that will act as additional living seed banks for the surrounding areas. This could be a real and highly effective way of ameliorating the horrific practice of so-called mountain top removal, which has destroyed so many previously pristine areas in the Appalachians. And, ultimately, I plan to record and document everythign I'm doing as it is being done, to discuss what is working well and what needs to change, and to leave guidelines for others who follow to be able to follow in our path, and to create similar systems wherever they find themselves. The final goal is to leave a charitabe foundation in the hands of a capable board willing to continue the work long after I am gone. **SenorCoconut**: It seems you have chosen a more “earth friendly” path than most, and I'm sure it shows on your mini farm, I would like to know how you encourage and influence your neighbors to lead a more environmentally responsible life? **Crescendo of Peace**: I live in a farming community, and most of my neighbors are fairly responsible already from an environmental standpoint, as they live close to the land.  That said, I readily share what I know, the unusual plants and techniques in which I think they may have an interest, and they already know that I garden organically, that I recycle like a madwoman, and that we generate very little actual garbage as compared with most households. I have tried to educate a few on the dangers of Round-up and glyphosate, with mixed results, as not everyone is open to new information. So I do what I can, but I don't shove my own beliefs down anyone's throat, as all that does is alienate the very people with whom I am trying to build a cooperative alliance. I do do my best to share those practices not requiring chemicals as an alternative to the Round-up. Hopefully some listen. I'm a big believer in sharing and giving to others, and most of my immediate neighbors have received gifts from me over the years ranging from wine jelly to hickory syrup, hot soup, fresh eggs, heirloom seeds, and even seedling apple trees. And several neighbors have returned the favor, including one neighbor who has given me several plants I absolutely love, including heirloom hydrangeas and a couple of gorgeous blooming cacti. I had the great good fortune to buy land surrounded by great neighbors, and I do my best to be a good neighbor in return, whether that takes the form of watching someone's animals when they are away, helping them learn how to better use their computer, or simply bringing my dog inside when he starts barking at night. And my neighbors have let me know that they have my back, keeping an eye on my place when I'm away, or when they know I am here alone, and they have helped to make me feel very welcome and at home. Bottom line, being a good citizen really does come down to the Golden Rule, treating others as we want to be treated ourselves, and that's how I try to live my life, albeit imperfectly. And it's a great life overall. ___ **I want to thank you for taking precious time out of your day to answer these questions, and what an inspiration you are! I am truly impressed with your answers, I have learned quite a few things...for example shagbark hickory sirop and the dunstan chestnut tree, a hybrid reputed to be immune to the blight, are things I had never heard of. You are a wealth of knowledge!** **I wish everyone could take another look at the golden rule and perhaps apply it to their way of life.** **Once again, thank you @crescendoofpeace for letting us have a peak into your life, it was a pleasure to read 😁 and good luck with all your projects!** ___ **For those of you who would like to look at her shop at HSCO here a quick link: [Crescendo Of Peace](https://homesteaderscoop.com/store/crescendoofpeace/)!** ___ Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for next week's featured vendor... Same time, same place! @SenorCoconut PS: Special thanks to @Riverflows for the graphics on that first image at the top of the post 💚 and of course @Homesteaderscoop for being an awesome community! <br /> <hr /> <h1>A Free Marketplace for Steem</h1> We provide a FREE marketplace for you to transact in STEEM, SBD and USD. Our co-op vendors are committed to sustainability, ethics and quality in their lives and work. *Unlike other marketplaces our vendors are not charged **listing fees**, **subscription fees** or **transaction fees**. 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To do so often means forgoing income potential and the status quo. Our SteemPower is used to up-vote Homesteader Co-op contributors and vendors in order to reward and support their hard work. Some extra STEEM may one day go a long way for some individuals of our community. **[10 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=10%20SP) | [25 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=25%20SP) | [50 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=50%20SP) | [75 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=75%20SP) | [100 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=100%20SP) | [200 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=200%20SP) | [500 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=500%20SP) | [750 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=750%20SP) | [1000 SP](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&delegatee=@homesteaderscoop&vesting_shares=1000%20SP)** </center> <hr /> <center> <h2>Who is Homesteaders Co-op?</h2> Get to know our mission in our <a href="https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@homesteaderscoop/supporting-a-steem-community-economy-intention-values-and-ethics-in-our-products-introducing-homesteaders-co-op">introduction post</a> </center> <hr /> <center> <h2>Want to sell sustainable, handmade products for STEEM, SBD and USD?</h2> <a href="https://homesteaderscoop.com/sell/" rel="noopener">Learn more and apply here</a> </center> <hr /> <center> <img src="https://steemitimages.com/400x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNfidyeetPKLcQYB2HDvFCuRDHrab6XmjUVfo9msSxU9n/coop-logo-1.png" alt="coop-logo-1.png" /> <a href="https://homesteaderscoop.com/" rel="noopener">https://homesteaderscoop.com</a> </center> <hr /> <center> <img src="https://steemitimages.com/250x0/https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/homesteaderscoop/b79E90A0-image.png" alt="A Dollar A Day" /> <h2>A Dollar A Day - Charitable giving project</h2> Follow @adollaraday </center>
<center><a href='https://d.tube/#!/v/ecoswell/h4pg5iib'><img src='https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmZTmMyeYwzz2kcUrspYxkSw5i5qRzPvHczvpkvp617qD6'></a></center><hr> Spectacular video created by our Reforestation/Conservation intern, @Ezra Kraus from Massachusetts, USA, that shows some of the activities we have carried out with the families of the Piedritas, Talara, during the months of February and March 2019 as part of the “Piedritas Verde” Project – Green Piedritas. Click on the video to find out about a typical day of house-to-house visits by EcoSwell in Piedritas for planting and adoption by local families of native dry forest seedlings, along with environmental awareness talks and presentations for children and adults regarding the local ecosystem and on how they can apply permaculture techniques at their own homes water and solid waste reuse. Every time we go to Piedritas we love how we get recharged by the unlimited energy that the children transmit. They are always eager to get involved and learn (by doing) about the care of plants and trees. In this way we can rest assured that we are promoting environmental consciousness in future generations! Thank you very much to @Enel Energy (@Enel Generacion Piura @Enel global @Enel, etc.) for their support, to the families of Piedritas for literally opening the doors of their homes to us and to our volunteers and international team for an excellent job: @Ivy Jones, @India Boostani, @Neal Strobel, @Elliott Lang, @Camille Wood, @Nai Ana, @Ellen Jones. *@EcoSwell is a for-impact, sustainable development organization based in Lobitos, Peru. Since 2014, we have been working everyday to help coastal communities thrive in unison with nature. If you would like to learn more, please visit our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/EcoSwell/?nr), [website](http://www.ecoswell.org/home.html), and follow us on SteemIt!* <hr><a href='https://d.tube/#!/v/ecoswell/h4pg5iib'> ▶️ DTube</a><br /><a href='https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmVfeL9sUnrUGn8DnvpRWgBCQjadnKe5iXTGKFzaWrsziD'> ▶️ IPFS</a>
Y'all don't forget the [CONTESTS](https://steemit.com/permaculture/@nateonsteemit/permaculture-playing-cards-episode-1) built into this series. One SBI for a name, five for the needle! That makes thirty one shares for the series if someone claims the prize before the post pays out. *Congrats, @senstless for finding the needle on the [Rhubarb](https://steempeak.com/permaculture/@nateonsteemit/permaculture-playing-cards-rhubarb) card!*  --- # On to today's featured permaculture tidbit!  ## [The Man Who Planted Trees](https://youtu.be/KTvYh8ar3tc) I'd never seen or heard of this movie until now. That hyperlink is to the video in English on YouTube. It's a half hour video and is quite good. *Please forgive my lack of enthusiasm the last few days. It seems my mild depressive phase is in swing, so I may need a few quiet days before I can dedicate a full heart to much of anything.* Be blessed. Be fruitful. Stay relevant. Nate. ---  ***Purchase sustainably produced seeds, textiles, medicines, and more for SBD from @homesteaderscoop at [The Homesteader's Co-op Online Marketplace!](https://homesteaderscoop.com)***  ***Follow @naturalmedicine and join the [Natural Medicine discord channel](https://discord.gg/gxVztzj) today and come grow and learn with us!*** https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://s15.postimg.cc/85oxjqy97/ghscollective_logo-01-1.png ***Join us on the [GHSC Discord](https://discord.gg/tPhykkV) and follow @ghscollective to become part of a global network of homesteaders!***
I have been here for almost three weeks and the time has absolutely flown by. This is my first time in South America and I am loving every minute of it. Living at the beach is a dream, every sunset is beautiful, and the fruit is so fresh I can’t believe it. I have been very busy with the reforestation project, caring for our trees and seedlings. This includes regular watering and trimming as well as mulching, building support tudors for weaker plants, and general maintenance of protective barriers. I care for the plants in the gardens around the house (which are quite extensive and wonderful) in addition to the young forest that we planted on a site of degraded land several months ago. This site is called The Zion Sunset Forest and is now populated with over 200 native seedlings that are crucial to the habitat of the Peruvian Plantcutter, a species of bird endemic to the Northern coastal regions of Peru. My favorite part of caring for the forest is when people from the community come up to me and ask what I’m doing. Although my Spanish isn’t perfect, I can usually communicate the goals of the project. Most people seem supportive of the project, saying how the local environment is severely degraded and how the world needs more projects like this one. The comments that I get from the locals are both humbling and rewarding.  <center>*The Zion Sunset Forest* </center> One of the most labor-intensive aspects of the reforestation project is seedling production. This includes collecting native seeds, germinating them, and transferring them from the germination table to the nursery. This is an ongoing process with plants at all different stages of growth. We do a number of things with the seedlings we produce, including distributing them to other nurseries around Lobitos, planting them in public spaces around Lobitos, and giving them to families involved in the Lobitos Verde (Green Lobitos) project. <center>*https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRZvrR7y6XZL8rMbcySjDP9C7ogQugmQfpPsvkYc81iff/2.jpg) * </center> <center>*EcoSwell Mother Nursery and Germination Table* </center> While caring for all these plants keeps me very busy during the work day, I have been able to enjoy Lobitos in my free time. I have been exploring the dry forest environment, getting to know the native plants and local geography, which I find very interesting. I have been learning how to surf along with some of the other volunteers, and although I am not very good yet, I have been having a blast. <center>** </center> <center>*Surf point near Lobitos with interesting geology* </center> <center>*(https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWLbaiRdTm3S5AnMykeRTkXY19B3Go623BZtxWEHu3yVh/5.jpg)* </center> <center>*Elliott, myself, and Quinn getting ready to go surfing at Piscinas.* </center> I am looking forward to the rest of my time here in Lobitos, and I have a feeling that two months will pass far too quickly. *@EcoSwell is a for-impact, sustainable development organization based in Lobitos, Peru. Since 2014, we have been working everyday to help coastal communities thrive in unison with nature. If you would like to learn more, please visit our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/EcoSwell/?nr), [website](http://www.ecoswell.org/home.html), and follow us on SteemIt!* <center>*Elliott, myself, and Quinn getting ready to go surfing at Piscinas.* </center>*Photos from Daria Fortin and Diego Almendrades* *Written by Daria Fortin*
Saint Dominic Statue  Team members gathered at St Dominic statue as they went round the monastery    Sisters lecturing on the origine of the monastery and who was St Dominic
Inspiration of Earth Rangers; do you know we are very blessed  Earth Rangers at St Dominic Monastery praying while kneeling down Do you know that earth Rangers are very much inspired with knowledge from the Almighty GOD? As they finished planting trees in St Dominic Monastery, they went to the temple of God to pray and thank God for the knowledge and wisdom given them. This was not all, they equally thank Him for life and its protection, and talents.  Earth Rangers at St Dominic Monastery praying  Earth Rangers with their resource persons at St Dominic Monastery praying  Earth Rangers at St Dominic Monastery returning from church after prayers
Dirty hands children, the young conservationists  See our dirty hands, we enjoy soiling our hands as long as it is to plant trees This is a phenomenon whereby the Earth Rangers demonstrate by showing dirty hands to prove that they have actively carry on the tree planting activities. The more your hands are dirty, the more they considered you to have worked more than the others. The pictureswere taken in Saint Dominic Monastery Bambui, North West Region in Cameroon.  Earth Rangers, Sisters of St Dominic and the NGOs representatives after tree planting is finished We have been chosen to save nature and that is why people call us young conservationist while others call us young environmentalist. Do you know that after every tree planting campaign program, we become very happy and everything seems pleasant. Check out our smiles after the activities.  Check which hand is dirty and comment, thanks  Tell me who worked the most by looking at their palms
Earth Rangers on tree planting at St Dominic Monastery Bambui       Sister at St Dominic Monastery supporting in conservation by planting trees in their convent