Upvote for free and help plant some trees in Peru. Yesterday I officially broke the Steemit sandwich contest challenge #1. I prepared nine sandwiches in a week! It wasn't easy as I thought it would be.
Having won some extra steem/sbd, I was thinking on how I could give something back. It got me thinking to how everyone could give back and it wouldn't cost them any money. Would this be possible with Steemit? Upvote a specific post and the proceeds will be used to purchase tree saplings for replanting.
If you don't try you don't find out.
Ok, a little more background. I currently live in Lobitos in northern Peru. I have been here on and off for years. I used it as a base to go abroad to work on tourism and protected areas projects. I have worked in park implementation, planning and funding proposals.
(Image courtesy of google)
As you can see from the satellite image, Lobitos is quite arid but there are some endemic plants growing. Chatting with the village elders, the area used to be a lot more forested and green.
Decades of population growth, leading to the need for fuel wood has led to the rapid destruction of local forest systems. One of the biggest culprits are the roast chicken restaurants using local wood.
Unfortunately no one left a note to say that you need to plant 2-3 trees for one you cut down. You know... making a practice sustainable! Especially if it is the very thing that will cook your food and feed your family.
I could go on and on into the reasoning, perceptions, threats and challenges of this unsustainable practice. I won't in this blog as I just want to get the ball rolling and gauge how this post works.
So I won some steem/sbd yesterday via the SSC that is hosted by @jaybird . I decided I will give some back to local and global community. It is only one tree today (a larger batch has been ordered for replanting), but I want to start offsetting my foot print on the steemit platform and with your help: you can too.
I got this Algarrobo tree sapling from a local nursery run by a local ngo called ecoswell. Part of their mission is to reforest the local area with endemic and suited plants. Plants that survive this harsh environment.
Algarrobo not only grows here but has a lot of added benefits: fuel wood, wildlife habitat, forage, wood, food, jewellery etc. More info here.
Change starts at home, so I located the perfect spot for the first tree planting. Just outside where I live. This type of tree can grow up to between 8 and 20 meters tall....it might just take a few years.
Dug a small hole full of rocks, but this type of tree loves this terrain.
In she goes.
This first tree sapling is dedicated to the steemit sandwich contest, @jaybird and all of Steemit.
If you would like to read my posts, then find me here @intrepidsurfer
Awesome initiative @intrepidsurfer, and you know what, it only takes one little flame to start a wildfire so will certainly help spread this idea on steemit. Or should I say one little seed to start a forest?
We have quite a steep bank across the road from where we live, it's the back of a school so quite neglected but we started planting mango, avocado and papaya trees halfway up the bank, will try and get some pics and do a little post on it. We propagated some from pips so did not cost anything. So hopefully in a couple of years there will be fruit for passers by.
Sad to see how arid the region has become in Peru, perhaps ignorance by the people?
Great idea and well done on breaking another SSC record, I love entering but ugly bad sandwich has me stumped so far :):)
Enjoy seeing the trees grow!
BTW it's hot and sticky here, can't wait for the Durban winter, best time of the year!
thank you @lizelle for your kind words. I hope so too, that this idea grows and should become a positive output of steemit.
Basically population growth has exceeded the capacity at which the local environment can sustain it. Just need to plant loads more trees and get locals involved with it. This takes time and relationship building is vital. I wish I could plant mangoes, avocados and papaya trees. The local environment is not suited for it and water is a scarce resource here. I hope the kids eat the fruits of the trees you planted. Way better than junk food.
This week's sandwich competition has got me a little stumped too.
Fuckin beautiful man!
This is a really noble initiative and I fully support it. Keep up the awarness and environmental consciousness !
You had a big part in this! I love the concept (now functionality) of steemit to bring benefits to all of us. Literally upvotes will plant trees and shrubs for steemit users.
I am toying with the idea to launch a weekly post to raise funds dedicated to local reforestation, education and awareness. What do you think? should I make it also a competition? % goes to the environmental fund and % to rewards pool. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I still have a lot of tree saplings and endemic shrubs on the way. Your reward, 50% of which I converted into local cash (kept the SBD on my account) and got the plants ordered. I hope to post about this Sunday: "Upvote and plant a tree Sunday"
Not sure how the contest would work exactly unless you have other ppl doing it and proving it through an entry...Maybe that is an idea that could be developed.
For now, I would suggest simply launching a weekly initiative where you post about your process and how steem is helping you to do this. Take all the liquid rewards from the post and plant the trees and post about that for the next week. Just see if that can gain momentum. Then grow (excuse the pun lol) the idea from there.
You would keep the SP you get from the posts for the work you're doing which I think is fair enough, since you have to physically do the work, and plant the trees and document it etc.
I think it's a great original idea, I haven't heard of anyone else doing this yet.
hope that helps you brainstorm ;)
I agree with you on the latter suggestion and grow the idea. Plus keep it really simple, clear and transparent. Tomorrow I am picking up more with the local nursery and I will plant them on Sunday. Obviously post about it with lots of pictures and details.
I will also clearly outline how my said "benefit" is retaining the steem power and planting loads. Everything else goes toward the environmental fund. Which will be a financing mechanism to pay for the plants/planting and maintenance (watering). I will also post receipts of purchases and transactions in the name of transparency. Locked into the block-chain for ever :)
Thank you for your valued input.
My pleasure, sounds like a solid plan!
This is realy good intative @intrepidsurfer you are very giving person I wish you success in all your endeavours!
Thank you @mihail.tsvetkov . I hope it grows and grows. I will be doing this every week if you are interested. Each time I will post about it.
Very good bro! I'm impressed with you super positive attitude that is great! So I just got back to Guayaquil after almost 2 weeks in the galapagos. I'm now finally starting to plan my trip south to Peru. Looks like it makes sense to take a bus from here to Machala, spend a night, then cross into Peru and go to Mancora. Or just do the 7 hour ride straight there. If this is the rout I take I'll certainly stop by Lobitos which is just an hour south of Mancora. I'll let you know when I make my final decision but this is looking most economical and logical at this point.
Plus it would be great to meet you! We can hang out, eat some sandwiches and plant some trees together!
Keep up the great work!
I'll be in touch!
-Dan
Oh wow the Galapagos island. One day I will go visit and surf it. Good news for venturing to Peru soon. There is a lot to see and do here.
To get to Lobitos from Mancora you need to take the EPPO bus to Talara. This bus leaves every 30 minutes and then take a small combi to Lobitos. I will give you more info if needed.
Would be good to meet up soon.
Awesome brother. Thanks for the info I'm going to copy and paste this into my "travel" notes :)
I'll keep you posted on my plans :)
cool. I hope to meet you someday. I just planted five more trees and here is the post:
https://steemit.com/nature/@intrepidsurfer/i-won-some-steem-on-ssc-so-i-bought-a-tree-and-planted-it-11th-feb-2018-2nd-post
Like wise. Haven't put much more thought into the travel rout but the logical one seems to take me to Mancora, unless I fly from here to Lima. So assuming I bus it it Mancora, we'll surely meet up.
This is a great idea, @intrepidsurfer. I support 100% this initiative :)
thank you for your support @sandrina.life
This is by far the greatest thing ive heard all day! I’m honored to have upvoted! Can’t wait to see this tree grow big and tall! Here’s a 100% upvote to plant some more :)
thank you. We will definitely plant more just with people's upvotes. I will post very soon when I plant more trees. I will use the earned SBD of this post to get even more trees.
This tree will remember you the live in Steemit forever.
Yes I think so too @isabelpena . a simple upvote on this post will plant more trees.
What a lovely way to give back
Good job for sharing this,
maybe more people will follow in your footsteps
And such a simple way that anyone can give back with a simple upvote. Keep posted as I will plant and publish more.