Ten thousand trees: please ask santa!
From our blog at http://ecofriendlygreenproducts.co.uk
With Christmas fast approaching, I’m starting to angst over those few people who are impossible to buy for. You know the type – we’ve all got at least one in the family.
In our family, there’s one particular chap who’s frankly so much better off than us that there’s nothing we could buy for him that he hasn’t bought for himself already (twice, with bells on). And another who’s not financially rich but spiritually so, and therefore also wants for very little (despite not having all that much).
Over the next twelve months, Wikaniko plans to plant 10,000 trees in Africa. We are retailing them for under a fiver. They are a much better stocking filler than socks. Frankly, you should buy one for that person who’s impossible to buy for.
When that look of mild interest in what their Christmas present might be fades to nothingness (again) then at least you can get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you did something good for the planet, your children, heck – their children (!), and the local villagers who benefit massively from this managed forestry project.
I’m not much interested in hearing the usual “I’d rather help someone in the UK / charity starts at home” nonsense. As yet, I don’t believe there’s a way to segregate the air we breathe so us wealthier Westerners get the lion’s share. Planting a tree in Africa directly benefits you.
Aside from the fact that planting 5 trees could go someway to offsetting your carbon footprint, there’s also some rather compelling reasons why it’s better to plant trees in Africa.
Trees grow three times faster in Africa than in the UK so they will help our environment much faster: we will see results in our lifetime.
The trees are used both to provide a wage for poor people in villages and to help sustain the villages with produce, firewood and materials for building etc – so the world gets a lot more benefit than simply planting a tree to help reduce carbon emissions!
The trees improve living standards for families, and the local economies. The tree planting helps them generate a sustainable income from food, medicines and shelter.
Trees allow vegetation and other growth to survive in harsh conditions by retaining water in the soil and providing shelter from direct sunlight etc. Trees can, if managed correctly, provide a massive range of unexpected benefits and natural resources including medication which can be used locally and sold throughout the world.
Need I say more?
Whilst writing this, I’ve decided to wrap my family’s Christmas gifts in pages from the free newspapers that come through our door each week and buy everyone a tree with the money I will save on gift wrap. You are welcome to join me!
If you would like to know more, please feel free to get in touch.
To visit my Wikaniko shop: please click here
For more information on becoming a distributor: please click here
EcoLike.Me is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
