Growth : from tiny seed to imposing tree
“ Let us all find our purpose in life – the potential that lies within the seed .
”
Early one Monday morning in June 2021 – when South Africa found itself amid strict lockdown regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic – my doorbell buzzed . It was not unusual , as by then it was almost a ritual to go to the front door to receive an assortment of online pre-ordered deliveries : fresh food , medicines , books , documents – a daily feature of the covidisation of our lifestyles . But this specific doorbell triggered a little bit of an extra bounce .
I was expecting something completely different – a larger box . But this box was the size of an A5 paperback . Inside the package was 21 tiny plastic packets of seeds , ten in each packet . Seeds I ordered from Seeds For Africa based in Cape Town . Seeds for seven varieties of indigenous trees that are suitable for the highveld climate of wet hot summers , and cold , frosty winters . decaf cappuccinos . Low cost and potentially high returns . A good investment . Yes , that is correct what you are thinking . Moch is trying something , again , his favourite pastime of observing the actualisation of potential . I am going to try to grow each seed type into a row of kneehigh saplings and will transplant them into either our garden or the outside pavement .
And trees will simply stand and observe the world from the same place for a couple of centuries . I was really motivated to try such a seed-to-tree venture . An inner farmer was waiting to burst forth , given the right environmental circumstances .
The catalyst for me to try my hand at “ afforestation ” was an inspiring article in
The Economist about Akira Miyawaki ’ s method of germinating tiny , urban forests that are entirely self-sustainable after three years with a 30-fold increase in biodiversity , and might help in cooling the earth . Already in 45 countries . I was hooked . This needed a try . Why not ?
This is my first attempt , ever , of growing trees-from-seeds –
I knew very little about cultivating tree seeds . But what the heck ! Price of a couple of Starbucks
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