and the process starts right in the palm of my left hand : their official name is Vachellia Acacia Sieberiana Woodii . Sounds more like a Michelin star-rated menu recipe , or perhaps Cleopatra ’ s birth name . But as my eldest granddaughter , Nava age three , says : “ Doc , when in doubt , Google !” which of course , I did . The Google search ( within a millisecond ) replies :
Description : Formerly known as Acacia sieberiana var woodii , this is a semi-deciduous to deciduous tree with a large and spreading flat crown . The bark is light brown and corky , peeling off in interesting , large flat sections . The flowers are cream-coloured , scented balls , which attract a host of insects .
The ten-meter tree , Vachellia Acacia , starts always with the planting of a seed . I still get weak at the knees when I hold a tiny seed and compare it to the grown-up version .
On the day I planted the trees , Nicolas my wise , methodical gardener from rural Zimbabwe disassembled , then moved dusty steel shelves from the garage to outside our dining room , where he re-assembled the bits into my new potting shed , sans roof . Beautiful north sun and high walls to protect from gusty winds . Near a tap for watering purposes . My urban farm in situ . My grandchildren are captivated !
Then beetled off to my favourite garden nursery to get a short , sharp tutorial from their genial horticulturist , encyclopedical , brilliant botanist David , on how best to get the seeds to germinate , what fertiliser to use , and how long to boil and excoriate the skin of seeds with sandpaper . This is basic prep work to release the genetic material from its hard outer kernel , and for the endosperm to communicate with essential environmental factors – chemicals , water , oxygen , unpronounceable micro-organisms , and the heat of captured energy to jump-start the metabolic pathways . Oh , the marvels of nature !
The DNA – trapped within the kernel – has to get out of its comfort zone ! The kernel must break down , which seems chaotic , painful and noisy . This is an exciting new world of knowledge for me .
Exciting times ahead as I started this new adventure : from seed to crown ; from sapling to birds nesting ; from seasonal flower to bees collecting nectar ; from carbon emission to carbon sequestration . I have a dream that we as a nation can grow millions of such 100 m 2 tiny forests .
But , of course , the contrarian psychiatrist from Africa always finds the metaphor ( and the silver lining ). These trees , hopefully ,
are not for me , but for my grandchildren and their children and grandchildren . These trees , hopefully , will capture tons of excess carbon to reduce global warming . These trees , hopefully , will teach me about patience , about allowing things to unfold in their own time . These trees will open friendships I never could imagine . It all starts with the idea , then the careful execution of the plan . Can you remember holding seeds of a great idea but did not , could not , persuaded not to plant them ? We all have such regrets ! Some of us take the plunge , eventually . And that makes all the difference .
* Update after seven months : Not all the seeds germinated , six died on transplantation into the soil of the pavement , and one was stood upon and broken by a pedestrian . But a few are growing slowly , taking root and enjoying the sumptuous rainfall and capturing energy from the sunshine . My grandchildren insist on observing them on every visit – one day they will learn and appreciate the life lesson : that not all seeds germinate and grow into adulthood but getting one or more to do so can make all the difference .
Dr . Jonathan Moch
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