All good things are wild & Free

Today 18^th Oct 2019 a Tree Plantation drive was organized by Say Trees in association with Concern India & Refinitiv , a Bengaluru-based NGO that’s actively involved in tree plantations in India. This was my 3rd plantation drive using the Miyawaki method of creating a forest, introduced by Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese Botanist. This method includes planting a variety of native species close together in a small pit. The advantage: trees grow 10 times faster and 30 times denser. The objective is to grow a 100-year-old forest in less then 10 years.

At 8.45 am I road down into the army campus find organizers arranging the stuff & volunteers from Refinitiv having there quick breakfast which was made by army jawans ( Not every one is lucky to get that food )

Once we finished tummy full of breakfast people where grouped in 3 teams Group 1 , Group 2 & Group 3

Group 1 followed Shashank from says tree to the area where we where suppose to plant the samplings, the moment we reached there it was green, blue, yellow, red color bed it was looking so colorful

So the task for each group was to place the saplings as per the color of flag we were to ensure that saplings were placed closely in strategic positions where no two varieties were kept adjacent to one another, to avoid too much density in one area.

Soon after, all the saplings where placed . We were then briefed on the Miyawaki method of creating a forest and a demonstration on how to plant a sapling.

It was 10.00 am. We then formed groups of two to three individuals, and started planting. The forest pit had been prepared by Say Trees members 7-10 days prior to the plantation drive where they dug the ground 1 feet deep, added manure and cow dung to enhance microbial activity.

Step-by-step process of planting a sapling

To plant every sapling, we first dig the earth to the height of the sapling bed.

Remove sapling from plastic bag. Then place it carefully in the dug out pit taking care to keep the soil around the sapling intact, as it has been growing in it for a few months and is accustomed to that soil.

Fix a stick next to the bed of the sapling and tie it to the sapling. This gives the sapling support as it grows. Then cover the sapling with the dug out soil and press it to keep it firm.

One sapling is now successfully planted! 😊

There were approx. 70+ varieties of saplings, including peepal, neem, banyan and other fruit-bearing ones, picked up from multiple nurseries I believe. In a 6 months time, these saplings will grow to be dense, not leaving any space for people to even walk through it. “Planting a variety of trees gives biodiversity to the environment.

This is what is looked like at the end of lunch hours. Hay was added to the pit to keep water intact in the soil. And around 5pm, the plantation drive came to an end with approx 5000+ saplings successfully planted!

This is the first time ever the Miyawaki method of creating a forest was implemented in a big campus in Bengaluru. This plantation will have permanent manpower and water system for maintaining the forest for the next two years. Even if 92-93% of the saplings survive in the next 2-3 years, they would become self-sustainable with rainfall, ground water and water from different sources possible

“Planting saplings is only a tip of the iceberg, maintenance is more important,” which Say’s Tree will be taking care.

I grouped and met quite a few colleagues from different teams and we talked about biking & bikes in our break time it was good discussion.

Lunch break was again a memorable one , it throw me back into the days of NCC camp where we use to line up for food , trust I never till date could understand though I did not like the food much but despite of eating a little I use to fill like my tummy is full & only reason for this could be because that food is so healthy.

At the end of 16:00hrs starting with pleasant morning, I left the campus feeling elated on being an active participant in improving my city’s green cover.

Who ever read this please plant one tree or help someone plant one tree by giving a piece of land 😊