Unleash the Power of Trees: Driving Deep Forest Climate Action
Reforestation restores ecosystems
Imagine that you’ve been dropped into a magical forest with a small group of strangers. Each of you has signed up for a rite of passage that will test you beyond your expectations
As you step out of the transport, a rush of wonder envelops you. The air is tinged with a musky fragrance and the dirt under your feet is soft and yielding.
Slung over one shoulder is a heavy bag and you discover that you have a curious tool. It’s a shovel, with a long narrow blade and a pointed tip.
Holding it, you realize it is lightweight, yet feels durable. You test its heft, feeling its balance. It feels somehow right in your hand.
The driver begins unloading canvas bags. At closer inspection, they are hundreds of small plugs that turn out to be baby trees!
You’re given a map, with a block of land clearly marked. The boss hands you several bags of those tiny trees. They’re yours, for the planting.
As you walk deeper into your assigned block, you discover things that others have left behind. A tin can, a hat with a busted clasp, and a piece of rusty chain are reminders of the men who took the trees.
The slash is thicker, and you have to choose your footing carefully. The ground beneath your feet feels alive with energy, adorned with vibrant mushrooms and moss-covered rocks.
You reach into the bag with one hand, pull out a small tree and push the shovel into the ground with your other. You’ve planted a tree!
As you venture further, you realize that surviving in this realm will require both courage and wisdom, for every decision you make may have unforeseen consequences.
This gritty world is now your daily routine, and you find yourself discovering a resilience you didn’t know existed. Each day becomes a test.
At the end of a long day, you wearily climb into your transport. They deliver you to a ramshackle shelter that prioritizes practicality over comfort. It’s all you have, so it will be enough for now.
You surrender to the allure of this quirky group of humans. With a heart full of curiosity and awe, you embrace your tribe and the adventures that lie ahead.
“Tree planters are a tribe caught between the stumps and the virgin timber, between environmentalists and loggers.” Charlotte Gill.
Paid subscribers can access the entire archive of my stories from the beginning, along with my poetry and every article I’ve ever written here. If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you can access the archive for free with a 7-day trial.
Eating Dirt is a novel by Charlotte Gill.
It’s a book about forests, loggers and the life of tree planters and Gill’s writing is rock solid.
This novel captured my imagination on the first page. It’s not often that we get a glimpse of the grueling hardships faced by tree planters. She takes us inside the basic accommodations they endure and reveals how they survive the daily hardships of the job.
Using the forest as a backdrop, Gill explores human resilience and the transformative power of adversity. She takes her readers on a journey through the challenges faced by her characters.
She portrays the emotional landscapes of the protagonist as she metaphorically ‘eats dirt’ — confronting hardships head-on, embracing discomfort, and finding unexpected strength within herself.
“Eating Dirt” is a beautifully crafted novel that resonated with me long after the final page.
Tree planting is an act of environmental restoration. I found the close relationship with the logging industry an unexpected detail.
It was ironic to discover that tree planters are essentially paid by logging companies. In their efforts to meet reforestation quotas, they hire companies who, in turn, hire tree planters.
I don’t own many paper books. I tend to pass them on after I’ve read them, but this one is a keeper.
Some cool things I’m enjoying
The best gardening tools
Struggling with your marketing? Check this out.
The healthiest thing you can do for your body this week. Seriously.
Paid subscribers can access the entire archive of my stories from the beginning, along with my poetry and every article I’ve ever written here. If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you can access the archive for free with a 7-day trial.