Steemit engagement challenge – Earth Day/ I take care of the planet and you?
On Friday, 22 April 2022, my country South Africa, took part in celebrating with the rest of the world what Mother Earth offers us day after day and what we so often take for granted.
This year the celebrations was so much different. Between the periods 11 to 13 April South Africa experience the worst flooding disaster in the history of your country. It was no surprise to South African’s when the country was declared a national state of disaster on 18 April.
- 448 people died with some still missing
- 40,000 people were left homeless
- 12,000 homes were completely destroyed
- Infrastructures like roads, bridges, health care facilities and schools were badly damaged. More than 180 schools could not re-open
A shock for the nation was when our President, Mr. Ramaphosa announced that the heavy rainfall was as a direct result of global warming. This was a rude awakening for so many of us therefor it gives me great delight to be able today to share my contribution to caring for our planet.
My contribution is not about recycling, using water sparsely or switching of the geyser to save electricity but it is about a shrub or a small tree (4m), the SPEKBOOM.
This bright green shrub with its brown-red stems is an indigenous plant and until recently was only known among the people of the Eastern Cape Province of my country. It was mainly used for its medicinal values.
The true value of this shrub is enormous. It helps with the fight against climate change and also air pollution. What it does is that it removes the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere around us. It then uses the carbon dioxide to produce oxygen.
What is even more amazing is that the Spekboom stores energy during the day (solar energy) so that it can perform photosynthesis at night. This process is when sunlight and carbon dioxide is used to make oxygen and other nutrition’s.
A dense group of Spekbooms (113,122 acres) are 10 x more effective per hectare planted than any of the tropical rainforests Mother Earth has.
More interesting facts:
🌳 It is easy to grow
🌳 It has a lifespan up to 200 years
🌳 It is high in nutrition and save for humans to eat
The Spekbooms in our garden
What I do from my side to promote the fight against global warning
- I plant a Spekboom wherever I can
- I give Spekbooms as gifts
- I use the leaves of the Spekboom at home
- I educating others about the value of this amazing shrub
I urge you to pay a visit to your local nursery and to buy a Spekboom. If they don’t stock them encourage them to start. The scientific name for the Spekboom is “Portulacaria afra” but it is also known as Porkbush.
You can also read more about South Africa’s Spekboom project
https://satsa.com/spekboom-project/
Plant a Spekboom today and save a life tomorrow!
I invite @Morpheussa @mariez to take part.
#Club100
15% to @colombiaoriginal
Little Things do perform great wonders, I didn't know about this shrubs but now I know I will plant it in my house, thanks for sharing with us and my heart goes out to those who lost their Loved ones and shelter to the disaster.
Thank you for reading my post sis!
It will be amazing if you can find it in your country. They are truly awesome!
When you use the leaves in a salad it is yummy!
I heard about the heavy rainfall, I don't know it was this bad. I believe people will know the importance of planting tree.
Also, this is the first time hearing and seeing spekboom, and hearing it helps fight against climate change and also storing energy for the purpose of photosynthesis at night is so amazing. Thanks for this beautiful information.
Thank you for visiting my friend.
SA is slowly starting to return back to normal. It is truly amazing to see how the public has been donating, from water, food, clothing, baby poducts, you name it.
As for the Spekboom, I know of one boy 12 years old who planted 500 Spekbooms which he handed out.
Fingers cross that you will find one and plant many from that one 🤞🏻
Hello @patjewell
It is impressive the damage caused by the rains, but if we analyze well, and really the cause of such level of rain is global warming, definitely the only responsible is the same man.
Of course, we can not say that we are all guilty, we know that the main ones are governments and businessmen, and that unfortunately those who suffer the most the consequences are the less economically favored ones.
That plant you speak of, wow, is a great solution, according to what you raise, it can help so much, and I think it would be neither expensive nor very laborious to maintain.
This type of solutions that are viable are part of the things that should be known worldwide.
Thank you very much for participating in the contest. And welcome to Colombia-Original.
Club100
Retiro 0 steem / powerup 2,859.726 STEEM
Thank you for the warm welcome!
The beauty of the Spekboom is that it can grow easily just from breaking a stem and planting it.
As we were limited to 500 words I couldn’t get it in.
Umh.. looks like I might have to do a follow up post later on 😊
Hola @joya me encantó leerte, tienes una forma positiva de creer en que si se puede salvar el planeta, y es cierto ese árbol ayuda a muchos ya que tiene sus buenas funciones.
Saludos y bendiciones
Thank you for reading my post and you reply.
We can only do your best to save our planet.
Keep save!
You have explained in details about the shrub plant, and I most say this plant is really good for our planet. I have never seen it before but with all you have explained, the plant is really doing wanders. Thank you for sharing with us at least I have learned alot about the shrub plant. Your garden is beautiful.
Thank you for reading my post!
You should ask a nursery near you if they stock them.
They are truly amazing! You only need one pkant as you can grow other plants from the stems😊
As for my garden, thank you 🌼
Alright, I will do just that 🥰 you are always welcome.
Thank for the invite dear one,i hope i find courage to do it.
I guess this spekboom plant is one of a kind though i havent seen one in uganda yet but it might be that i had never paid attention to it.
So sorry anout the rains but may be prople are not taking good care of the environment well which is causing the heavy rains.
I love you paty!
It is truly an amazing plant. Best of all, from one plant you can grow many.
There are even shops in SA where you get a Spekboom for free when you buy from them.
I hold thumbs that you will find one in Uganda.
Love you also big time!
Ooouuuu nice a south African on Steemit, y'all are rare here. I've heard alot of good things about the country from my gamer buddies. I've always wanted to go there.
I also love your little way of helping the earth because even the smallest of things matter alot. I want a garden but as a kid the only thing I can do is utilize my parents garden. I love your entry and goodluck winning
Hello there!
Wonderful news that you want to come to South Africa😊 You will live it and not just for gaming that I can assure you. What game do you play most?
I’m sitting with an 12 year old who is convinced that all he wants to do is to be a professional gamer😊
The Spekboom is truly anazing and you can grow it in pots. They even make great bonsai trees.
Thank you for reading my post! 🌳
I play lots of games but the one where I get to iinteract with many other people is Marvel Contest of Champion. Surprisingly most gamer friends I meet are father's and the elderly and they are really good at the game, over here in Nigeria meanwhile they Say games are only for kids. Oh well
I need a little advice, what would you recommend I start growing when I get my own garden
My son plays Fortnite :-)
Umh... The best thing you can plant that grows super easy is tomatoes and green beans.
Have a look at the following article.
https://southcoastsun.co.za/124988/create-innovative-gardens-old-tyres/#:~:text=Planting%20companion%20crops%20in%20one,you%20have%20in%20the%20tyres.
@tipu curate 2
;)
--
This is a manual curation from the @tipU Curation Project.
Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 5/7) Get profit votes with @tipU :)
This is my first time of reading about Spekboom plant.
This has cought my attention. It is worth planting in every part of the earth because the rate of air pollution by carbon dioxide is high. Especially in this part of our earth where industries are everywhere, not knowing how to channel their wastes. Can you send that south African specie to me? Am waiting. Thanks for doing your part to take care of the earth. In fact, out earth deserve our care, that was what The Creator expected from our first parents. Success to your entry
Thank you for your continued support of me posts my sus!
I would love to send you a plant or two. From the stems of one plant you can plant many.
You must just find out about the import regulations.
https://www.capetownetc.com/news/south-african-boy-plants-5-000-spekbooms/
You will this article 😊
I'm so sorry concerning the death of people in South Africa, I never knew that those things are real, I thought they were featured in movies for fun.
This reminds me of how I lost a close friend from smoke (carbon monoxide).
I couldn't believe that the girl is dead, even till now.
This shows the Importance of keeping our environment clean.
Keep steeming hot
Kindly drop a review on my contest