Home

The Treevolutionary

The Treevolutionary is a blog sharing stories about all things green. It's run by Greenpop but we welcome contributions by others so that more people can share their knowledge, research, experiences and good work in this space. To submit a post, please email it with pics to kate@greenpop.org for review.

www.greenpop.org
Watch all our videos here
Join us on Facebook
Follow Greenpop on twitter - @greenpopSA

Recent Tweets @greenpopsa

Posts tagged "green"

Trees for Zambia Update

A little update from the Greenpop team after our recent visit to Livingstone, Zambia to finalize things for the ‘Trees for Zambia’ project. Remember that if you’d like to join, please get your bookings in soon as spaces are limited:

Visit: http://www.greenpop.org/projects/trees-for-zambia/

Or email zambia@greenpop.org for the full volunteer document and booking details

To gift a tree through our crowdfunding campaign, please do so here - campaign ends in a few days so please spread this around: http://www.indiegogo.com/reforestation-africa

Trees for Zambia update:

Misha explains: “It’s so exciting to see the project coming together. My team met with a host of local authorities who endorsed the project, including the Prime Minister of Mukuni Village. We had to set up a lot of meetings but it was all really important and we’re happy to be working together with so many partners. I’m particularly excited to be planting trees right at the Victoria Falls - the planting site is right above the falls!”

ZambiaUpdate

Our meeting with the Prime Minister of Mukuni village went well.

Lauren adds,”The volunteer camp site at Marimba River Lodge is looking great - we’re planning an awesome outdoor stage area for speakers and entertainment in the evenings. It’s going to be magical. We also met with the Lion Conservation project, ALERT and Lion Encounter, who are giving all our volunteers an educational talk and free lion experience in the National Park.”

ZambiaUpdate2

The Maramba River and one of the lions in the ALERT rehabilitation program.

Marleen, who has been liaising with volunteers on the Trees for Zambia project comments: “The volunteers that join the project in July are going to experience something amazing. Not only will they be contributing to a very important environmental project, they’ll also be attending valuable lectures and workshops… and the entertainment lined up is looking great with performances by Jeremy Loops (http://www.facebook.com/jeremyloops) and more.

ZambiaUpdate4

This is Mukamusaba Basic School - one of the planting sites for Trees for Zambia.

Things are coming together incredibly so make sure to get involved in away way you can! Spread the word, buy some trees, or come volunteer in Zambia this July! Join the Treevolution!

Picture the Change

Blog Entry by Megan Petrous, Greenpop Marketing Coordinator

Attention all photographers and Greenpop supporters!

Ramsay Media in collaboration with BoE Private Clients is launching a photographic competition in hopes to raise awareness for a number of issues that affect all South Africans. The campaign, Picture the Change, essentially asks the public or media to submit a photo they believe depicts the change they hope to see in the world. The person with the best photo will receive R300 000 worth of media space that will go towards raising awareness for the cause of their choice. Furthermore, the winner will receive a SANParks-sponsored four-night stay in any one of its 21 parks.

We are asking any photographers who support Greenpop to please submit a photo or series of photos on our behalf. Some ideas could be any photos that were taken on our plant days, reforestation fests, or other events, as well as any photos that are relevant to the greening of South Africa.

For more information, check out the Picture the Change website by clicking HERE.

Have a green festive season

Blog post by Julia Taylor

Rather than cutting down a tree for your Christmas tree, buy a leafy indigenous tree and once the festivities are over plant it in your garden!

Examples of lovely leafy indigenous trees for South Africa:

-   Henkel’s Yellowwood

-   Gardenia thunbergia

-   Wild Olive

When buying gifts:

-     Buy less, rather make a gift which could hold extra value because of personal care

-     Buy locally produced gifts. Imported gifts often cost more and contribute more to carbon emissions due to transportation.

-     Give gifts made of recycled materials

-     OR give a gift that keeps on giving by purchasing a tree from Greenpop which will bring joy to many people and last a lot longer than most Christmas gifts. To give a festive season tree follow this link:

http://www.greenpop.org/give-trees/give-africa-trees/

When decorating

-     Try to use recycled materials to decorate your tree and house for Christmas. It’s a great way to get creative. Try using seed pods and twigs to create Christmas characters.

-     If you have a tradition of using lights, try to stick to LED lighting as it saves a huge amount of electricity.

When you wrap presents, use recycled paper or wrapping paper which is easily recycled (not metallic or shiny paper). An alternative is newspaper decorated with colourful images from old magazines. In addition, when unwrapping presents take care and you can reuse the wrapping paper for next year. Keep ribbons and bows too!

-     Rather than buying Christmas cards from a shop, make your own or send an e-card. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2007/dec/14/recycle.christmas

Christmas dinner need not be wasteful

-     Plan before you buy the groceries and ensure that you do not over-buy. Also try to buy local and organically grown produce. Or if you are willing, try a vegetarian Christmas, here are some delicious festive recipes: http://www.vegsoc.org/page.aspx?pid=1323

-     Don’t throw away leftover food! Sandwiches the week after Christmas are sometimes more looked forward to than Christmas itself.

Have a green festive season