| <div class="ck-content"><h3>I could use some help</h3><p>Before getting to the good stuff, I have two requests for your consideration:</p><ol><li><strong>Help me with some graphic design for t-shirts and signs: </strong>Claire has been totally wonderful about not only coming up new branding for Rewild Earth, but also help with designes based on her branding. She's happy to continue helping when she has time, but it'd be really nice if I could find someone else with basic proficiency at manipulating images. All the hard work's been done. Now it's a matter of combining different existing elements. So you definitely don't need to be a professional, just not as pathetic as me. :-)</li><li><strong>Help me with some money: </strong>I just took the next step towards full retirement. For the first time since 1987, I am no longer a salaried software professional. I work <i>very</i> part time. Which gives me more time to heal the planet, hurray! I can (and will) continue to self-finance this work, but it'd be really nice to share the burden. Upcoming expenses: I now have a plan for signage that involves no new plastic (more hurrays!), but will cost around $200 in total. I'd also like to add to my <a href="https://shop.naisma.org/collections/buckthorn-blaster">Buckthorn Blaster</a> collection, probably another $100 there. Visit my <a href="https://rewildearth.net/ords/r/rewildearth/_rewild-earth/donate-to-rewild-earth">Donate page</a> to read about the three different ways you can contribute. </li><li><strong>Borrow a GoPro (or similar): </strong>I have this crazy idea to record one of my solo escapades deep in the buckthorn at Mason Farm. It could be very interesting - or it could be a ridiculous waste of time. But if you have one of those gadgets and wouldn't mind loaning it to me, I'd love to give it a try!</li></ol><h3>Triangle Land Conservancy Volunteer Appreciation Day</h3><p>I expect that a whole lot of you have participated in or more of our <a href="https://triangleland.org/give/volunteer">TriWild events</a> at Brumley South. If so, I hope you will consider attending TLC's annual <a href="https://triangleland.org/event/volunteer-appreciation-cookout?utm_source=Volunteer+Hub&utm_campaign=0c1b17300b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_12_01_01_29_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_06d5db84eb-0c1b17300b-422586030">Volunteer Appreciation Cookout</a> on June 25th, from 5-8 PM. I've been to two. They are a lot of fun, there's abundant food and drink, and you get to meet other planet healers. </p><p>In the past, I haven't seen a whole lot of “my” volunteers at this event….so please put it on your calendar and come celebrate our accomplishments!</p><h3>Dear <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse">multiverse</a>,</h3><p>I know, I know. For years, I have scoffed at people who seem to seriously entertain the idea of the multiverse. </p><div class="raw-html-embed"><img src="https://drive.google.com/thumbnail?id=1atLd5VYuuST8fhhQDfK4d8ETErxgAQ1K&sz=w420-h220"></div><p>But now….now I am desperate. <i><strong>Please be real.</strong></i></p><p>Please let there be endless numbers of universes that are very similar to ours, but different: every possible variation of different that there is.</p><p>Because that would mean there would be endless, though perhaps not infinite, numbers of universes in which humans do <i>not</i> kill billions of thinking, feeling non-humans <i>every month</i>, just to keep those sedentary bipeds comfortable and thoroughly entertained.</p><p>That would mean there would be endless, though perhaps not infinite, numbers of universes in which humans do <i>not</i> drive thousands of entire species to extinction so that the rich can keep on getting richer.</p><p>Knowing that even if humans kill all butterflies here, those butterflies (or very similar ones) flutter “else”where, is a comforting thought.</p><p>Knowing that even if humans kill all elephants here, there are millions of other universes where elephants roam across Africa in great herds, makes it a little easier to convince myself that what I do (rescue trees) is somehow enough.</p><p>So, dear multiverse, please be real.</p><h3>Disconnect your children</h3><p>In my latest installment of “OMG, TV (video, smartphone, etc.) really <i>does</i> rot your brain”, I bring you this very alarming news via <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jun/04/internet-addiction-alters-brain-chemistry-in-young-people-study-finds">the Guardian</a>:</p><p style="margin-left:0px;"><strong>Internet addiction alters brain chemistry in young people, study finds</strong></p><blockquote><p style="margin-left:0px;">Young people with internet addiction experience changes in their brain chemistry which could lead to more addictive behaviours, research suggests.</p><p style="margin-left:0px;">The <a href="https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000022">study</a>, published in PLOS Mental Health, reviewed previous research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine how regions of the brain interact in people with internet addiction.</p><p style="margin-left:0px;">They found that the effects were evident throughout multiple neural networks in the brains of young people, and that there was increased activity in parts of the brain when participants were resting.</p><p style="margin-left:0px;">At the same time, there was an overall decrease in the functional connectivity in parts of the brain involved in active thinking, which is the executive control network of the brain responsible for memory and decision-making.</p></blockquote><p style="margin-left:0px;">Seriously, folks: if you have children, you should treat video/smartphone access just like you do alcohol and alter mind-altering substances. Their brains are not fully formed, and should not be subjected to these distortions. Books and nature - these are the sources of data you want to provide to your children.</p><p style="margin-left:0px;">And of course the same goes for us adults, just not quite as scarily. Speaking of adults and on a lighter note, you might enjoy this <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/06/children-screen-time-devices-phones-bad-influence-parents-addiction">opinion piece</a> in the Guardian. My favorite paragraph:</p><blockquote><p style="margin-left:0px;">My job is to stare at the medium sized glowing rectangle all day. Every so often, I take a little break to scroll on the small glowing rectangle. Then, after a hard day, I like to settle in and stare at the biggest glowing rectangle I can afford. This is called living life to its fullest.</p></blockquote><h3>Minimize consumption of microplastics</h3><p>This <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/how-to-avoid-eating-microplastics/?campaign_id=290&emc=edit_wcd_20240605&instance_id=125374&nl=the-recommendation&regi_id=91056536&segment_id=168757&user_id=f362f2de22883b415973b1fdd93405c9">list from Wirecutter</a> is worth a read and follow (as in: do what they suggest):</p><p>1. Cut back on bottled water or tumbler when out and about.<br>2. Get an NSF-certified water filter<br>3. Don’t use plastic to store food<br>4. Don’t reuse single-use plastics for food and drinks<br>5. Don’t microwave in plastic<br>6. Wash plastic by hand<br>7. Use wood or bamboo cutting boards<br>8. Clean your air</p><p>They also have details on avoiding microplastics in small humans, most important of all!</p><p><strong>Hypocrisy check:</strong> of these eight to-dos, I follow all but 2 and 8. Not too bad.</p></div><div class="ck-content"><h4>Receive all my reports on tree rescues!</h4><p>If you'd like to get some good news about restoring native habitats delivered straight to your brain upwards of a few times a week, sign in to <a href="https://rewildearth.net">Rewild Earth</a>, click on your name in top right, then My profile. Under Communication Preferences, switch “Send reports of all events” to ON.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><img src="https://drive.google.com/thumbnail?id=1BeynVqu8taOGrsvi56u0mmDKuNJko22h&sz=w600-h400" alt="REPLACE" width="358" height="138"></div><p>Resources you might find useful:</p><ul><li><a href="https://shop.naisma.org/collections/buckthorn-blaster">Buckthorn Blasters</a>: safe, easy herbicide delivery system from the North American Invasive Species Management Association. Don't start cutting without them!</li><li><a href="https://nc-ipc.weebly.com/nc-invasive-plants.html">NC Invasive Plants list</a>: recently updated by NC-IPC, the NC Invasives Plants Council.</li><li><a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG259">Overview of different herbicides</a>: glyposphate, triclopyr and others - which should you use?</li><li>Volunteer for <a href="https://triangleland.org">Triangle Land Conservancy</a>: the biggest land conservancy group in our area. </li><li>Volunteer for <a href="https://ellerbecreek.org">Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association</a> (Durham): a wonderful group working hard to maintain contiguous natural areas along Ellerbe Creek.</li></ul></div> |