09 Jan Can’t See The Wood For The Trees
This morning at Tree Free NZ HQ, we were pondering (as we do on a Monday, trying to gather our senses back from the weekend) what we wanted to write about in our blog. There are just too many ideas and subjects that we are passionate about.
We went from deforestation, to free energy (alongside the many issues mentioned in Leonardo Dicaprio’s documentary film Before the Flood) to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and we even thought about doing a piece on those dreaded plastic micro-beads found in a few suspect shower gels. After much deliberation, and a few coffees, the meeting ended – with no blog theme still.
It was then, that I looked out the window of our offices, onto Wanaka lake. There are a few boats dotted around, I see a few gulls and some snow on the mountains and a few wee trees.
It was then that I realised we couldn’t see the most fitting blog subject as we ‘couldn’t see the wood for the trees’ (pun is definitely intended here!) It’s ironic really. We (Tree Free NZ) are a locally based business, in Wanaka. We are surrounded by this beautiful area of lush, green, mountainous, real Southern Alps beauty… and in our folly we forget it’s there. It’s waiting for us to explore it, to notice it, to value it…to save it. We are looking for ideas to write blogs from global issues all over the planet rather than focusing on whats right in front of our eyes.
Is this why nature is destroyed on a regular basis? Is it because us humans can’t see it for looking. Or maybe the fact it gets in the way of what we perceive as ‘progression’. When we are in a willing and open mood for nature we leave our homes, the city, the streets to go and enjoy it, as a separate activity…rather than being at one with it.
We look to technology, architecture, service, space and people to define our towns/cities. When really we could be looking at natural wildlife and our ability (as the ‘intelligent’ animal) to be able to adapt to and live alongside nature – rather than changing it or destroying it to meet the needs of humans.
I came to this conclusion, it may resonate with some, although it was a profound moment for me;
When we take away from nature, we take away from ourselves. When we disconnect ourselves from nature, we destroy it. Therefore, when we give back to nature, we prolong our own longevity as a human race.
Anyway, pondering over. Blog done. I digress. Time to go for a hike. The perfect time to clear our heads and mentally draw an outline of our resources, philosophy and direction. The perfect time to explore those trees and still be able to spot the wood!
We want to make sure that everyone is joining our revolution in Tree Free, compostable, biodegradable, sugarcane based, environmentally friendly, sustainable, single-use ecocup. As this is a good place to start.
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