Green ‘S’ Force Planting Days—16-17 May 2015

We are very happy to once again have the Shah Satnam Ji Green ‘S’ Welfare Force assisting us with our restoration planting. This is the third year in a row that the group has planted trees at CUE Haven and we really enjoy working with them and appreciate all their hard work and selfless service.

The Shah Satnam Ji Green ‘S’ Welfare Force was formed in India by Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan in 2006. Originally intended to help humanity in distress by mobilising during natural disasters, the organisation has expanded its membership and scope. In addition to disaster relief work, members worldwide are also involved in environmental clean up projects, blood donor drives, anti-drug campaigns and tree planting to help the environment.

All of the members in New Zealand work or go to school during the week and devote their weekends to volunteer service.

This weekend we had 26 Green ‘S’ Force members out to help us plant. Some worked one or both days. The group included Ankit C., Ankit, J., Bharpoor, Deepak, Gaurav, Gursewak, Jagseer, Jasveer, Karmjit, Krishan, Monika, Navjot, Ninder, Nitash, Paramjot, Parminder, Pooja, Raj, Rohit. Samandeep, Sandeep, Shubman, Simar, Suhas, Sukhjeet and Vinod.

We knew many of the members from last year but there were also several new people and it was great catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Each day we got acquainted over morning tea and then gave a safety briefing and orientation.

After that, the first task was to load up the truck with plants.

The site for this weekend was very challenging.  It was steep and covered with thick dead grass and the site slopes up from our property to the neighbour’s boundary.  Our neighbour, Alan, very kindly allowed us to drive onto his property so we didn’t have to carry the trays of plants up the steep hill.

 It was a great help and even Alan’s cows took an interest in what we were doing.

Before they started work, the team had a short prayer.

And then went to work.  They first spent some time carrying the trees down and laying them out where they would be planted.

As the team worked, Tom and Bharpoor kept them supplied with trees to plant and they slowly moved across and down the steep slope.

The hard working team even took their breaks in the field.

And Vinod, who is working on launching a singing career, entertained the group with some of his songs.

You can hear a selection of his songs here on YouTube.

Once most of the planting was finished the team gathered up all the empty pots and trays for recycling.

The weather was perfect on both days and by the end of the day on Sunday the team had as usual exceeded our expectations and planted a huge number of trees.  As a result of the team’s efforts we are well on our way to reaching our planting goal for this year.

A very BIG thank you to everyone who came out this weekend.  We really enjoyed working with you and look forward to seeing you back at CUE Haven soon as we continue our planting season.  THANKS again!