The Phantom Planter

 Heading out today to weed around a load of fruit trees in the estate. Keeping them tidy so the council grass cutters dont come so close to the trees. We are also going to prune the biggest apple tree I have that was phantom planted by the side of the road in South Belfast approx 10 years ago. Will update with some pics later. Its amazing how far things have come in 10 years. I know back then I was in the depths of darkness and randomly planting my first ever tree was plugging me into something magical and healing. And it was healing for me as looking back now it was my intentions I believe. You see when our intentions are pure and selfless apparently this is where you really earn some spiritual merit.  Back then my only intentions was for people to enjoy free apples in their street. I know looking back now that it was not for my ego, as if to say, look at me I planted this tree. It was purely for people to have free food on me.  I just always pondered with the idea that ...

 The first tree has burst into flower at our new orchard. This was a pear tree brought along and planted by a friend of mine on the border of the new Lisnabreeny community orchard. All the 300 native Irish apple trees in the orchard that we just recently planted are about to burst into life any day now. Just from observing I can see that the altitude of this new orchard makes a difference to when they first burst into life, even though its only 140m above sea level it does make a difference. Many of the same variety apple trees down at our other orchard more lower down have already burst into life. I think Phenology is the word for that. Amazing to watch and learn from.... Long after I'm gone people are going to be eating fruit from trees that I've phantom planted. Birds and other wildlife will be feeding on them also for many years after me. People will be sitting in the shade of oak trees I've phantom planted hundreds of years from now.  I never really thought about all t...

 Every summer drought we have got in the past I make sure all the newly planted trees get watered, often carrying these drums for up to a mile.  I've even walked mountains to water my trees in the past.  Never forget about your phantom planted trees guys. For the first couple of years it's important to look after them getting them off to the best start.  Help my mission guys in making urban orchards a reality!  👇👇👇 https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FAJZHB3TBXMSL Peace and love The Phantom Planter

 1000 native Irish apple trees all grafted up for propagation in our polytunnels. That was a long job but got it down much quicker than I thought with some helping hands. I really was expecting this to run into next month grafting these apple trees but we flew through them!  Way ahead of schedule... Now just to sit back and wait to see which grafts take and next year start to plant these out into more community orchards and phantom plant them around the streets and estates of Belfast and beyond, creating urban orchards for everyone to help themselves. These are all cuttings of native Irish apple tree varieties that me and my inner council have gathered from old orchards all over the Emerald Isle. The list of varieties what we have are in the pics. I particularly like the "Knights Templar" variety. You wouldn't think it but its native to Waterford. Thank you to everyone that came and helped out with this mission. We have just planted winter past a native Irish orchard of 3...

 Was away yesterday for a walk checking on lots of phantom planted fruit trees I planted over the years to see how they were doing. I've got that many now I keep forgetting to go and check on certain ones.  The whole walk to this other wild phantom planted orchard we have is littered with native trees that I've been phantom planting over the years. Thats what I used to do was phantom plant native trees on the routes I normally would have walked around so I can always check on them. It's some feeling when you see phantom planted birch trees bigger than you and hawthorns and willows thriving! This time of year though, its so stimulating and connecting watching all your little acts of environmental graffiti grow like champions and watch all sorts of wildlife enjoy what I have done. Its all karma yoga for me. When I first started to read about karma yoga in Buddhism, its a selfless practice that benefits others or nature without seeking anything in return. It's a form or pr...

 About 2 weeks time my new cabin is getting delivered.  Cant wait for this, it's been way too long living in the rotted cabin I'm in now.  Have been saving for this for years now and really couldn't have did it without your support either guys.  Will be great to get a kitchen, I've been doing all my cooking on tiny stove for the past 7 years in a kitchen you couldn't swing a cat in.  I've got a brilliant wood burning stove that I bought years to go in the cabin that has an oven and cooking hob on it.  I cut a massive chopping block from an ash tree that fell down in the recent storm we had.  Going to chop my own wood and collect my water from a well.  "Before enlightenment chop wood carry water, after enlightenment chop wood carry water".. A Zen proverb.  It's how I want to roll guys for the future.  I was meditating in the forest yesterday and after I was just thinking how much a better life we can have when we stop falling for all the ...