Cullen Pope finds out more about The Internet of Things among the trees in that #mostliveablestartupcity Melbourne, Australia
When I first heard about the idea of emailing trees, I must admit, I did think it was a bit odd.
The whole idea of wanting to send another email for any reason whatsoever was undoubtedly a bit strange anyway. I spend a significant amount of my time thinking about how I won’t send another email and search through a range of tools that will prevent me from doing so. My number one tool at the moment is using the telephone, an ancient piece of technology traditionally used to convey ideas by voice.
However, at the time of writing this I'm sure its primary function is now to send and receive emails.
I also spend some of my time thinking about how I won’t look at another email, can't read another email, will not draft another email, or even think about another email.
So the idea of emailing a tree or emailing anyone or anything voluntarily for any reason does seem quite strange.Then again, perhaps I could send a tree a small collection of my emails, ones that I've never sent, ones that I've dreamt of writing, the kind of emails you only think about in your wildest dreams. Or perhaps I could just send one email, one email to rule them all, that summed it all up. Somehow I could email the tree the last email.
However, on reflection, I realise that the ultimate email wasn't about me or what I thought about anything, it was all about the trees.
Suddenly, I'm thinking very, very deeply.
What did I want to say in appreciation to any particular tree or trees within our magnificent city, and I'm speechless.
But then I thought, I do know some of those trees so I could email them, I have met them before.
Trees lining Bourke st in full leaf mid-summer Melbourne, Australia
When I used to smoke, I'm sure I inhaled my cigars underneath them at some point. I certainly know of at least one tree I have cried under. Then there is a whole collection of trees I like to walk under in the autumn.
There is another group of trees I like to wiz under on my bike, but what are my favorite trees I began to wonder.
My favourite trees I like the most are the ones I run to when running away from my computer.
Sometimes I run to the gym, but it's painfully obvious that that doesn't happen too frequently more often than not I run into the trees.
I walk through them, or I sit under them with my scrapbook, and my coloured felts. Scribbling my latest ideas on automation, the potential of podcasting, processes and the many possible pathways taken by artists and entrepreneurs.
Trees are a defining part of Melbourne.
We live in the world’s most liveable city, and our parks, gardens, green spaces and tree-lined streets contribute enormously to this status. Melbourne’s urban forest is facing two significant future challenges: climate extremes and urban growth.
Map of the tree data an important part of the urban Forest Visual powered by cartodb.com
One of the things I loved recently, was when I ran into the trees after a massive storm here in Melbourne.
I noticed the banks of the river, and I could see how much rain we had recently; the rising water had flooded the river, and suddenly risen over the banks reaching the trees further up.
How refreshing that must have been for those trees to get all that dust washed from the leaves. Dead limbs blown away in the ferocity of the wind and the roots washed by the warm water of the summer storm.
Then there are the trees that I like just to watch and see the wind gently blowing through the branches and leaves for some reason.
I have always enjoyed that, and I have always found it to be relaxing. I'm not even sure why.
Perhaps it's because I'm not looking at the computer screen, or I am outside not connected to a device; I'm not plugged-in. I'm not sending, not receiving, not producing, consuming, posting or creating.
I'm not even having timeout,
I’m just hanging out,