Fabian's Learning Experience at Hometree
Last year we were honoured to have Fabian Bona as our volunteer for the whole season of autumn, one of the busiest times in the year for us. Fabian joined us as part of his internship for study program of International Forest Ecosystem Management at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Germany. He worked on a field and nursery, joined us for The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project launch event at Dublin, helped with admin things in the office and took part in every single open volunteer day; it was wonderful to have him, and share his knowledge with us.
To get a better insight about what to expect from your time at Hometree, we asked Fabian to write about his experience.
“Looking up into the 70 meters redwood tree crowns above at the Pacific Northwest changed my perspective. Since then my field of interest is within the conservation and dynamics of a natural environment and our place within it. I choose to get another degree in International Forest Ecosystem Management at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE). I love digging, having humus under my fingernails, improving soil, writing short nature poems and connecting with people.
What started with a Google Search evolved into a supporting and inspiring learning experience in West Clare. I had the opportunity to join Hometree Charity during my internship for my study program of International Forest Ecosystem Management in Germany. I was looking to work with people involving landowners, community, and culture in the field of nature conservation. Volunteering and working in this kind of environment encouraged me to get a second degree with an emphasis on nature conservation and education.
The stereotypical postcard picture when I was thinking of Ireland were sheep grazing on lush, green pastures next to a golf club. But I learned that Ireland has a strong cultural connection with woodlands and wanted to follow that path. Hometree’s blog is an inspiring read and introduction to their work. Education, workshops, fundraising, policy, tree planting, summer schools, continuous cover forestry? They are doing it all. Their active solution finding approach together with landowners, mainly farmers and community caught my interest. I often imagine what we can achieve strengthened by community. It is so powerful. Would you plant 100,000 trees on your own or rather with a bunch of helping hands and shovels?
It took a nine-and-a-half-minute-meeting with Ray, Matt and Mitch, and I was ready to get my wellies, jump into my car and head to Ennistimon. But I had to wait until November. After four days through Germany, France, and Ireland the first person I met was Finnian who works at the tree nursery. Cupper, introduction, and we headed straight down to the field. We wrestled with the approximately 0,5 acre big cover (maybe slightly exaggerated) to uncover a patch for more planting beds for seedlings. It felt good after only having to deal with the steering wheel for so long. I had arrived at a hands-on place and this should be the main work field for my next two months.
Have you heard of Hometree’s inspiring Wild Atlantic Rainforest Restoration Project? It pursues to reestablish native temperate woodlands along Ireland’s West Coast and as you can imagine involves a lot of tree-planting. Mitch (Nursery Manager), Finnian (Nursery Assistant) and I (Intern) would meet in the morning for a hot brew to discuss tasks for the day and week to ensure that the charity is shovel-ready once the planting season starts. Work at the tree nursery would involve a lot of manual work in the elements. Shoveling, wheelbarrow-filling, tree-cutting, seed propagation, planting, tea drinking, bird watching, quad driving, shoveling, soil preparation, shoveling, bed preparation, stock counting, and event preparation for volunteer days. Hometree hosts a Nursery and Maintenance Day every 1 st and 3 rd Saturday where neighbors and volunteers from all over Ireland join, lend helping hands, have fun, tea, coffee and snacks. So many great people come together. I know it’s on your list and it’s absolutely worth to check it out!
I was also able to dive into the office where the craic is good and the fire blazing. I designed a survey helping to further evolve Hometree’s annual Summer School and during the busy Christmas season helped Cia (Fundraising Coordinator and Manager’s Assistant) with fundraising and we made sure to send out every single tree planting certificate, calendar, T-Shirt, hat and book hand signed and in time to so many generous people who donated.
Looking back at my time with Finnian, Mitch, Cia, Matt, Ray, Baiba and Sarah at Hometree I appreciate the things I was able to learn, to give and take with me. During my time at the West Coast, I realised once again that communication and connection is vital. Hometree is a place with big hearted and hardworking people. And the fun is still there. To put it in Ray’s words “I have a feeling I will see you again.” Thank you for giving me that opportunity.”
- Fabian Bona
