RETREET BLOG

RETREET redefines disaster relief by engaging communities to replant lost trees.


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.88

We start off this week with a simple entry: a seriously awesome downhill run on a beautiful mountain by Brandon Semenuk. Smile.

DOWNHILL RUN (video)

DOWNHILL RUN (video)

Trees have a major impact on urban landscapes. Many people know they provide shade, food, oxygen, and animal habitats, but there are other, lesser known, benefits. Can you guess what they are? HINT: we've posted a couple of related articles in recent weeks.

BENEFITS OF THE URBAN FOREST (article)

BENEFITS OF THE URBAN FOREST (article)

Last month, a redesigned intersection opened in Salt Lake City, UT, to the joy of local cyclists. Touted as the best intersection for bikes in the world, this novel idea sprouted from the mind of a professional video game designer. Hopefully, it will be the first of many!

THE BEST INTERSECTION FOR BIKES (photo essay/video)

THE BEST INTERSECTION FOR BIKES (photo essay/video)

Feeling a bit lethargic now that fall is in full swing and temperatures have dropped? There's good news! A campaign from National Wildlife Federation is promoting the concept of leaving the leaves, as in, no raking. It's good for the soil, trees, and wildlife. That leaves more time to ride your bike.

DON'T RAKE YOUR LEAVES (article)

DON'T RAKE YOUR LEAVES (article)

 


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.76

Last week, a new scientific study out of University of Chicago built upon what a growing body of research has shown for years: living amid a thriving urban forest is good for your health. The sample included 30,000 residents of Toronto and 530,000 trees that have been catalogued by the city, and comparative analytics revealed some amazing findings. For the first time, quantifiable benefits of having mature trees in a neighborhood became available. One notable quote, for instance, was "having 10 more trees in a city block, on average, improves health perception in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000 and moving to a neighborhood with $10,000 higher median income or being 7 years younger." Interesting stuff! Read more about "Treelaxation" at the link below.

TREES ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH (article)

TREES ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH (article)

Some people are content to rest in the shade beneath the trees, but others need a view from the top down. Professional climber Chris Sharma returned to his home state of California after nearly 10 years of living in Catalunya, Spain, in order to climb giant sequoias for scientific research. After an extensive career that established Chris as one of the best climbers in the world, this chance to reconnect with trees, the very reason he got into climbing in the first place, was one he couldn't miss.

FREE CLIMBING REDWOODS (video)

FREE CLIMBING REDWOODS (video)

Also from the world of Red Bull, downhill mountain biker Aaron Gwin pops a tire just a few seconds after his start and, while he doesn't win the race, he puts a seriously epic run into the books. Amazing video!

ON FIRE WITH NO BACK TIRE (video)

ON FIRE WITH NO BACK TIRE (video)

 


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.9

A tree is just a tree, or is it?  To many, trees are the masterpieces of nature.  Maybe these photos will have you thinking the same.  Can you imagine riding a bicycle down a winding mountain road, in the rain, backwards?  Watch Eskil do it!  Polish off this week's Sunday Show & Tell with a human-powered flying bicycle.  Epic!

TREE ART.

TREE ART.

DOWNHILL BACKWARDS!

HUMAN-POWERED FLYING BICYCLE.

 


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.8

Learn how scientists are saving the oldest and largest living organism on earth, a colony of aspen trees called PANDO.  Then, take an insane downhill run through the nearly vertical streets of La Paz, Bolivia.  When you reach the bottom, park your ride in a bike tree!

And stay tuned!  This is going to be an exciting week.

PANDO, the oldest and largest known organism on earth.

PANDO, the oldest and largest known organism on earth.

Insane downhill run through La Paz, Bolivia.

Parking in a bike tree.