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3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 MARCH 2020 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications HAVING trouble filling your day and that of your children? Why not engage in a really cool family activity which is both educational for us all and also very rewarding: gardening is an activ- ity which has not been given enough attention by our educational system for decades, yet it could be key to survival in times of crisis. Growing your own vegetables and fruits is a very important trade to be had and apart from giving greater appreciation for one's food, especially for children, who would eat their veg- etables much more willingly if they grew them themselves, it also serves as a guarantor that in times of crisis we have the knowledge and knowhow on how to create our own food. Today we will look into the process of planting trees, an aspect which would make a huge impact on our islands as we so lack greenery. Trees make a huge impact on our daily life and our environment, as they provide us with the fresh air we breathe, filter air pollution and give shade, creating habitats for thousands of different species. They also contribute in build- ing up soil and providing nutrients, while keeping the soil together in times of floods too. Most importantly, trees help removing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The tree which we have chosen is an indigenous one and looks great in our countryside, so we have chosen to detail the process of planting carob trees. If you have some time today go out for a walk in the countryside and look for a carob tree, then recover its dried fruits and take them home. The process of sprouting the seeds is to remove the tiny hard seeds from the fruit and place them in a contain- er with hot water for 2-3 days. After that the seeds would grow in size and should start sprouting. At this stage you should put the sprouted seeds in a plant pot three quarters full of soil then cover the seeds with some more soil on the top. These should be placed somewhere where they can see some day light through the day and watered as need- ed. Once they grow they will need to be shifted to bigger pots in order to allow them to keep growing. After 3-4 months we would end up with a small carob tree about 20 cm in height. At that stage we would need to transfer the tree to a field or plant it in the country side. For the first 2 years we would need to watch over the trees and take care of them watering them from time to time as well, especially during the dry seasons. After two years these trees become autonomous. We have partnered with Green Mal- ta on Facebook to host a tree planting event for all those who choose to take part in this initiative in a few months, and from there keep the group togeth- er to teach more about agriculture techniques to everyone involved. So go on, do something good today for a better tomorrow. Pierre Azzopardi Via email Nihilist charm Modern atheists view themselves as brave pioneers fearing the truths of man's lowly origins and eventual redemption. They are guided solely by their belief in science. Practical achievements are the only miracles they are willing to countenance. The audacity of J. Guillaumier (Let- ters) to deny once again His existence shows his outstanding obstinacy. Why is there no other first century Jew who has millions of followers to-day? Why, of all first century figures, including the Roman emperors, is Jesus still wor- shipped today, while the others have crumbled into the dust of history? If he contests the validity and authenticity of the sources recording this greatest ever event of history, he might as well continue to squirm in the obscurity of non sequitur and the discrete charm of nihilism. John Azzopardi Zabbar Grow your own