1000 Moringas - one vote = one tree for someone in a school or community group. Ordered my seeds today. Add some light to the world.

I'm confident people are willing to support my personal challenge, #1000Moringas , so I ordered 1000 seeds today.

1 vote = 1 tree. If we surpass 1000 votes, I'll keep planting and growing.

All trees go to local community-oriented organizations & groups - local food banks, senior centers, schools, and Habitat for Humanity, plus a good-karma giveaway on Craigslist, too.

If you are a small fish in a big pond, and your vote is worth 1 cent, I welcome you with open arms.

If you are a big fish or a large sea mammal, you're welcome, too. Will have to open my arms a little wider to give you a hug. There's plenty of love to go around.

I haven't given up writing about the deep state, so for those readers, don't give up on me. You voted, I heard, and I have an obligation to you and to our effort to pull the dark underbelly out into the light of day.

And onto the light: short story, Moringa trees are nutrient dense, easy to grow, edible perennial trees. They love tropical climates but can grow anywhere in moderate growing conditions. Their leaves are great in soups and stir-fry dishes.

I will take photos, need to get a new camera first. I dusted off my old fuji digital camera today. It was purchased used and after 15 years of loyal service, it has given up the ghost. In the meantime, can probably rig something up with an external webcam and a USB extension cable and my laptop - my laptop isn't wireless. I should be able to capture some high-quality stills with that set-up.

In the interim, I'm contacting people with Moringa-related websites for permissions to use their photos, and will credit all sources. Eventually this will be a photojournalism series, a story documenting the growth of the trees, and the progress of the challenge.

More about growing Moringa trees:

In Southern Arizona, where I live, they grow best with some shade in the summer, though I have a few that I've hardened enough to grow without shade this year.

In the winter, if grown outdoors, it's best to cut them back and cover them when freezing temperatures are forecast. You can also container grow them and bring indoors for the winter, if you have the room.

Moringas can be planted year round, indoors or out, depending on temperature. Spring planting gives them a jump-start. I have enough room here to grow them through to mid spring next year, or longer if needed, so start times aren't an issue. I don't want them to grow to the point where they need to be potted in anything larger than a half-gallon container. Moringas do well in smaller containers. Keep cutting them back and their girth has a chance to widen, resulting in a less leggy tree.

That's all for now, everyone. 3 trees down, 997 to go!