alt.hn

8/1/2026 at 9:02:26 PM

Retired man plants trees on forgotten land, now it's Sao Paulo's largest park

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/in-2003-a-retired-man-planted-trees-on-forgotten-land-alone-20-years-later-it-had-become-one-of-sao-paulos-largest-urban-forests/articleshow/132761848.cms

by rmason

8/1/2026 at 11:25:34 PM

Hélio da Silva, o plantador de árvores

Looks like his real name (da Silva is the most common surname in Brazil) and nominative determinism: "Sun of the Forest". Silvicultura.

I'm trying to get some trees to grow - it's a lot of work: Hélio has spent huge amounts of time and money on it (average wage might be USD1000/month and article says he was spending 7000 a year and if that was in the past then amount is a lot more in today's dollars).

by robocat

8/1/2026 at 9:35:54 PM

Typifies the old "you don't plant trees for you but you plant them for those who come after you."

by thataccount