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Personal Interest: Conservation Effort behind the scenes
🕑 Added 2021-10-21 06:34:38 +0000 UTCHey everyone,
I figured I'd just share this here. This may not interest all of you -- but that's OK. You are welcome to skip and check out the next post. This is not related to computers or technology.
This may be helpful for you to understand my goals and objectives in life in general, as it gives some perspective on why I'm pushing so hard at GN. It's not technical or computer content, but it gives you some backstory. I've always thought understanding my favorite reviewers' motivations or interests outside of their job helped me understand the color of their coverage they publish. Maybe that applies here.
The short version: I am nearly finished buying a small piece of land with the intent of preserving it as a tree canopy. It's part of a neighborhood nearby and I've always seen families using the space for their kids and dogs and families to play or relax or walk. It came up slated for development into a parking lot, and I couldn't let that happen and hated the thought that the neighborhood's users would one day awaken to their unofficial park suddenly being pavement for... overflow parking. It was the first time I felt like I could do something, after having witnessed similar scenarios unfold for decades here. It's close to an acre that I will be protecting for my team at GN to use and for those families nearby. They won't ever know how close they were to losing it unless they read this post (we found out because of our building upfit), but that's OK. I'm happy to help with this.
This is just a small start and is what I can afford today. I hope to have more of an impact as I can save more; I basically took everything I've personally made in the last 14 years and have been putting it towards a conservation effort. I don't buy nice cars or big houses or really anything material aside from what I buy for GN (and maybe a bike every few years). The point of saying all this is that it's because I am personally more interested in two things: I have given some money to my mom over the years, to assist her after the loss of my dad, and I have been aiming to spend the rest of my money on conservation efforts, prevention of habitat loss of endangered or critical ecosystems, and restoration of habitat that we've learned shouldn't have been removed to begin with. This isn't GN money. It's what I take home, as I'm an employee of GN.
What does involve GN staff, though, is the planting effort. My team wants to be a part of it, which is encouraging and will be a fun way for us to spend some time hanging out away from computers. We will be planting about an acre of trees shortly on something that was once old growth forest, but had been logged for wood in about the 70s or 80s. This land was near us and it was beneficial both to our business (for damping noise and keeping people as far away from us as we can, frankly) and beneficial to my personal goals (of conservation), so I am nearing completion of a purchase contract. Long-term, my goal is to buy and preserve more land in this area. Technically, GN is not the purchaser -- a different company I own is -- but obviously I am at the head of both efforts. I find some of Tim Sweeney's purchases to align with my own interests, although he's someone who can afford that scale and I'm not (if you don't know, he's the CEO of Epic Games, so a literal billionaire).
As you all likely know, we recently bought a building that needed a huge amount of work, upfit, and care. I like the idea of buying older stuff and fixing it, especially if it can be done in a way that reduces waste (and reduces wasted money). My team has been investing a lot of that and we also hired various contractors, trades, and professionals where necessary for heavier-duty lifting. This has been an expensive, but educational and fulfilling project, and the team is excited for what's next. Stone and I are both excited about the prospect that we took what was functionally a dilapidated building set to be demo'd and replaced and fixed it to be better than when it was new.
Both the Patricks and I share similar views on the conservation efforts I have outside of GN; although I am the one driving it and executing the plans (and spending the money), they are both supportive and support the same missions. We all feel like we're fighting for the same causes: On one side, the day job, we're pushing for higher quality enthusiast products, better treatment of consumers, and sometimes finding dangerous or highly flawed products to try and get them off the market. On the other side, the personal interests, we've been involved in some local tree planting efforts and evaluating local options for conservation.
A dream of mine is to buy some land nearby at some point and establish a small public park in my dad's name. It will take quite some time to afford a project like that, but it's a long-term goal.
Some of you may be aware that I do a lot of mountain biking. Ever since I started, back in about... probably 2010 or so, I have unfortunately witnessed one trail after another get bulldozed, often for development that seemed frivolous or redundant. It has been heartbreaking to see this area get bulldozed and flattened, particularly as developers turn to concrete runoff and ugly pits for cheap solutions to contain stormwater, rather than using the more effective GSI solutions (green stormwater infrastructure, like planting water-loving plants that drink the water rather than passing the buck down a concrete gutter to the next property). Just like with computer hardware, I hate to see the cheapest and easiest solution win, because it often means it's lazy and will cause long-term problems.
I am looking forward to sharing more in the future. This is a very small step, but I hope to expand the effort with time. Thank you for your interest, if you read this far.
Photograph by Orion Carroll Photography who attended a recent tree planting effort.
Comments
I understand I am late to the party, but it is what it is. I planted 5 lilies, 2 spruce trees, and an assortment of wildflowers last night for spring here in Colorado. I am originally from Chicago and moved here from nowhere Wisconsin where I used to log Adams County power lines. I have killed more trees than I can count to ensure safe stable electricity for our community even during bad weather. I am proud of that, although I am not proud of killing the trees that grew too close to the power line. I am glad to see this channel takes the environment as seriously as I do. For that I want to thank you. This is yet another reason why I back this channel. #keepitgreen
Excellent update! There are many areas throughout the south that are being handed over to developers for expensive luxury apartments that regular folks can’t afford or put in other mixed use development. Keeping some areas as shade from sun and drainage for rain can help reduce heat and lessen the dangers of flooding. You are doing your community and the world a favor through your actions.
Chris Huang
Thank you for sharing this behind the scene. Keep on doing amazing stuff. Thank you <3
This is great background and really heartening to hear. We have enjoyed your videos for a long time now, but we are happier and happier to support you and GN as we learn more and more. Keep doing what you do, keep sharing what you can, and let us know if there is anything we can help with in any of your endeavors!
Thank you for sharing and keep going. It's quite inspiring. I sincerely hope you succeed in your privat plans as much as you have been with GN over the last time.
For some strange reason I'm looking forward to the behind the scenes video that I'm hoping is in the pipeline showing the interior of the new office.
Leviathanprym
awesome
I just joined your patreon and seeing this as the first post I'm reading here is so cool. It makes me glad to support gamers nexus when I can, and through that contribute to you being able to do things like this.
Oakheart
Hi Steve. I just got done watching Clarkson's Farm and I have to say even as an inner city dweller who has almost never left their metropolitan area it was one of the most interesting things I've seen in a while. I don't expect you to buy a multicombine and start planting rye, but there's some video great content here. Even if it's just you sitting a desk talking to a camera for an hour about all the decisions you have to take regarding this piece of land I'd be interested.
Dean Herbert
I don't really have a chance to follow your content on youtube due to time restrictions, but this kind of post continues to give me reason to continue support the GN cause indefinitely. Thanks for being awesome.
Richard Williams
Love birds! Living in London you have to be a bit lucky, but there's such a variety if you keep your eyes open!
Richard Williams
Steve, I'm really at a loss for words, but I'm very touched. I always thought you were a cool guy, but reading this actually shocked me a little (as in I didn't realise you felt this strongly). I can't think of what else to say, but you've done an amazing thing! Thank you from across the world for saving a green space for people to enjoy. As always, and this is to all of the team!, please look after yourselves and make sure you're sleeping enough! Love and respect from the UK! Ps: should any of you find yourselves in the UK (if the human malware ever goes away lol), I'd be honoured to show you around the fantastic green spaces with have in London (as polluted as London is we're very lucky to have some great parks and green spaces)
Stephen Thompson
Thank you for sharing this, it does make a difference knowing these things. I back you because of your integrity and motivations. You and the team deserve all the support in the world.
Meghan Krajchi
I am incredibly interested in following this project. This is such an amazing investment for both you and your community. Preserving green spaces is critical for reducing the impact of climate change, protecting biodiversity, improving communities, and preventing the spread of invasive species. I am a botanist with a decade of experience doing restoration ecology work along power line rights-of-way and recreational trails. Although I'm a couple thousand kilometres north of you, I would be happy to help in any way possible, such as helping with planting prescriptions and grant applications.
pfreya
✊✊✊❤️
Really appreciate you sharing the heart and soul of GN.
ZarconDeeGrissom
reading this on the old FX8350 that does web browsing just fine, is heartwarming after watching a vid about sheep herding wrecking the ecology of Rapa Nui off the coast of South America.
outworld
This has been a very inspirational read for me. I'm glad to see that the dedication you guys show to your GN venture is reflected in these personal causes. In the end, your professional and personal goals are both tied in the sense that they ultimately exist to benefit other people and the world in which we all live, and not just for the sake of profit. Since starting my own business a couple of years ago (I list this Patreon as "continuing education" in my P&L statements!) I've been starting to think more and more about what all my efforts are for and what I should be doing with the resources and capital I have been accruing that can benefit more than just myself. I hope to hear more about your personal adventures as you go on
Ryan MN
Good for you, Steve. I consume all your videos which I can't say about any other youtubers; and the reason is because you are so genuine. You care about the work you're doing and you're doing it for the right reasons. Congratulations on this initial part of your new project. You're a good guy and it shows through on every piece of content you put out.
In Germany where I grew up there is a saying "A man has to do 3 things in life, build a home, plant a tree and raise a family" You got the tree part covered as we can see here, great cause.
This is fantastic! Thank you and your team for your conservation efforts.
Although it's a uphill battle what your doing is paving a way for people to be aware of this in another type of venue. We all enjoy nature and what it gives to us but conservation is a mindset we usually don't ever put into action. As a arborist I am overjoyed for what you and your compatriots are doing. If you need any advice on tree selection or anything I can provide to help let me know. Thanks for letting us know what your up to outside the hardware tech industry.
John Davis
This is great, I live in Raleigh/Durham and would be happy to help if you need a volunteer.
NoCleverName
Awesome work!
Amazing work. I don't know the way to do it legally but it would be great if you could somehow let the neighborhood know they can use the land as a park/play area in a way that would still protect you and the property from vandalism/if someone gets hurt. Would be unfortunate if someone local didn't use it just because they were worried about getting in trouble.
Very interesting post, looking forward to see that working out.
This is absolutely awesome to hear! You opened my eyes to the amount of waste in consumer packaging and to see you consistently trying to make the world a better, safer, nicer place makes me proud to be a Patron.
This is truly amazing, I really love your spirit. I wish I had the opportunity to do something similar. Instead, I upped my support tier level.
John Smith
Thumbs up Steve and GN team. Keep on being awesome :)
Alxa
This is awesome, so inspiring. Help saving the world from being 100% concrete jungle.
Leon White
Thanks for this, I usually interact only passively but I really love and respect the integrity required to take a serious step for your local environment. Please continue posting updates like this and pushing manufacturers to improve sustainability, use less plastic packaging and support the right to repair in your reviews, it makes a huge difference!
As one that lives in an area where flooding now occurs regularly in part of this neighborhood during heavy sustained rains due to an area that used to be a run-off watershed being built into a massive shopping center, this was a rather uplifting read to start the day with. Good on you Steve, thank you for all the good work you do.
Great post and it's good to see how you view the world. If I could I'd send you some money to help you buy more land for conservation.
Karma Kuro
It's really inspiring and encouraging to see you ebing so vocal about it. I really appreciate your efforts and am happy that you shared this. Thanks a lot for your efforts Steve and for inspiring others to do the same. 🙂
bitpushr
Enjoyed the read, Steve. Always happy to support what you do and what you stand for :)
Really cool Steve, I hope you can achieve all this also in the long term
Conza
Really cool effort that I've never really heard anyone of doing, kudos to you and especially the team for volunteering to help with it.
Thorgen_Ironside
Steve it is things like this that make me happy to be a supporter of GamersNexus. I am small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, but each bit helps I suppose. :)
Ben Wolk
Steve, you and your team are truly a shining example of integrity as journalist/reviewers and as people. As someone trying to make a difference in the building industry by designing more responsible and actually energy efficient buildings, I understand how important conservation is and how it can seem frustrating to look around us at the lack of it in our world. Keep staying true to yourself and your roots and we all appreciate the effort you are putting in.
As someone who's deeply involved in conservation myself (through work for the IUCN, among other things), reading this makes me so happy. I knew you guys were doing work to reduce your impact on the environment but knowing more about your goals there is awesome. Thank you so much for this post!
Thank you for this post! I'm so glad to be able to support you and GN. I would be more than happy to contribute more through Patreon, or any other source, to help with your environmental goals. You often hint at them in videos but I would love to see them more front and center.
I'd love to plant a tree in your park, but I'm far away, how much is a tree? Your reach on this issue might be much farther than you think. You've got a literal grass root community behind you. Tech to me has always been about doing more with less, saving time and energy, so that we may enjoy the things life brings us. This is an awesome life goal.
That's so awesome my brain has errors out and I can not form the words to express how really great this was to hear! Good luck on your effort, and please keep the posts coming on these "side projects"! Completely agree that it is nice to see behind the curtain on what makes a person tick... just shows another level of greatness that is over there at GN!
Beech Horn
"I basically took everything I've personally made in the last 14 years and have been putting it towards a conservation effort." As a benchmarker you really do keep pushing the limits for others to follow in all walks.
Qbort
Tech is cool but it's the integrity that has me subscribed. 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻
I didn't think I could have more respect for what you and your team are doing. You guys are absolute gems and an inspiration. Thank you
Lawrence Erb
This is awesome!
GamersNexus
I miss BC! Haven't been to Whistler since before COVID. I can't wait to go back. Used to go every year (after PAX) and greatly looking forward to returning.
Alex V
Love it! Thanks for sharing. I hope you keep us up to date on the conservation projects going forward.
You're an inspiration to all of us Steve, hope to shred the gnar with you one day. Welcome up to BC anytime! #skinnies4days
Dig it. (Pun not intended) Would offer a spare pair of hands but wrong side of the world. Keep it up! Same things happening here and its awful. (Western Sydney Airport if you want to look it up)
Bird Houses and wildlife camera traps makes it a good place to attract wild birds. Good for birding too. Keep up the good work!
