Improve Farming

Earlier in my childhood, I used to sneak out into my grandmother's farm unnoticed just to try getting some coconut fruits for myself. The motivation was not really being able to consume the coconuts. After all, there are plenty of it harvested every now and then, always ready for a mouthful of fun. It is really about getting a little bit "McGyver", attempting some innovation and somewhat becoming techie.

The challenge was the first instance of amazement I felt while gazing those experienced farmers went up several coconut trees really, really fast with only their bare hands and feet. I guess that was how they earn money for themselves - harvesting coconuts for my grandmother.

As eager as I was, I immediately tried it. It was really tiring and I can't hold my feet on the trunk any longer than I imagine. Those foot holds made from chopped-off portion of the trunk isn't really holding every foot at each step I have made. Besides, most coconut trees grow very tall, I can't even get any higher with the situation I was in.

Fortunately, there were two shorter trees. I can start from a single bamboo ladder and move up from there. With that I will only need 2 to 3 more steps to reach the top. I tried it but I was not satisfied. The situation came into my head. I can't really bring a long ladder while sneaking into the farm. Its too bulky to carry with.

Next, I tried to use long bamboo sticks and attach a sharp, curved bolo at the tip. I was able to get some without climbing but because its really long its not also ideal to carry it with me.

I really need something I can just carry with me easily, being very portable and light where I can just include it with my pack. That gave me an idea to use a hammer and several 6-inch nail. Setup my boots and nail one on the trunk slightly bend, did it a step and hammer my way up the tree. It was successful. Going done was simply stepping down from the nail while pulling it out after I get through it. The bad part was the markings I left on the trunk. I could have hurt the tree the more I keep on nailing and pulling again and again.

With that I was reminded of how arborist and those electricians climbing on a wooden pole use shoes with long spikes that goes into the wood. It is really destructive to be used on trees.

Just recently, I stumbled on the idea of using aircraft cable and ropes for a tree friendly climbing gear. I called these my Poor Man's Tree Climbing Gear using stuff that are available locally, doesn't cost me much and reliable. Most of which I got ideas from rock climbing guides out there, modified it and converted it into these gears. There are also rope techniques I used.

There were factors I considered while making this things. I have already mentioned being light and portable but I will list them again below:

Light
Portable
Does not hurt the tree
Supports two times a human body weight. Just in case if one needs to carry several items on ascent.
Locally available materials
Reliably strong
Something that I will be able to deploy right away and then bring back with me after I'm done climbing. I don't really want to leave my gadgets just like that. Theives may take my gadgets or some other people could use it without me knowing and lastly, it might be destructive for my gadgets to be left behind undergoing weathering which will surely weaken my gear.

Now, let me get to these gears.