Reports from Planet Drum Staff
Eco-Ecuador Project 2008
Clay Plager-Unger
Field Projects Manager
Planet Drum Foundation
Report: August 4-18, 2008
Note: Click on photos for larger picture
Summary:
Our volunteer numbers continue to dwindle, but we carry on
watering. More seeds are collected, prepared and planted in beds in hopes
that a bunch more trees will germinate and be ready for planting in 2009.
I leave Bahia for a visit back to the US of A and close the doors of the
house for a week and a half.
Andrew has departed to spend the last week of his
Ecuador trip relaxing, instead of carrying water with the Planet Drum
crew, so it's just me, Stephen and Jaime left. Nonetheless we keep the
watering routine going. Monday we hit the Astillero and La Cruz sites. I
collect a few Tierramonte seeds in El Astillero. Tuesday the Ruinas and
Tamarindos sites are watered. In the afternoon Jaime collects some
Guarango seeds up in Bellavista.
A view of the Rio Chone estuary where they have begun
construction of the 2km, $90 million bridge from Bahia to San
Vicente. It will take 3 years to build. |
On Wednesday we ride out to the
greenhouse on the bus. |
The house compost is dropped off and we water the top
section of the greenhouse revegetation site that gets the most scorched by
the sun. Then we proceed on foot to the Don Pepe site and water all of the
trees there.
Thursday morning we reorganize gallon jugs used for
watering. Some of the jugs have cracks or holes, others are missing lids.
Damaged jugs are swapped out. Then Ricardito shows up and we drive out to
the Nuevo Globo site, filling up water at the greenhouse on the way. The
Nuevo Globo site is watered.
Friday we start off by breaking open Guarango seed
pods to get the seeds out. We hitch another ride with Ricardito out to
Fanca. Along the way we snap some pictures in the Jorge Lomas and Mangle
2000 neighborhoods for Andrew's project on natural disasters in coastal
regions. Once in Fanca we water the Granja revegetation site.
Diana and Jaime walk from Reales Tamarindos to La Cruz carrying
supplies for watering. |
Monday is Stephen's last day, and we
happen to get a surprise visit from Diana, an old Planet Drum
contact, who has been living in Manglaralto (near Montañita). She
has come to say hello to Planet and check out Bahia. We give her a
warm welcome and take her out watering. We attempt to water the
Astillero site, but can't get a hold of any water. Instead the
Tamarindos site followed by La Cruz is watered. Water is in short
supply all over Bahia and the surrounding areas. That's how it
goes this time of the year. |
A coral snake that we came across in El Bosque en Medio de las
Ruinas. Apparently they are quite rare in this area, normally
restricted to more untouched regions. |
By Tuesday, Jaime and I are the only
ones left. Undeterred, we continue watering. We return to El
Astillero, this time water is arranged ahead of time. From there
we water the site in El Bosque en Medio de las Ruinas. |
Jaime waters a Cedro tree planted in 2007. Even though it is
from last year, its leaves are turning yellow so we decided to
water it anyways. |
On Wednesday morning seeds are
prepared for planting by soaking them in water. |
Seeds that will soak for 48 hours before being planted. |
They will soak until Friday.
Then we get a ride to Fanca with Ricardito to water at
Ricardito's farm (Bosque Encantado). But the water truck is broken
and Ricardito doesn't have any water at his farm. So we have to
fill up the water jugs at Jaime's house in Fanca and then drive
them into the farm. |
On Thursday the site at the greenhouse is watered and
then Jaime and I prepare seed beds for planting.
Jaime transplants Chirimoyas. |
On Friday we spend the day at the
greenhouse. A fresh batch of soil is mixed. The usual ratio of 1/3
sand, 1/3 compost, 1/3 humus, with a dash of saw dust is
used. |
A transplanted Chirimoya tree. |
Chirimoyas that have germinated and
are ready for transplanting are moved into 3-liter bottles. |
Transplanting an Algarrobo tree. |
The last of the baby Algarrobo's are transplanted,
bringing the total number of Algarrobo's that will be ready for
planting next year to over 750. |
A seed bed planted with Guachepeli. The seeds are sprinkled
into the bed and then a layer approx. ½ to 1- inch thick of soil
is deposited on top. |
Then we plant seed beds of Guarango,
Guachepeli, Cascol and Dormilon. ly. |
Jaime waters the seedbeds after they've been planted. |
The seeds have been soaking for 48
hours and hopefully will germinate quick |
Monday the Don Pepe site is watered. From there we
walk to the greenhouse and water the plants inside and at the extension.
On Tuesday, Aug. 19, I depart for a short visit to
Philadelphia. While I am gone, Jaime will keep the greenhouse in order and
water what he can at the revegetation sites. Additionally he will continue
collecting seeds. When I return we will focus our energies on selecting
and preparing new sites for 2009. We need volunteers for September,
October and beyond! So if
interested, email me at planetdrumecuador@yahoo.com
or visit our new volunteer webpage: http://www.planetdrum.org/volunteerbahia.htm
Pásalo bien,
Clay
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