Plant 30,000 native trees Costa Rican owned farms

Growing new rainforest trees with communities goes far beyond paying  the collaborating workers to plant and care for them on their own farms.  We have learned that real widespread community commitment and dedication is the only way to grow new forests that are protected long term.  If people connect with the trees we plant, they will value and protect them more. One way to establish connections with the community at large, especially children, is to host regular educational participatory events like Tree Day! 

People of all ages and nationalities come to our tree nurseries and put their hands in the dirt caring for each and every baby tree. Collecting the seeds from mature trees of more than 100 species is a way to help people value the existing rainforest.  Marveling at their beauty while preparing the seeds for germination is part of the fun. Everyone fills bags with fertile soil produced by our women's group and transplants the seedlings one by one. Watering and weeding in the nursery are constant needs.  Every tree needs a lot of care in the nursery over a 2 year period before being transported to a local participating farm for paid planting and long term active maintenance. The stronger and healthier the trees are in the nursery, the better our survival rates and carbon sequestration long term. 

Getting the extended community together for outdoor, hands-on educational experiences is always fun and rewarding. Seeing a child's eyes light up when they find a worm or eat a flower, or shovel in the dirt inspires us to keep creating these opportunities for people to connect with Nature and their own childlife wonder. Awe is a powerful motivator and the more we can connect people to Nature, the more people understand how resilient Nature can be. We can all be part of the solution to give Nature more tools to fight climate change while building resilient communities. Including the young ones in the process just sends more aware people into the world who love rainforest trees, understand what they do for us and   are ready to participate in real and meaningful ways. 

This time of year means lots of rain in Costa Rica. And rainy season means the cattle grasses around all the trees we plant are growing thick. So, our workers have to return to every tree and cut away the grasses so that sunlight and air can circulate around the tree. especially during the first 4 years after we plant it. This makes the trees grow vigorously straight. Sometimes it even looks like the tree literally grew inches in a single day. It is truly an amazing experience to tend the trees over the following years and assist thier outstanding growth with good follow up care.

The workers who tend every single tree  are local Costa Ricans who  own  the farm itself or live in the surrounding community. As of this year, 2016,  we have more than 28 different family farms participating with over 12,000 diverse native trees planted, in two different communities, with 10,500 of these trees still under ongoing active management.  This year alone, workers have already chopped the trees  twice and will do return to chop grasses and vines one more time in early January to prepare all the trees for the long hot summer months from February to May. Regular paid employment for the local community builds long term resilience. The farmers develop a relationship with the trees and with each other and are accountable for every single tree for a total of 25 years.

So much community education happens in the context of this paid maintenance work. Fair pay stimulates conservation and practices of sustainable forestry techniques learned throughout the process. It also means the  highest carbon sequestration possible and the maximum environmental and socially just impacts measurable.  

Thank you for your ongoing support. Our community is expanding with your help and creating  positive effects in regulating global climate with grassroots real equaitable action for people and Nature. Pura Vida!