Plant 30,000 native trees Costa Rican owned farms

The thrill of finding precious seeds from rare and endangered trees on our community seed collection expeditions is one of the best parts of producing so many different kinds of rainforest trees. We walk far and wide to obtain the most rare seeds. And sometimes they are right off the road, invisible to the common eye. We are also so grateful to have so many special tree friends who  are always on the lookout for diverse native seeds.

For example, the brown seeds pictured are caoba trees, Costa Rican mahogany, or Sweitenia macrophylla. About 2 months ago, my phone rang on a Sunday afternoon. My friend, Eric, called to tell me that the big seed pods hanging from the mature caoba tree we had been watching along the side of the road had exploded. Knowing that we did not have any other source for these seeds, I jumped in my truck and headed directly there.

I approached the house and noticed two oder people outside observing the seeds flying through the air. When I asked them if I coud collect the seeds for tree production in our community reforestation work in the nearby sorely deforested vally, they smiled broadly at each other and belly laughed. The tree fairy came, they exclaimed. They had just seconds before wished that someone would come and collect the seeds and produce the baby trees, care for them long enough for them to grow strong enough to plant in the Equatorial sun and rain. Just as they had done when they were younger.

Indeed, they shared the special story of planting the Mother Caoba who finally made seeds this year 2014 after 29 years dormant. We were there on the first day IT EVER GAVE SEEDS wHAT A CELEBRATION WE FELT!   They had planted the tree themselves in their younger years and at this moment they wEre both hobbling around, each having been  through some minor knee surgery at the moment. Nevertheless, they came out to the balcony to chat with me, marvel at Nature's will to survive, and thank Mother Tree for her valuable  seeds.