Reports from Planet Drum Staff

2004

In January 2003 Planet Drum hired Brian Teinert as the Field Projects Manager for the Eco-Bahia Project. He will continue working in this capacity at least until June of this year.  

Renée Portanova arrived in Bahia in late January and after working as a volunteer, became the new Field Projects Manager after Brian left in May. 

Index to Brian's, Renée's and other Volunteers' 2004 Reports 

(Click here to see Brian's 2003 Reports)

Report #1

Brian Teinert, Field Project Manager Planet Drum Foundation
January 5, 2004

Reneé Portanova will undoubtedly be a great member of our team.  We have been in contact and I am looking forward to her arrival in Bahia on January 19th.  

I am excited about Natalie Pollard coming as well.  At the moment, we have 3 volunteers lined up for February (Natalie, Renee, and Debbie.)  We also have 3 in March, when a guy named Bevan will take over for Natalie.  That has us in good shape for volunteers through April.

The office apartment and greenhouse were in great shape upon my return from holiday vacation. The Algarrobos I planted before leaving are growing strong and Felex has transplanted many.  He kept everything alive.  He may have turned the compost and watered it. I have to take a closer look. There were no thieves.

The 3 girls from Minnesota are here.  They seem to be happy, working on transplanting and Algarrobo seed production.  We will be planting on hillsides very soon and they will get a taste of that.  The girl who has been here before sees the progress that has been made since her last visit, and is ready to contribute to the tasks at hand.  The other two girls are dealing with normal newcomer stuff like stomach aches and heat issues, but are both positive and helpful.

The rain has been sporadic.  It rained the 21st-24th of December, and then stopped.  It rained last night, the 4th of Jan., for the first time since the 24th, so the ground is pretty dry still.  The 11 days of no rain was not good.  My first hillside planting is scheduled for Jan. 7 in Jorge Lomas.  If the ground is bone dry we will clear trails, and give it a couple of more days to rain.  I know that if the ground does not get wet in the next few days, we will go ahead with the planting and water them.  We are going to dive into the planting this week, so next Monday’s report will fill you in on all the successes and obstacles.

Planning for the Fifth Anniversary of the Ecological City Declaration celebration has continued in my absence.  We will have another meeting at the B&B this Thursday, and I will let you know what is said.  

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>>

Report #2

Brian Teinert, Field Project Manager Planet Drum Foundation
January 19, 2004

Up until last week, I had been the unofficial organizer of the celebration for the Fifth Anniversary of the Declaration for the Eco-City.  Last Thursday I was made the official organizer.  I have been inviting more and more people every week. The calendar for the eco-city celebration is set.   We now have people from the Municipio coming, along with the steady attendance of the other groups who came when you were here, apart from PMRC.  Their office is temporarily closed.  The agency is broke, they have let almost everyone go.  The problems are on a national level.  We are not expecting anything from them at the moment.  I will give you more info on this when I have it. This past weekend, journalists from the national TV show  Ecuavisa came to Canton Sucre to do some filming of places of interest.  Since I have been working with the Office of Turismo, they asked me to lead them on a tour of Maria Auxiliadora.  I did the tour and an interview, which will be shown nationally in a week and a half.  Hopefully, we will not get edited out.  Another television crew comes this week, and I will be on again!

I am helping Christina Ruperti (who is head of the Ministerio de Turismo and Medioambiante) with organizing monthly eco-meetings in the Municipio.  I have been to several meetings lately in the municipio where I have been pushing organization from within the municipio.  Apparently, they are listening.  On a recent radio interview, I said over the air that the biggest challenge the eco-city faces right now is in central organization.  I think that many of the current issues in the Eco-city could be easily solved if all of the right heads are together on a regular basis.  I told Christina that I thought the  municipio needs to invite all the groups working for the city into a monthly meeting that included all parts of the municipio (education, tourism, culture, sanitation, planning etc.) and other players in ecology.   There is agreement from the mayor that this needs to be done.  So, when the celebration has come and gone, the people who have been organizing it, along with all stakeholders in the Eco-city, will begin meeting at least once a month.  I have been asked to coordinate it, but declined, saying that it would only work if planned and organized by the office of the environment in the municipio.  I have told Christian Ruperti that I would come into her office and help her any way I could, but that the invitations needed to always come from them.  Other news....we are pushing for the city to recognize February as Eco-city month, instead of only calling attention to the day of the inauguration.  This is mainly Vladir’s idea, but I like it.

We will go to the dairy farm on Wednesday and Saturday of this week.  Lack of rain is starting to be an issue.  We had some good showers the week before last, but it has not rained since my last report.  I am going to have to start spending some time on watering, if the rain does not return tonight.  That means the volunteers will be occupied watering Jorge Lomas, the plants we put in at the Bosque last week, and at the University.  In between, I have to get the project at the Dairy Farm started.  It is a busy time with planting, greenhouse maintenance, planning the celebration, and the Universidad course that starts Thursday of this week. 

We did a planting at Jorge Lomas last week.  Stakes were the main focus. We will come back later and add more. We also did a workday at Maria Auxiliadora.  We cleaned, improved and planted the lower entrance. Several of the local guys and women helped out.  It was the usual crew and some new faces showed up.  They all walked the park and are happy to see it looking so green and well kept.

Greenhouse production is going very well.  It is very full of green. I wish I could send you picture.  The Algarrobos are coming in, along with a ton of others that were planted before you came!   The compost is doing fine.  I believe one side can be emptied in about a month and put into the trench.  We should have no trouble creating an ample supply for next year.  If we have a shortage, the municipio should help us out, according to Ivan Iguirre.

One of the volunteers has been helping Nathan at the Club Ecologia.  They are painting banners for the eco-city celebration. 

I have a meeting in March with the local head of the Peace Corps. This was set up by Alix, the current volunteer in Bahia.  She is applying to get a Peace Corp volunteer sent to Bahia to work directly with PDF. 

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>>

Report #3

Natalie Pollard, Volunteer 
Planet Drum Foundation
February 10, 2004

Hola Planet Drum, 

Thursday morning, 2/5/04, Renee and I headed to the greenhouse — transplanting, watering, and preparing beds for planting.  Back to the apartment for pescado de Koke (yum!)  In the afternoon, we headed to Jorge Lomas with Brian and Cheo to do some cribbing along the hillside, so that we are able to plant without causing further damage (Renee’s suggestion) It was my first time using a machete — took a few tries, but quickly learned how to swing it in style.  An older woman came by to ask us why were making a trail for the thieves to escape through her backyard....ha! Back to the apartment for a relaxing evening of cooking and reading. 

Friday morning we had a meeting to discuss the plans for the Eco-city festival.  We had sopa de pescado y chifles de platanos for lunch — definitely my favorite local dish so far. Rita appeared at our door, and now we are five!  She and I sat on the sidewalk listening to classical Latin music on the radio, watching passers by, and husking seeds for the greenhouse. A very pleasant and therapeutic afternoon.  That evening I was introduced to Gordon Blue’s and caipiriñas, though I headed out the door before all of the scandal was underway.

Eleven of us piled into Jorge’s Jeep and drove up the coast to Juan’s future dream home on the beach near Jama for his 46th birthday.  Lounging on the beach by day, sitting by a fire at night (in the rain) and to bed very early due to all of the sun and whiskey.  In the morning, Renee and I headed to Canoa for more beach combing and some surfing.  I asked for lessons from one of the local surfer boys, and soon enough I was surrounded by many eager teachers, most of whom I could barely understand.  Que rico!

Yesterday I took new volunteer Rita, who has proven to have a green thumb, to the greenhouse in the morning.  She is a great addition to the group and will hopefully stay with Planet Drum for her three months in Ecuador.  It is Monday, so we headed to the larger market to pick-up household supplies.  I passed up the opportunity to buy a beach towel with a Latin woman in a thong riding a motorcycle — still holding deep regrets.  Renee and Brian buzzed around town meeting with all sorts of people regarding this month’s many Fifth Anniversary Celebration of the Eco-city Declaration activities. 

Went for a run and swim last night - ran into the surfing crew again and will take more surfing lessons on Wednesday afternoon here in Bahia.

  That takes us up to today, 2/10/04. The whole gang just returned from the greenhouse, where we picked up 4 large buckets full of plants to be planted in the bosque Park later this afternoon.  I have a few hours to spare, and plan to help Marcello paint a mural along the Malecon.

  It has been raining nearly every night for three nights, so we will plant at the Bosque tomorrow.  I began taking photos today — I wanted to be a familiar face on the street before taking out my camera.  Took a few portraits as well as pictures of the greenhouse and compost.  The view of the university site from the rooftop didn’t work as there is a huge tree blocking most of the hillside.  I will seek out a different vantage point in the coming weeks.

I am enjoying the pace of life here.  Waking with the sun and strolling to the market for the day’s produce and ending the day with a swim in the sea at sunset.  Bliss!  Being directly immersed in Bahia through the revegetation project, I have met so many warm people in the community and feel very at home here.

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>>

Report #4,Triumphant Eco-City Celebration in Bahia De Caraquez

Brian Teinert, Field Project Manager Planet Drum Foundation

The Celebration of the Fifth Anniversary of the Eco-city Declaration in mid-February was a very successful event. Many different groups helped to plan and organize activities to take place over a week-long period. There were several other environmental groups besides Planet Drum Foundation including Reserva Cerro Seco, Centro de Educacion Ambiental Eco-Bahia, Guacamayo Tours, and Fundación Stuarium. High schools Fanny y Baird, Eloy Alfaro, and Nocturno participated, along with the Eco-Kids Club from Fanca and another from Universidad Técnica Manabi. Several barrios sent representatives to planning meetings and participated in the events. The City Department of Culture and Education and the Department of Tourism and the Environment also took part.

First there was the hanging of banners on the 20th of February. The Fanca Eco-kids Club designed and painted them to announce the celebration, and hung them across the road so that they could be seen when people entered town. One said "Viva La Eco-Ciudad" and the other stated that it was the fifth anniversary.

On the 21st, we had the Eco-City Parade. There was a huge turnout of participants and spectators. Taking part were high school marching bands, fire breathers, triciclo taxi cooperatives, acrobats, walking trees, Eco-kid club children with their animals, and a long multi-car caterpillar train normally used for rides in the summertime. Faithful to South American tradition, there were several reinas (queens) representing various pageants and barrios, and even a princess of PDF, who was the one and only Laurita (age 7). All of the staff had painted faces.

We started near the edge of town at the new bus station and marched along the Malecon (riverfront drive) to the downtown obelisk, where we made a left and headed for the Municipio (town hall). From there, we went down Bolivar Avenue all of the way through the city until we hit the beach. At that point the parade ended. All who spoke about it, including the mayor, were extremely pleased. As we made the turn in front of town hall, I was amazed to see the street completely full with applauding spectators, and more were filling the balconies of the buildings that line main street. It was clear that all of the participants spent time preparing and that the publicity efforts paid off. This event set the tone for what was to be a great eco-city week.

On the following night, we had the "Festival Verde de Arte y Musica." There were about 15 different performers and all of the shows were centered on love for the environment, harmony, and even world peace. There was a great crowd, and the event was spectacular. There were about 11 musical groups, 3 poets, and 1 theater group. Vladir Villigram was the master of ceremonies. The solid arc of a rainbow kicked off the event with a positive sign that things were sure to go well. People of all ages watched the show and listened to the message that these local artists were giving. A high point was when Mayito played a cover of Blue Unicorn by Silvio Rodriquez.

On the 24th of February, we had an open house showcasing environmental projects of the city. Various groups, including high schools, Reserva Cerro Seco, Eco-papel, and Planet Drum took part. It was in the open air underneath the Municipio. People wandered through the exhibits from 9 AM to 2 in the afternoon. They saw displays of local bioregional features, vermiculture, recycled paper products adorned with local flowers, and an excellent photographic display of local flora and fauna.

On Wednesday, the Municipio of Canton Sucre hosted a Commemorative Session of the 5th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Eco-City. The mayor, who also commented on the progress that has been made as well the need to go forward as an eco-city, read the original declaration. Honorable mentions were given to many people who have made a mark in the eco-city. I received an award as a member of Planet Drum and for my dedication to the city, and in turn thanked Jacob Santos for his continued support of PDF projects.

On the 26th Nicola Mears led an Eco-Tour. It was free and open to everyone in town. Leaving city center, it went to the Eco-Market, then to Bosque en Medio de las Ruinas, stopping to see the Galapagos tortoise Miguelito at the high school. From there participants climbed to Reserva Cerro Seco. Next they visited the Fanca Produce composting facility and the Planet Drum greenhouse and revegetation site at Universidad Catolica. About 35 people finished the entire trip.

On Friday the 27th there were two seminars on ecology. The first one took place in the museum. There were talks given by IMTAG, Planet Drum, Reserva Cerro Seco, Guacamayo, and Genesis. The other seminar was at the Municipio Theater, given by the head of the Department of the Environment from the City of Guayaquil, the largest municipality in Ecuador, who spoke on sustainable development and the impact of humans on the earth.

The final day of the Celebration, Saturday the 28th, we recognized International Mangrove Day with a symbolic planting organized by the Biology Department of the Universidad Técnica Manabi. There were about 60 people who planted mangrove seed pods on the site of the Universidad. They includedinternational volunteers, children from the Eco-Kids Club, university students, the Sloth Club, and locals from the surrounding barrio.

This whole celebration was planned and implemented by the Amigos of the Eco-Ciudad, under my direction, and the Municipio, under the direction of Lic. Isabella de Quijije, Jefe of the Department of Culture and Education. We did all of this with 0 dollars. That’s right, zero. Everyone was very pleased, and the Municipio plans to support the event in the years that come with finances and collaboration from more employees.

Amigos of the Eco-Ciudad was formed to carry out the fifth anniversary celebration but will continue meeting to identify and solve the ecological problems that face Bahia. This event became a genuine catalyst in the city. Interest in ecological projects increased greatly because the celebration brought them into the spotlight. Certainly, Planet Drum is seen as a central player in this movement, and received a lot of thanks from the general public, the mayor and the consejales (city council).

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>>

Report #5, Revegetation Journal

Renée Portanova, Volunteer 
Planet Drum Foundation
March 5, 2004  

Tree Species
(Latin names available by contacting mail@planetdrum.org)   

January 26, 2004

Although it is the rainy season in Bahia de Caraquez it hasn’t rained in nearly three weeks.  The trees we have planted are in dire need of water.  Today we watered two of our sites in which transplants have recently been placed, Jorge Lomas and Catolico Unversidad.  Due to the fact that Brian is ill, we hired Cheo, a local volunteer, to assist in the laborious task of watering.  We don’t have any fancy equipment for watering. The Unversidad site has a huge barrel in the lower section.  Three hoses are strung together to reach this crucial point.  From there, three-liter soda bottles and buckets are carried up and down the hillsides loaded with water to nourish the plants. At Jorge Lomas it is even more difficult.  There isn’t a water source available as there is at the Unversidad.  We rely on the kindness and generosity of the community that allows us to pillage water from their wells.  A local boy helped with the watering.  Barefoot and shirtless, he moved with ease through the hillside watering the upper region of the site.  His family gave us lemonade when we returned the buckets.

January 27, 2004

Greenhouse maintenance is the generic term used to include a number of tasks.  The greenhouse, which is located at the Unversidad, is where we propagate all the trees to be planted at our revegetation sites.   Maintenance of the greenhouse includes tending to the compost pit, transplanting immature trees, watering seedlings and transplants, and hacking away at weeds with a machete.  Today a variety of tasks were performed, with special emphasis placed on the compost pit.  At times the compost pit looks more like a rubbish pile with countless plastic bags and condiment packaging mingling with the organic waste from the school's cafeteria.   Numerous efforts have been made to discourage people from throwing inorganic matter into the pit, but our pleas continue to be ignored.  Once the trash is picked out, fresh food scraps are added and the compost is turned and watered.  Inside the greenhouse, cinder blocks are used as a seat while plucking weeds from the seedbeds and transplanting immature trees.  The weeds are added to the compost pile or used as mulch.  The transplants are neatly stacked in vacant spaces where they sit recovering from the trauma of being removed from the earth, anxiously awaiting the time until which they will be moved to their permanent home on a hillside.

January 29, 2004

Fifty pound sacks of soil filled with compost and sandy-loam dirt, are stacked in a heap on the far side of the greenhouse.  With one swift swing of a machete the bag splits allowing access to its contents.  The soil mixture is scooped into little black plastic bags in which saplings will soon reside.  Gently, each tree is removed from the seedbed and placed into its own individual plastic bag.  It takes a bit of patience and skill to recover the tree with the root intact.  Once this skill is mastered the task becomes meditative; the songs of birds and the smell of greenness become one.  After a few hours nearly a hundred trees can be transferred.  The remainder of the time is spent watering the thirsty newborns.  The beds are so dry from an inadequate rainy season.  Fortunately this day water is available at the Universidad and plants are able to drink.

February 2, 2004

Well, some rain has finally come and the greenhouse, inside and out, is overwhelmed with “weeds.”

Some are nearly as high as my shoulders (I’m 5’6’’). With a machete in one hand and an "L" shaped stick in the other, I begin the tedious task of clearing the paths surrounding the greenhouse and compost pit.  The stick in my left hand is used to push back the grass-like stalks, exposing the base of the plant.  It is necessary to trim low to the ground.  If done correctly the machete is swung parallel to the ground with most movement coming from the flicking of my wrist.  The sharp tool being swung inches from my calf consumes my thoughts, as I try to ignore the masses of mosquitoes that have come with the rains.  Following the removal of the undesirable plants, I create life.  Well, not really create but assist. Over 200 Algarrobo seeds are placed in the empty seedbed and covered with nutrient rich soil.  The seeds will break through the earth in a few weeks and be transplanted some weeks later. 

February 4, 2004

A few hours are spent at the greenhouse this morning.  The weeds that have previously been removed are still at a respectably low level so my attention is devoted to transplanting.  After every ten plants or so I get up and stretch. At times I take a short break to chase the dog from the neighboring farm out of the compost pit or to follow the path of a wandering butterfly.  In the end nearly 70 plants of mixed variety have been repotted.   Following a hearty lunch in the afternoon, we traveled to our site in Jorge Lomas.  During my first visit there it became apparent that this site was so unstable that the impact of us walking through the site to water or plant was causing further damage. To help stabilize the site, we placed cribbing bars in the most vulnerable section.  Fallen trees are hacked into three-foot pieces.  The log is then strategically laid out and held in place with wooden stakes made from tree branches.  The reasons for placing cribbing bars are twofold. First, the log, once settled, acts as a step preventing landslides as we maneuver through the site.  Second, the log creates a secure platform in which trees can be planted.  At this time, ten bars were placed in a concentrated area at the bottom of the site. 

February 9, 2004

Today we maintained the greenhouse and transplanted approximately 50 plants.  The rains have started in full force, pouring down throughout the night.  Although the rain is essential to our work (life) here, it has become the cause of a horrible night’s sleep for us volunteers lying beneath the tin roof of our apartment/office.   The sound of hard rain bouncing off the roof is so loud it numbs the usual tranquil atmosphere.  Regardless of the drowsiness I feel, I’m anxious to get as many saplings transplanted as possible.  If the rain remains constant we will be planting continuously throughout the month. 

February 10, 2004

Another night of rain last night gave us the go ahead to get some plants in the ground this morning.  Sixty in all were planted in the Bosque park site.  The plantings are all hardwoods, mostly guachepeli, guayacan and jigua.  The Bosque is one of our first sites here in Bahia.  It is wonderful to see the succession of trees that were planted nearly five years ago.  We use a previously printed self-guided walking tour map of the park to indicate where we have placed the new trees.  It is a good practice to keep details of all our plantings.  The name and number of each species is written in my notebook and assigned its own authentic symbol. The symbols are sketched on the map to show exactly where each plant was placed.

February 11, 2004

With several sites well established, Brian and I recognize the need to expand our work to other areas.  Today we surveyed two new sites, Jorge Lomas canal and the dairy farm.  Both sites are in desperate need of revegetation.   These two will be major projects and take several years to complete.

February 16, 2004

We worked hard in the greenhouse today.  The better maintained we keep the greenhouse the more productive it will be.  The weeds are furious, constantly trying to overcome the seedlings.  Hours of plucking and hacking have left our hands sore and blistered.  The tasks go by quickly today with three of us working.  One person waters, while another weeds and the third transplants.  Friendly conversation passes throughout the humidity-heavy air as we conduct our tasks. 

February 17, 2004

Back to Jorge Lomas today for more cribbing and planting.  The bars we place earlier in the month have settled nicely enabling us to climb the hillside with little impact.  At the end of this long, hot, physically intensive effort 30 plants of different tree species are planted.  Additional cribbing is added to the upper section.  

February 19, 2004

As saplings are transplanted into their individual sacks the seedbeds continuously need to be replenished.  On this date, nearly three hundred seeds mostly Algarrobo and Chirimoya are planted.  The seeds we plant come from several different sources.  Some we collect by either going into the forest and searching for them or by saving the seeds from the fruit we eat, such as the Chirimoya.  The majority of our seeds come from Cerro Blanca Reserva in Guayaquil.

February 20, 2004

Back at the greenhouse the routine is the same.  This is the season when all of our propagating and planting occurs. It is an important routine to visit the greenhouse every few days. 

March 3, 2004

Performed greenhouse maintenance and transplanted 60 seedlings. Are you starting to see the pattern?

March 4, 2004

We worked at Jorge Lomas again this afternoon. Supplementary cribbing was placed in a new area.  Once the cribbing was placed we proceeded to plant trees throughout the section. 

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>>

Report #6,
News & Journal

Renée Portanova, Volunteer 
Planet Drum Foundation
March 19, 2004  

News 

The house is full with Koke’s cousin from Argentina here and all of us.  The other volunteer, Ramona, who was supposed to come this week decided to volunteer elsewhere.  It was a bit of a disappointment. With Brian’s illness holding him back and the other two volunteers taking some time to travel this month we will be short a few hands.  Not to worry, I’m confident we’ll manage. We all have been working extra hard to take the day off on Friday.  With the Spring Equinox this weekend we decided to go some place special to celebrate.

In addition to the normal tasks (greenhouse maintenance, planting etc.), we have been working on a number of other smaller projects.  We selected and cleaned another wall in the apartment to do a mural. Jimmy, a local artist, came to today and started a wonderful picture.  It is an encircled painting of Bahia surrounded by the several other nature-based themes.  He is only half way through but it is already pleasing.  Brian and I spent the majority of Monday and Tuesday taking care of a number of tasks: switching the bank account to my name, going through old files, sorting and referencing seeds, printing invitations for the next Amigos de Eco-Ciudad (AMIEC) meeting, which will take place on the 25th.  We also had a long meeting to discuss our agenda for the next month.  Everything is going smoothly.

We planted along Jorge Lomas barrio canal this week and have done a lot of work at the greenhouse as well (see following journal entries for more details).

I meet with Jacob Santos to discuss renewable energy.  We brainstormed a few ideas and identified a few obstacles. The report George Tukel wrote gives two recommendations, one for a house and one for a city. We discussed the possibility of a house project more in depth.  The report supports a passive cooling system and solar hot water heating. Shrimp packing factories and hotels would probably be interested in the benefits of these systems however we have no connections to these people. We both agreed to start a support group of community members that might be interested in renewable energy. A city scale project would be more ideal for this area because much of the electricity is used for lighting and electrical appliances. We intend to put it on the agenda at the next AMIEC meeting.  From there we hope to form a committee that will work toward starting a larger support group.  I plan on targeting Eco-Amigos, the community group from Maria Auxiliadora.  As I might have mentioned before, they have plans to build a community center.  They already have land that was given to them.  What better place to do a renewable energy pilot project then a community center? There are two Peace Corps volunteers who are coming to Bahia in early May who will be working with Planet Drum as well as a number of other groups in town. They have the ability to apply for grants from the US government to do projects they are interested in.  This could be a potential source of funding if they are interested in this project.

The city is finally going to hire someone for the specific purpose of environmental affairs. This is a huge achievement for AMIEC...we have been pushing for someone to fill the position for a while.

PS. the computer monitor would not turn on this morning...I literally had to carry the pc to the Genesis to email this to you....I think we may need a new computer.

Revegetation Journal

March 8, 2004

A bit of a slow start this morning at the Universidad.   Thankfully we had an extra pair of hands to help out and make up for lost time.  Jaime, a local man who is interested in doing similar projects on his property, assisted us with the daunting task of tree liberation.  “Tree liberation” refers to the process of clearing trails and removing unwanted vegetation that is smothering the “arbolitos” (little trees) we previously planted.  Carefully constructed trails have now become indistinguishable due to the rapid growth of grasses and other herbaceous plants.  These undesirables compete for resources, which jeopardizes the survival of our trees.  It is therefore necessary for us to periodically remove such vegetation.  This also allows us to retrieve overgrown paths and monitor the well being of our transplants.  We use mulch to protect the moisture in the soil once the vegetation is removed.  Nearly four hours of swinging a machete and we barely made a dent. The location and condition of several dozen plants were still unknown when we finished in the early afternoon.  At that point the temperature had risen to over a hundred degrees and the sun has scorched the pale skin of one volunteer who neglected to apply sunblock.    

March 9,2004

This morning we approached our work with a little more wisdom.  We got to the Universidad just after 8 in the morning taking the appropriate precautions for working in the field all day: long sleeve shirts and pants, boots, sunscreen, bug repellent and plenty of water.  Although it was just three of us, Ritta, Bevan and myself, we were much more productive than the previous day.  The trails were completely cleared and the trees liberated by mid-afternoon.  The weather cooperated as well, for the temperature stayed at a respectable degree and the sun remained shy behind the clouds for most of the morning.  A cool breeze stirred every so often to chill the sweat that clings to every crevice of one’s body.  It was a pleasurable, satisfying workday and I appreciated the tranquility this remote site has to offer.

March 11, 2004

Yesterday we took the day off from the field to tie up some loose ends that had been lingering at our apartment...namely housecleaning.  You can only image the grime that accumulates in our shower: four women with long hair, dirt and plant matter from the field, sand from the beach, etc.  Needless to say, a battle to maintain a livable apartment is fought frequently in this apartment.  We also took the opportunity to construct shelves to store seeds. 

Anxious to get back to nature we spent the day at the greenhouse today.  Unfortunately, it has stopped raining again.  So in addition to the weeding and transplanting we spent a considerable amount of time watering the seedlings.  Before leaving we gathered 30 plants and a bucket full of compost to use for tomorrow’s planting.

March 12, 2004

Although the rain hasn’t returned, we planted at Jorge Lomas today.  Drought tolerant trees, such as Algarrobo, were selected and strategically placed in the upper region of the site.  Brian has been battling a severe case of giardia for some time now.  His parasites are so severe that he is anemic and his body is in a state of anorexia.  Unable to work in the field he has been resting at home and concentrating on administrative tasks.  To compensate for his absence, a local teen (Dario) was hired to assist with planting. 

While planting and cribbing at the site a local man came to thank us for our hard work and dedication.  Earlier, when we first arrived, we were spotted by an acquaintance of ours (Lena).  She climbed up the hill and told us the tale about what she lived through when the mudslides occurred just a few years prior.  Beneath the hill we had been working to stabilize there was once a main road leading into this barrio.  She pointed out several piles of rumble and identified whose house it used to be and where they live now...if they were still living.  When we finished our duties for the day we ate lunch that was graciously offered at Lena’s house.  Her kind words and those of the other man were unexpected rewards for our hard day’s work.

March 15, 2004

Ritta and Bevan journeyed to the greenhouse today and I remained in the city with Brian.  Brian and I have begun to prepare for his departure next month.  When he leaves I will take over as the Field Project manager.  Tasks at the greenhouse are repetitive and nothing worth elaborating on occurred this particular day.

March 16, 2004

Another day in town. Brian and I spent the afternoon sorting through a recent shipment of seeds.  Each species was identified and sketched for future reference.  Under each drawing, instructions for germination and planting were written.  I intend on making this reference book more comprehensive to serve as a manual for future volunteers and community members.  Next week I want to focus on proper storage of seeds.  We have quite a large amount at the time, enough to fill ten greenhouses with plants, and I want to make sure they will not spoil before we germinate them.

March 17, 2004

It has been extremely hot and dry this week.  With the arrival of Koke’s cousin, we were fortunately able to send two teams of volunteers into the field.  One group went to the greenhouse for general maintenance and watering while the other watered two recently planted sites, Jorge Lomas and the Bosque.   The team at the greenhouse also planted Fernan Sanchez tree seeds. 

March 18, 2004

Five of us put in thirty-three plants at a new site today.  Jorge Lomas Canal is located on the outskirts of the barrio.  It is a huge site and will take several rainy seasons to plant.  Besides the three of us (Ritta, Bevan and myself) we had two Bahian volunteers—the infamous Cheo, close friend and mentor, and Emilia our landlady.  The decision to start planting this site was tough.  Rain has been minimal to non-existent all week and there is a possibility it may not even return until next year.  However, we have the human power to do plantings at this time and therefore the decision was made to go forth with the work.  In the likely event that we will have to water this new site (in addition to our other sites) we planted all the trees in a relatively concentrated area.  Water is not readily available there and we will most likely have to lug it in from a residential area a mile away.  I have to say it was quite humorous to see our prissy landlady use a machete.  Though perhaps not as odd as I must have looked to the locals collecting the feces of a resident donkey to use as fertilizer.

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>>

Report #7, Report,  Response and Letter 

Brian Teinert, Field Project Manager Planet Drum Foundation
March 27, 2004

Report and Response

Hi Peter and Elise,

It looks like you guys have been doing some good work in San Fran.  I like the looks of the curriculum. Unfortunately, I will not be here when most of it is carried out.

We had an Amigos de Eco-ciudad  meeting—these are the main points covered.

Planet Drum work for the week included seed storage, shucking and cataloging.  We also planted at Jorge Lomas Canal and built a fence around the compost pit at the Universidad.

We are looking forward to Elise joining the team again and foresee a harmonious future. I love Bahia and am experiencing a lot of sadness and frustration leaving things right now, while they are going so good.  C’est la vie.  Perhaps I will be back soon.

Take care,

Brian

Letter

March 26, 2004

Dear Brian and Renée,

This is a combined message from Peter & Elise to share our thoughts after an intensive week of bioregional education research, discussion & melding of ideas. "Transparency" is the intended keynote for this, and we eagerly invite a four-part discussion now that the attempt has been made to lay some of the hopefully mutual foundations. Elise is prepared to undertake the year-long program starting by mid-June at the latest. She will be a Planet Drum staff person, sharing the apartment & initially receiving a budget for materials-only of $50/month. Salary discussions will take place after a review of the first three months segment (roughly September); until then she s working solely to accomplish the difficult work of this project (with a personal option to pitch in with other activities if time permits). The ed. program will take a minimum of 16 hrs/wk actual project/class time, with variable additional time for community visits & discussions, recruiting students, arranging work & learning spaces, and preparations. The estimated total time is 40 hrs/wk or more. She will also write reports for the website. PD Director (Peter) has ultimate oversight regarding the program & will take part in decisions about progress, feasibility, new directions, delays, etc. We aren't up to speed on how Renee (or possibly other people) want to relate to the ed. program. Obviously there is a lot of room for interplay to carry out educational activities & goals and it is necessary to know whatever expectations exist.  To maintain transparency, copies of all correspondence should be made to all parties involved.

Wouldn't it be great if the rainy season is just late after all & not short?

We have mailed out the latest PULSE (did your copy arrive yet?), membership renewals & a grovel-on-the-ground begging letter to help the lean spring financial season. Jean has competed all 30 daily segments of an internet funding pitch for Bahia revegetation that will be in operation as soon as we find a sponsoring company. Peter & Elise spent at least 8 hrs a day this whole week poring over past PDF Green City school activities, locating sources & materials, actually finding some English-language books that can be translated, and doing more creative thinking & writing in a shorter space than has happened here in some time. Hope you enjoy the results.

Saludos,

Peter & Elise

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>>

Report #8, News & Journal

Renée Portanova, Volunteer 
Planet Drum Foundation
April 17, 2004  

News   

April 17, 2004

Sorry for the delay, we had some electricity problems yesterday in Bahia.

Attached is a detailed report of our activies for this past week.  It hasn't rained in over a month so we have been watering and mulching all the sites this week.

Just to clarify, do you think we should continue to plant the dry-tolerant species and transfer the others into larger sacks?  Is it possible to get burlap sacks rather than plastic bags...they are biodegradable and more organic than plastic?

Revegetation Journal

April 12, 2004

The weekend prior to this week concluded the traveling and schooling of several of us in the household.  Now with the fluctuation of so many of us coming and going in the previous weeks and with the recent departure of Brian and Koke, there was much to be done.  The week began with a heavy loaded schedule of greenhouse maintenance and watering of our recently planted sites.  I have come to accept the fact that the rainy season is not late or in remission but simply over as we phase into the second of the two seasons here, summer.  Verano or summer in coastal Ecuador is the eight months of dry, cooler weather that follows the rainy season.  Although we are in the southern hemisphere and are experiencing cooler temperatures, it is still referred to as verano, whereas as the hot, humid, wet season is called invierno (winter). 

Bevan and her friend visiting for the day tended to the sprouts at the greenhouse, while Riitta and myself tackled the more strenuous task of watering Jorge Lomas Canal.  Just shy of a hundred plants residing on fairly level ground, one might assume the task to be much easier when compared to the challenges presented by our other sites situated on steep hillsides, containing hundreds of saplings. The obstacle to overcome with this site is not defined by the characteristics of its landscape nor the number of plants to be watered but more by its rural location.  It is situated about half a mile behind the nearest barrio, Jorge Lomas, with only two impoverished households residing just adjacent to the site.  We decided the best way to approach the job was to carry as much water in as our backs could withstand and ask for water from residents only if we ran out.  Every empty plastic container we could collect from the apartment was filled to the brim and stuff into our backpacks.  We headed out to the site earlier in the morning with the heavy loads suspended on our hips and shoulders, carrying gallon jugs in the grip of each hand.  After we gave each transplant a health dose of water, we used a particularly abundant plant with wide leaves and a celery-like stem to mulch each individual plant.  We did run out of water towards the end and asked both the families in they could spare a few gallons to nourish the plants.  They happily agreed and offered to assist us in the future.

After a late lunch, Bevan, Riitta and myself headed out to the Bosque in Maria Auxiliadora to water the plants there.  On our way out we ran into Cheo and another local man and they assisted us with our duties.  Watering the Bosque proved to be a much easier job.  When we got there several children from the neighborhood decided to participate and water was provided by a nearby resident.  With the community’s assistance we finished in little time.  Since our last visit to this site, someone had removed all the markers we use to find the plants.  We discovered the markers stacked in pile off one of the trails.  I also took notice that an immature Ceibo tree had been struck several times with a machete. This was even more upsetting then the frustration caused by our markers being removed.  It is my understanding that mischief and ill mannered behave has previously occurred in this park and apparently continues to do so.

April 13, 2004

Today we started a through cleaning of the entire house quite literally from top to bottom.  The bat feces and spider webs were beginning to overstep their bounds.  In times of significant transition I always feel the need to purge and so it seemed necessary at this time to completely clean and reorganize the entire apartment. 

In the latter part of the afternoon we watered and mulched Jorge Lomas hillside using the same method described previously. Again the community supplied us with water.  A juvenile armadillo was spotted snooping around our belongings at the base of the site.  Her presence is a good indication that wildlife is returning to these revegetated areas.   

April 14, 2004

We spent the morning at the greenhouse today.  Aside from the traditionally tasks of watering and weeding, we also began some minor repairs to the seedbeds and replenished them with soil.  Next week we will undertake some larger repair projects.

After a hearty lunch and quick siesta, we concentrated our efforts back at the house, finishing the cleaning we started the day prior.

April 15, 2004

Again, we were in the field watering and mulching on this day.  Although some of the transplants are struggling with the drought, most are doing quite well.  I feel that if we continue our efforts throughout the dry season the success rate will be high.

April 16, 2004

Riitta and Bevan went to the greenhouse this morning while I hung around town speaking with people regarding the Amigos de Ecocuidad meeting that afternoon. 

Despite my efforts the attendance at the meeting was low.  But we were productive.  We mainly brainstormed prospective future events and addressed current environmental concerns.  One idea was the possibility of having an “Environmental Awareness Week” starting May 31st and ending June 5th.   The idea is to visit local schools, elementary through university, providing environmental education for all.  We also debated doing another mangrove planting. 

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>> 

Report # 9,
Revegetation Journal

Renée Portanova, Volunteer 
Planet Drum Foundation
April 30, 2004  

Monday April 26, 2004

The three of us cleared trails at the Universidad Catolica site.  The unexpected rain over this past weekend initiated a green growth spurt and the undesirable vegetation has been running wild amongst our transplants. 

The thorough work we had done previously at the site paid off.  We were able to maneuver through the site much easier than previously (if you remember last time it took two days to complete the work). All the plants we found are in good shape.

Tuesday April 27, 2004

In late morning Bevan and I gathered supplies to construct new seedbeds at the greenhouse.  We hired a local truck to haul four 9-meter long pounded bamboo “boards” to the greenhouse.  It was quite an advantage.

In the afternoon we planted at Jorge Lomas Canal.   Twenty-two plants in total; 12 Algarrobos and 10 Guachepelis were placed in a semi-wooded section about 30 meters from the canal.  There is better quality soil in this area (containing plant debris and donkey manure) and I’m confident that the drought-tolerant sapling will have a better chance of surviving here.

Wednesday April 28, 2004

To the greenhouse we ventured to replace seedbeds and construct an elevated platform for our bagged transplants.  The elevated platform was constructed with the intent to deter transplants from re-rooting themselves into the ground (which they often do by ripping through their temporary bag homes before we can get them to a permanent residence).

The construction was slow and we did not finish the tasks at hand.

Thursday April 29, 2004

Michael and I finished the seedbeds in the morning.  Once we got our technique down the work flowed more freely. We re-filled the beds with our special soil mixture (sand-clay and compost).

In the afternoon I began to respond to ten new volunteer applications.  Some of the candidates show real potential.  Our recent advertisement has attracted quite the international crowd (Ireland, London, Portugal, etc.) and a nice diversity of skill sets and experiences.  I am excited about working in the future with many of these volunteers.

In the early evening I had an informal meeting with a local ecologist that is working on revegetation projects in San Vincente (the town across the river from Bahia).  Amongst other things, we discussed the idea of starting a local seed bank.  Collectively, we would work to gather the seeds of local plants in the Dry Tropical Forest, learning how and when to collect, store and propagate these native species.

Friday April 30, 2004

Back to the greenhouse to straighten up the remainder on the mess we left after two days of construction.

In the afternoon we planted 19 additional plants at Jorge Lomas, all Guachepeli.  It rained again last night (although not too hard) and we took advantage of the opportunity by planting more trees.

[Top]

<<<<><><>>> 

Report #10,Letter

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation
May 11, 2004  

Hey Peter,

The fencing project is giving me a pain in my stomach.  We bought some barbed wire and tried, unsuccessfully, to put together a prototype this afternoon.  I have some doubts about the use of barbed wire in areas where there are children (Jorge Lomas Canal and Hill). Also it seems the soil is just too unstable to place the wood stakes in the ground at Jorge Lomas Hill.

Anyway I called Mike Morgan and he uses a mesh wire cone to surround a plant rather than a barbed triangle.  Have you actually every done this before in Bahia...Brian never made any mention of it. I definitely see the need for it...I want to make sure we do it as effectively and efficiently as possible. We are also consulting internet sites and some restoration books we have at the office.  I will keep you posted.  I hope to get fencing up at Jorge Lomas Canal by the end of the week.  I think this site is most vulnerable.  Mike also had some good advice about watering. He is going to send me a n article describing a technique he found useful.  He also invited me to come to Guayaquil to meet with him. 

I’m confident that we will get the support of the community at both Jorge Lomas sites and the Universidad.  They are always receptive to our work.  I will make rounds with Bevan this week and explain to the residents the reason for the fencing, asking for their assistance in maintaining the sites.

I checked with Vladir at Genesis internet store and they do not have zip drives nor does anyone else in Bahia…according to Vladir.   I would estimate that 20 discs are needed.  I have already gone through 7 discs in the four months I have been here.  They have a very short life span with the exposure to dust and susceptibility to viruses because of multi-computer use.

I submitted a paper on Bioregional Education to my academic adviser recently.  I could email it to you if you are interested.  I would love to get feedback from you.  I am really interested in development and implementation of such education and I look forward to reading your article.

I gathered the ingredients for the anti-termite solution.  I plan on applying it this weekend when everyone is out of the house.

The summary for the Amigos de Eco-ciudad meeting:  Basically they want to start meeting every week from now until Ecuadorian Earth Week and the Municipio is going to invite everyone...the defensa civil, bomberos, presidents of all the barios and presidents of the marina... which we do every time and they never come. There was a lot of back and forth discussion and nothing definite about the week of medioambiente was determined.  So they agreed to set a specific agenda for the following meeting and no more. Just to clarify...Do you want PD to stop attending the now weekly meetings?  Shall I just inform the Muncipio that we will be available to give tours of our sites on that week?

I have to get back to Nicola on the compost course...I still don't know when, where or for how long it will be.

Saludos,

Renée

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>>

Report #11, Letter

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
May 29, 2004

Hey Peter,
I’m feeling much better!

Here is the week in review for May 24th thru the 29th.

Monday we started the barbed wire fencing at Jorge Lomas Canal.  We accomplished an amazing amount in one day, thanks to the help of two very enthusiastic sojourners from the USA.  Wes and Zan had been staying in Bahía since the previous Thursday. (I had met them in Canoa previously.)  They were passing through on their way south and offered to help out while in town.  In Bevan’s absence I embraced this serendipitous event and put them to work. They volunteered a couple days in the field and helped out around the house on the weekend.  Besides the manual labor they also offered music making and good conversation. I thank them both for their hard work and companionship.

Tuesday I was sick and slept the entire day.  Bevan took care of me.  I’m quite the invalid when I’m not feeling well.

There have been several cases of dengue in Bahía recently (including Laurita, Tanya’s daughter).  I had been running a fever off and on since Monday and therefore decided to take a trip to the emergency room of the hospital and get checked out by a doctor.  Fortunately, my blood test results were negative for dengue and by Tuesday evening I was feeling much better.

Wednesday morning consisted of running errands and preparation for our trip to Guayaquil that afternoon.  Not much more to say.

We arrived at Cerro Blanco in the late evening where a volunteer greeted us. Mike Morgan had arranged housing for us in a guesthouse.

Thursday we started early and got the grand tour.  Mike and his staff accompanied us through each of their projects.  Throughout the day we swapped information and restoration tips.  Mike is extremely knowledgeable and took time to answer all my questions.  He showed us all the methods they are implementing for irrigation at site, erosion control techniques using native plants, and the fencing he uses to deter animals from eating his plants.  As I mentioned in a previous email, they use a cylinder heavy mesh to surround individual plants, which I feel is more feasible for certain sites.

I know Mike takes the time to read my reports…Again I would like to extend

my gratitude to Eric, Mike and all the volunteers at Cerro Blanco for their hospitality and support.  I feel it is crucial in our line of work to keep communication flowing and create a strong network of ecologists in which to exchange information and seeds!

Friday we headed back to Jorge Lomas Canal to finish the barbed wire fence. Two interesting things occurred this morning.  When we arrived at the site there was a burro tethered to our recently constructed fence.  The burro had actually slipped through the fence (it still needed another two rows of wire to be complete) and knocked a couple of the poles loose.  The good news is that it did not eat any of our plants!  I untied the burro and walked him to another area outside of the site.

Following this episode, shortly after we finished the fence, we were approached by a man who claimed to live in the area and said that we were on his friend’s property without permission.  He was very vague.  He won’t say where his friend lives or his name.  We explained to him several times that we had spoken to all the nearby residents both before we started planting in the area and before we started constructing the fence.  He wasn’t very responsive or threatening, he just stood there staring at us.  So we finished what we were doing and left.

Here is what perplexes me.  I was under the impression that we were on public property and that we were asked by the municipality to plant at this location.  From Brian’s instructions I gathered that we need to make a contract only when we restore private property such as the dairy farm.  That afternoon we went to see the architect that is working on the construction of the canal who had instructed us (Brian and myself) as to were it would be safe to plant.  He corrected my misunderstanding and stated that the land was indeed private and that if the owner did not want us there we would have to stop working there!  I do not understand why Brian did not formulate a contract with the landowners BEFORE we started planting on this site.  What is the proper procedure?

After the architect we went to the hardware store to pick up supplies.  The fencing material that I had hoped to use to construct the individual plant cages cost over 50 dollars for thirty meters!  I’m at a loss.  This means is would cost nearly 2$ to protect each plant!

Although it was a frustrating day I managed to end it on a more positive note. I fixed two leaky faucets and cleaned out the bathroom sink drain.  I’m happy to report that we are no longer contributing to frivolous water waste via inefficient plumbing! And that one can now brush teeth without the bathroom sink overflowing.

I spent the remainder of Friday writing back to potential volunteers.  We have over twenty people that are currently applying!  This carried over into Saturday as I took my time to organize all the correspondence and computer files. Saturday we also cleaned the apartment and applied the anti-termite solution.  I’m sorry to say that it only left an awful smell which the termites don’t seem to mind.

I will send the latest volunteer schedule before you leave should there be any additions.  What time should we expect you on the 7th?  I generally make the work schedule for the week on Mondays.  Should I leave Wednesday completely free for us to meet?

Bevan and I have to go to Manta on Monday to have our passports renewed.

Saludos,

Renée

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #12

Research

For each Dry Tropical Forest species know the following:

Dry Tropical Species

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #15

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
August 13, 2004

Due to the volume of volunteers we had this week, we generally broke up into two groups each day.

At the greenhouse:  More plants were transplanted into larger containers.  The past transplants are at various stages of ugliness while in  recovery.  The fencing around the compost pit was fixed, replacing some poles and tightening the mesh.  We arranged for the university students to water the greenhouse daily.  We have befriended this group of young men and women who have taken a real interest in the work we are doing.  They often ask us questions and how they can get involved.

At Jorge Lomas Casas:  We fixed old cribbing bars and added additional ones to desperate areas.  We also covered bare hillsides with sticks and other plant debris to help stabilize the soil and deter people and animals from using these vulnerable spots.  All the plants were watered and are doing well.  We had a couple of plants that looked a little gnawed on, however it is hard to say what the pest may be at this time. We obtained a signed contract from a homeowner who has agreed to our complete use of her cistern.  A water truck filled the cistern for $13 (the water itself is free, however the cost is for the service). It is located just across the street from our site.  We are the only ones that have access to the pad-lock.

At Jorge Lomas Canal: We have left two detailed messages for the landowner out there.  I’m hoping that he will stop by this weekend, as we requested in our last phone message.  The site itself looks good.  We watered here as well. We also repaired some of the fencing in this area.  I’m thinking we need to go back and reset some of the poles and add an additional string of barbed wire.

At the Bosque: The site was watered and we arranged a “park clean-up” (minga) with the community, which will take place on Sunday.  We intend to remove trash and replace railings and broken steps. In two weeks we are giving a tour of the park to a group of students from the Genesis school so the timing seems appropriate.  We will teach the students about bioregionalism and guide them through the park.  Both these projects will be a great way to recruit participants for the Bio. Ed. Program.

New Sites: We surveyed the Mot Mot site this week.  After a run in with some angry bees (I received six stings in my right hand) we found a place to plant next wet season.  It is a plateau located on the right side of the canal about five minutes from the trail end.  It is about 30 meters in width and 80 meters in length.  Currently it holds a variety of grass and some chirimoya trees.  Behind it is a hillside that we can plant as well, probably an additional 50 meters.  The hillside is full with frutilla trees. We will actually have to cut back some of them to plant different species on the hillside.

Ing. Miguel from Guayaquil was contacted this week.  He stated that we should locate a woman that works in Bahía to discuss planting on his property.  This woman lives on a farm that is part on his property.  We haven’t found her yet, all we have are two street names and a description of the storefront where she works.  I will try to reach her this weekend.

Seed Bank: More information got translated and pulled into the spreadsheet.  We also made contact with a professor at the Universidad Catolica that has been emailing us information on native tree species.

Renewable Energy: I spoke with Vladir this week and his opinion was to hold out on making any further advancement until we got funding.  He mentioned speaking with some friends, however they were a little skeptical about the need for passive solar hot water.

Well the week was full as always.  We didn’t get to some things I had intended, for example I was hoping to plant seeds this week.  It was in the original schedule however things got a little behind on Tuesday when I had to dedicate an entire morning to being at the bank.  The bank upgraded their system and I needed to get my account updated, which constituted giving them photocopies of my passport and standing on line for three hours.  Besides the long wait the experience was harmless although I’m not sure your signature is still valid because I couldn’t produce a copy of your passport.

Some of the vols. made it to the soy cooperative, Los Caras, this week.  We are enjoying a tasty array of soy products that we have delivered to the door.  It saddens me to know that I have been here for seven months and only now am I indulging in the best tasting carne de soya (soy meat) ever.

Cheers,
Renée

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #16

Christina Knott, Volunteer
Planet Drum Foundation
August 16, 2004

Hola Chicos,

Let me start off by saying that I don’t know how Planet Drum managed for so long without the bamboo watering system that is now in place.  The work that used to take all morning can be done in about twenty minutes.  The pipes are placed in the ground beside young and newly transplanted trees.  The goal is to deliver water directly to the root system as opposed to around the stem of the baby trees where it runs and evaporates before it can soak in.  It’s much more efficient and I have already noticed the trees looking healthier than they did just six weeks ago. 

Recently we have planted several Fernan Sanchez at the Jorge Lomas Canal Site.  My understanding is the success rate of this particular tree is very low.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

The greenhouse is also doing well.  Recently, a group of students from Catholic University have taken it upon themselves to water the greenhouse for us.  I’m not sure what the motivation is for their newfound interest in ecology and Planet Drum, but it is definitely appreciated.  

We’ve been doing a lot of transplanting of developed seedlings at the greenhouse.  Let me tell you, it was overdue.  Some of the root systems have become so overgrown they’ve broken through the bags they were in and planted themselves into the ground.  Thank goodness we recently had the machetes sharpened.  I find the act of transplanting quite meditative.  Renée encourages us to give off positive energy while in the greenhouse and communicate with the trees.  Transplanting sessions have become a time for singing and joke telling.  (A section of my brain has devoted itself to bad jokes.) 

This coming week we will be adding soil to the seedbeds at the greenhouse and begin planting them with new seeds.  I’m hoping we plant Ceibo seeds while I’m here.  I don’t think we will, however, because we have a stockpile of other seeds that need to go into the ground.  I’ve fallen in love with the Ceibo and want to be a part of a Ceibo’s life.  That sounds pretty lame and maybe slightly obsessive, but it’s true.  I find the Ceibo so interesting. It has a majestic, selfish way about it, but at the same time seems to give off a warm energy.  I want to learn all I can about the Ceibo.  I wish they were native to Northern California so I could grow one in my backyard.  If I had a backyard, that is.   

On a more personal note, a few of the Planet Drummers, along with other gringo volunteers and some locals went to a futbol (soccer) game this past Sunday.  It was definitely a great experience even if a bit nerve-racking at first.  There isn’t much respect in public for personal space in this part of the world and virtually none for waiting in lines.  Going into the stadium people kept shoving and pressing as close as possible.  Gotta get there, gotta go. The game itself wasn’t that good and the end was anti-climactic, but the energy of the crowd was both exciting and entertaining.  I recommend a futbol game in Ecuador to anyone.

Sol (one of the other volunteers) and I went on a five-hour mule-back tour of the humid forest last week with Marcello Luque, the head of Cerro Secco.  It was the trial run for an eco-tour that is in the works. It was amazing.  The forest was so thick and green, a stark contrast to the dry tropical forest just an hour away.  We could hear monkeys and ate fruit right off the trees.  A guide who was very knowledgeable about the area led us.  I should say he tried to be a guide because I don’t understand much Spanish and he didn’t speak English.  The view from the top of the hill was breathtaking.  We had the forest in the foreground and the ocean in the background.  One thing I learned on the tour was that mules smell incredibly bad and pooh a lot.  Also, mules don’t like me one bit.  Mine was not cooperative and would deliberately walk under very low clearings so I would smash my face.

I’ve gotten over the inexpensiveness of everything in the area since I got here in June.  When I first arrived in Bahia I was thrilled and amazed that bananas were two cents each.  Now, if someone tries to charge me three cents I argue with them and they are off my good place to buy list.  Cigarettes are only a dollar twenty five a pack, which is very bad for my lungs.

Since I’ve been in Bahia I’ve decided to teach myself to surf, am practicing Poi style dancing and am taking Spanish lessons.  This is a great place for personal growth, in my opinion.  Maybe it’s because there aren’t any coordinated activities outside work and consequently you have to make up activities for yourself, or because of the supportive, usually non-judgmental vibe in the apartment.

We’ve been making a lot of improvements to the apartment.  Sometimes we even have hot water. Volunteers and local artists have painted many of the walls and windows.  It adds an element of personality and history that I haven’t seen in other apartments where I’ve lived.

I’m having a hard time understanding the implications of a few things.  I have seen no homeless people whatsoever in Bahia.   I don’t recall seeing any in Quito either.  Why is that?  Why is there no or very little absolute poverty in a very poor country?  Have the people here come up with a better system of caring for one another then we have?  Well, who hasn’t, I suppose.  It’s not a socialist country.    Also, why is there no chocolate or real (not instant) coffee in a country that produces an abundance of both?  Where is it going?  The States?

One definite drawback to living and working in Bahia is that people are always coming and going.  I feel as if just when I am making a connection with someone they leave.  There are several volunteer organizations in Bahia and volunteers are always arriving and leaving.  Oh well, such is life. 

We have made contact with the Los Caras soya cooperativa.  We now have soy products and can live as vegetarians and vegans without worrying about our teeth falling out.  They make soymilk, faux meat, soy yogurt, and soy mayonnaise. It all has a taste I am not accustomed to, but is wonderful nonetheless.  I’m not sure, however, that I will be giving fish up again any time soon.  The fish here is pretty tasty. 

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #17

Christina Knott, Volunteer
Planet Drum Foundation
August 16, 2004

We are back down to one group. Several volunteers have left this week and more are leaving next week.

Greenhouse:  A lot of work has been done at the greenhouse this week.  The hillside and the greenhouse plants have been watered. I believe the greenhouse itself is being watered on an almost daily basis thanks to the university students who are helping out.

Tuesday we went to the market and collected banana stalks and corn husks to begin mulching. We transplanted most of the greenhouse Algarrobos  in the seed bed into plastic containers. We then turned up the seed bed and will be adding new soil later in the week in preparation for planting  Colorado seeds, which is scheduled for next week. In addition, we mulched the entire site on Wednesday.

Jorge Lomas Casas: We had water put into the cistern at Jorge Lomas last week. Watering is getting easier by the day. Now, not only do we have the bamboo pipes in the ground, but we no longer need to carry huge jugs of water to any of the sites, besides the Bosque. Monday we watered at Casas and installed a few more cribbing bars. We are mulching all Jorge Lomas sites Thursday.

Jorge Lomas Canal:  We still have not heard from the man who says he owns one of the sites we are planting in Jorge Lomas Canal. We are still watering there and are slowly fixing the fences. We successfully fixed the fence at the site in the back of the canal, but not so successfully at the other . It is a work in progress and should be completed early next week. Fortunately, I have not noticed any new animal droppings at the site.

Bosque: The community day at the Bosque was a mild success. A few adult members of the bario and several children came out. Planet Drum will be hosting a workshop at the Bosque in the coming weeks for some of the children attending Genesis schools. We will lead them on a tour through the Bosque and are working on educational games, like identify the plant leaf or something similar, to peak their interest.

Seed Bank Project: Research is scheduled for Friday. Right now a spread sheet is coming together very nicely and we are slowly, but surely, gathering information on more than twenty five trees. We are also working on translating a lot of existing information from Spanish to English

Ciao,
Christina

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #18

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
August 24,2004

In the field:
Everything got watered both this week and last. We also managed to mulch all the sites over the past two weeks. We used a combination of plantain stalks and cornhusks as mulch. Once the material is collected from the food market (we secured a sympathetic source for the plantain stalks and cornhusks), we have to break it up into manageable pieces. The mulch mixture is then taken to the sites and strategically placed at the base of each individual plant.

At the greenhouse:
Another 25 plants were transferred into larger containers. All previous transfers are doing well. The soil beds have been turned and a mixture of compost and soil were added. We also have begun planting seeds for the  fast approaching rainy season, four-dozen Colorado tree seeds so far.

Regarding the Jorge Lomas Canal site:
Pablo, the landowner, came to the office on Wednesday morning. He  explained to us that this was indeed his property and talked of his plan to sell the land to be made into lots for housing. We accompanied him to the municipality to discuss the situation with the architect, Vicente Leon, who  originally asked us consider this location for revegetation. After an hour of consulting maps and deliberating we came to no solutions to our problem. Vicente invited us to the Canal on the following day to reiterate what we discussed in the office. We agreed and on Thursday spent the morning walking the partially constructed canal. Vicente said that all the property on both sides of the canal is privately owned with the exception of a six meter (in width) area that runs parallel to the canal on the west side. Four of  these six meters is designated to become a road. The canal’s ending point is just after the first site (the one to the left of the road when you walk in). The plot in the upper-most section on the canal is unaffected by both the canal’s construction and aforementioned property being sold. It seems at this point that we will inevitably lose the lower site either via the construction of the road or after the property has exchanged hands. The silver lining to this dark cloud is that both Vicente (the architect) and Pablo (the landowner) recognize the need for a forested buffer zone between the canal and the barrio. (According to Vicente, there is going to be a lot of development on the west side of the canal.)  They both insist Planet Drum submit a proposal to extend the width of the area that is designated for the road, allowing a space for revegetation. The proposal would be discussed between three parties: Planet Drum, the municipality, and CorpeEcuador (the company that is constructing the canal). It is estimated that it will cost ten thousand dollars to buy the land for a buffer zone. (Vicente did the calculations for the estimate.)  He is also willing to assist in writing the proposal and providing maps and diagrams to illustrate our point.

I do not want to harp on this misunderstanding and yet I must say I’m a little put off by this whole situation. Why wasn’t a contract implemented by Brian and the municipality from the get go?  Is it because we (Brian and myself) believed this to be public land?  In a recent email Brian sent he confirmed that he too was under the impression that this was indeed public land. What is the exact procedure for securing new sites (contracts, verbal agreements, etc.)?  Is there one?  If not I could come up with a proper procedure.

In Bahía:
The electric power has failed at least a dozen times this past week and the taxi drivers and buses went on strike again. Political rallies are growing with intensity daily, causing much unwelcome street noise late at night. We are without water for a day or so because apparently Emelia did not pay some bill. This occurred Tuesday while I was in Guayaquil. Emelia came to the door asking for money to pay a $230 water bill. She spoke with Sol since I wasn’t around. Sol was reluctant to give her anything in my absence. Emelia supposedly went to the mayor’s office and got the bill knocked down to 100 bucks. Sol waited for her to collect from all her other renters first then gave her the last twenty dollars. The water got turned back on in the afternoon on Wednesday. I spoke with Emelia regarding this matter and the twenty is being subtracted from our rent.  

A man named Jose came by and spoke with Sol regarding some land he wants to preserve. He has 60 hectares of land containing primal forest. The forest spills into his neighbors homestead (another 20 hectares). Apparently his neighbor is thinking of clear-cutting it. Jose is opposed to the idea and came to us for advice on how to preserve it. He has no intentions of deforesting his land and put a lot of emphasis on bringing consciousness to the community. He has requested that we survey the forest and identify some of the old growth tree species. He inquired if he could obtain some kind of “official document” (by a foundation) stating how valuable the primary forest is (due to its native full grown species that he’s never seen anywhere else). He would use this document as evidence in his “argument” to make sure the other half, owned by his neighbor, is not sold and cut. We have his contact information and he stated he would check back with us in a month. It is unclear as to where the property is exactly.

Belqica, the wife of Jorge Lomas barrio’s president, dropped by yesterday. As it turns out she is finishing her thesis and came by to get the correct spellings of our names and titles to include in her acknowledgements. She also invited us to see her project in Jorge Lomas, which we are planning to do next week.

At home…volunteer update:

Celena left on Tuesday as I mentioned to you before. Christina is leaving this evening. Sol got her tourist visa straightened out so she is undoubtedly staying throughout October. Jackson is feeling better. I had not mentioned this before but he has epilepsy. He has to medicate himself heavily on a daily basis to avoid having a fit. His meds had some ill side effects, including rolling vision and drowsiness when he combined them with other medication for stomach problems. I admire his dedication to living his life to the fullest with this disability. We have, unfortunately, experienced Jackson have two epileptic fits, which consist of a short period of unresponsiveness followed by a longer period of short-term memory loss. We are all comfortable enough with this situation and responding to his needs when he has a fit. He has been traveling and volunteering in South America for well over a year.

Materials You Sent:

The Discovering Your Life-Place workbook mapping exercises are completely appropriate for the Bioregional Education Program. They are very creative and I am thinking the volunteers and myself will do the activities ourselves one afternoon. Thanks for copy of Earth Island Journal and the Mattole Restoration Newsletter. I look forward to curling up on the couch with them.

New Sites:

We have not yet followed up with the landowner from Guayaquil. I will do so this week. Also I had a chance to survey Fernando's property on Thursday. It falls on the east side of the canal. We found an area ideal for planting if you are interested in this location.

Final thoughts:
These past couple of weeks seemed to have lasted forever. Once again life in Bahía has been transformed. The plethora of volunteers, at the Planet Drum house and in the town in general, have come and gone as the summer approaches its end. I can’t get used to the intense experiences I share with all these people that inevitably slip away. The bright smiles of Christina and Celena will truly be missed.

Saludos,
Renée

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #19

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
September 3, 2004

This week’s accomplishments include the usual dry season tasks, watering all the sites and transplanting saplings into larger containers, as well as some extra activities.

The greenhouse underwent a little maintenance. Some of the green covering had come loose and needed to be reattached to the frame. It was just general wear and tear that’s to be expected. I assure you that no vandalism has taken place. We planted nearly 200 Fernan Sanchez seeds this week as well. We are keeping a record of which seeds get planted, the date they are planted, and the number of seeds. I think it is useful to see how many of the seeds actually sprout and how long it takes, specific to each species. The information gathered from our record keeping will be added to The Project Seed Bank spreadsheet.

The sites are thriving. Most of the plants are growing with this new watering technique, not just maintaining. The Colorados especially have taken off. Most of the new growth is foliage. The plants are remaining the same height, however they are fuller with leaves. Insects have not been a problem thus far. I suspect that some grazing animals are still getting at our plants near the canal (in the areas enclosed with barbed wire fences.)  Fortunately, only the leaves are being nibbled; the plants themselves are still rooted and begin regenerating leaves within a few days. We will add additional wire to the posts and an extension to each end.

Getting on to the most exciting news, the Ciebo trees have began to shed their seeds. They form hundreds of giant cotton-like bulbs that eventually explode dispersing little round, black seeds and a white fluff everywhere. The phenomenon causes the surroundings to resemble the front yard of some suburban home ambitiously decorated for Halloween. Being the opportunists that we are, we collected Ciebo seeds twice this week, from two different locations, and plan to germinate them next week at the greenhouse. It amazes me to see the Ciebo trees go through their sensationally overt seasonal characteristics and we are all thrilled to partake in the seed collection process.

Also this week, we had the chance to disseminate some of our knowledge and love for the environment to the children of Bahía. We met with an ecology group from Vladir’s private Genesis School and gave them a tour of the Bosque “Wild Park”. We started by explaining the process and need for revegetation, using a poster and examples at the location as visual aids. Preceding the lecture, we walked through the Bosque and discussed the characteristics of various species. Each child (16 in total) received a worksheet that highlighted them. The worksheet also had a space for the students to draw their observations. Following the walk, each student was given a pot and some soil in which they each planted their own seeds. We left the students with proper instructions on how to care for their new “class pets”. We promised to follow up in a few months, at which time the seedlings will be big enough to move to a permanent space. It was a really enthusiastic group and our lesson plan worked well.

I don’t think we need to put out any further appeals for volunteers right now. We are still receiving new inquiries from the ads I posted months ago, besides we have a full house scheduled until February with some crowded overlaps to cover us if people have a change of heart.  

There has been no real progress to report regarding the canal problem I discussed in my last report. We still haven’t sorted it all out or figured out how to proceed. The Fernando site I referred to previously is located on the east side of the canal (on the opposing side to where we have already planted). There is a great spot and I see it as a separate site and not an addition to what we have already started (which is likely to be destroyed soon). I also like that the property is privately owned and uninhabited. 

Saludos,
Renée

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #20

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
September 17, 2004  

The weather has returned to its dry, cloudy self and we have continued on 
our path of watering, repair and maintenance.We did finally got in touch 
with the landowner from Guayaquil (Miguel) and sent him a note asking to meet in person and a copy of the contract we have, written from the muncipality, that describes our services.  I hope to meet in person next week and see the property.

I heard from Ryan this week and he has received the book. Due to family obligations he had to postpone his trip till November.

I've been spending some afternoons organizing myself for this fast approaching new bioregional education program. I'm hoping the "newness" will help to freshen up my weekly reports.  They are becoming a little...repetitive. 

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #21

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
September 26, 2004  

This week we mainly stuck to the basics: watering, sowing seeds and maintenance.  Due to extenuating circumstances (expired visas needing renewal, illness, etc.), we were only two in the field for the majority of the week.  This lessened the opportunity for me to meet with folks regarding recruitment for the Bioregional Education Program. 

All the seedbeds at the greenhouse are sown.  We planted 120 Amarillo seeds and 100 Zapote de Perros this week.  These are both fabulous species that we have not grown in the past.  The Amarillo tree (Centrolobium parahense) thrives in well-drained soil and it is resistant to termites.  Zapote de Perro (Capparis scabrida) is a sunlight tolerant tree that does extremely well in droughts and protects the soil. 

The Amarillo seeds have to be watered for seven consecutive days in order for them to sprout.  I have volunteered to water them throughout the weekend.  To date none of the other seeds have sprouted yet.  We are all anxious to see green poking through the soil. Soon enough I hope.

I have some disappointing news.  A donkey managed to get into the upper site at the canal in Jorge Lomas.  Five plants were totally ripped out of the ground and others were nibbled.  The donkey was able to access the area because a section of the fence had collapsed.  It is unknown as to what caused the fence post to collapse in the first place. I doubt it was foul play and most likely just normal wear and tear; regardless we fixed the post temporarily.  Our priority for Monday is to fix it more permanently. 

Ryan's delay was indeed unexpected and disappointing.  He has agreed to being volunteering at home in New York, mainly working to fill in the gaps of missing information on our Project Seed Bank spreadsheet. The reference book you sent him should come in handy for this activity. 

One last thing.  We would like to put together an online Photo Gallery for our projects.  We think this could be an invaluable asset for prospective volunteers and donors.  We would include photos of tree species, us working, us recreating and so on.  We figure it would only cost $30 a year to maintain the site and enough volunteers come through with digital cameras to keep it updated regularly.

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #22

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
October 1, 2004

Monday: 
The week started off great.  We repaired the fence at Jorge Lomas.  Upon closer examination it seemed the pole snapped at the base. We replaced the pole and tightened the barbed wire.  We also added fallen vegetation around the end points to act as a further deterrent.  It is more secure now than it was originally. The plants that were nibbled are already recovering.

Tuesday:
We spent the day at the greenhouse watering, weeding and transplanting.  To our extreme excitement a few seeds have started to sprout.  The site was watered as well.  The saplings here are thriving; leaf buds are emerging into thick foliage. There are few plants that have not shown improvement over the last few months with this new watering system.  We are continuously transplanting saplings from the small black plastic bags into larger plastic soda bottles.  These saplings are adjusting to their new environment with success.  The larger, heavier containers will be more difficult to transport to sites in the rainy season however they allow the saplings to form more extensive root systems and achieve greater height and durability.

Wednesday:
To Jorge Lomas hill we went with our watering containers in hand.  Sol and I proceeded up the hill to the upper portion to attend to the arbolitos (saplings) planted there.  Jack remained on the lower hill and began watering.  The lower portion of the hill is the section that is most unstable, where we have placed and replaced numerous cribbing bars.  As he was watering a particularly vulnerable spot, the earth below gave way.  He slid down a ten-foot span and tore the ligaments in his left knee.  When we returned we found him hunched over his injured leg in agonizing pain.  We immediately gave him some painkillers, finished watering the site and headed off to the hospital were we spent the remainder of the morning.

The doctors at the hospital confirmed, with x-rays, that the knee was not broken, just badly sprained. We were sent home with a list of instructions and a prescription for stronger painkillers.  The doctors suggested that the injury should heal itself in five days or so.

Once we returned to the apartment Jack was put to bed and Sol and I headed out to water the Bosque.  As we climbed the stairs leading into the park we encountered a man heading out of the forest with a machete and several fallen trees.  When he saw us he immediately diverted his trek and headed in an opposing direction.  We called after him to wait, informing him that it was prohibited for anyone to cut down trees in this area.  He ignored our pleas and continued to hurry along.  Deciding not to chase after him we continued into the Bosque and completed the task we had set out to do.

On our way out another local man that had witnessed the incident approached us.  He expressed his concern over the occurrence, stating that the community is upset with the vandalism (the cutting and burning of trees, garbage, etc.) that has been taking place.  I had not noticed trees being cut or anything being burned in months. We explained to the man that we could only support the community if they themselves took action.  He agreed and promised to meet with the barrio president to hold a community meeting.  (I have heard this before I thought to myself.) As it turns out, he did indeed talk to the president and other community members. They stopped by the Planet Drum office the next day to inform us that they would be holding a meeting the following week and that our presence is requested.  The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday night.  We agreed to attend, reiterating that it is the community's responsibility to safeguard their natural spaces and we would contribute to their efforts in an appropriate manner.

Thursday:
We began the day setting Jack up with the Project Seed Bank spreadsheet to continue translating information and plugging it in the computer.  Because of his immobility, it seems he will have to participate in only administrative tasks for some time.  Sol and I headed into the field to water the last site.  We also paid a visit to Ivan at the Department of Hygiene to see about getting compost delivered to the greenhouse in the near future.  Our supply is dwindling quickly and I want to secure a good amount before we need to start transplanting the seedlings. Ivan was unavailable however his secretary claimed I could get a hold of him this weekend.

Friday:
With Jack in front of the computer again Christina and I went to the greenhouse.  While watering, weeding and transplanting, we became distracted by Shasta the dog's excessive barking at what appeared to be nothing. Upon further inspection, we discovered an entire HERD of COWS in our site. Completely livid we ran up the hill and began herding them back home.  The terrified cows, being chased by to crazy gringas and a pint sized dog, reluctantly retrieved. The little boy looking over them was watching us from a safe distance on the edge of his property.  Once the cows were back in their pen, we gave a stern talk to the boy and his mother (who made her way over at this point).  I led then up the hill and pointed out where the cows had chewed our plants (thankfully they choose the much larger, resistant plants rather than the smaller plants placed this past year). 

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #23

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
October 15, 2004  

We had a great week to be ended by an even better weekend.  The Planet Drum house is heading to the beach for some recreating. I imagine that you are heading back home, finishing up your travels, as we depart for our weekend adventure.  It will be nice to have you back in the home office again.

Our spurt of growth at the greenhouse seems to be in a recession.  No new seedlings have emerged this week, which concerns me a little.  One bed has not had any growth at all, not even weeds! We added some more compost and a thin layer of mulch to help retain some more moisture in the soil.  A pleasant French man, volunteered with us for a day. As it turns out he is handy with a hammer and fixed the two small beds outside the greenhouse, which allowed us to sow more seeds. We planted another new species Jabon Cillo (new in the sense that we haven't planted it before).  This tree is best known for its little, round black seeds that are commonly used for jewelry by local artisans.  It has a great deal of ecological importance as well, providing food for local birds and mammals.

The compost pit received some extra attention.  Our pit was suffering from too much green material and not enough brown, which resulted in a foul odor and maggots!  The pit had not been able to sustain the amount of fruit and veggie scraps added twice weekly by a house full of vegetarians, plus what the University contributes.  With a plethora of greens and an absence of browns the pit was not able to achieve its optimum heat levels, therefore allowing fly and other insect eggs thrive.  We mixed into the pile a combination of leaf detritus and newspaper that had previously been soaked in water.  By soaking the material first the browns absorb a good deal of water and then slowly leach it out, adding much needed moisture to the compost. We plan to add browns with more frequency.

All the sites were watered as usually.  We finished mulching the areas we couldn't get to last week.  The saplings are sustaining.  There haven't been any recent invasions by herbivorous neighbors.

Aside from our plants everything is so brown and dry it is frightening. What an amazing wonder nature is for there it be an ecosystem such as this that survives for so long without water.  It astonishes me to have seen tiny green buds forming on adult trees (appearing for the first time this week) this far into the dry season.  Perhaps the trees know something we don't know, maybe the rains are coming soon.  The word around town is that this year is going to be a real wet one!  Not necessarily an El Nino but close.

With the reality of the rainy seasons approaching sorapidly I'm feeling a little pressured to secure sites for the planting season.  We paid a visit out to the dairy farm area one morning to speak with folks there.  As it turned out the landowners weren't around, only their groundkeepers.  We left a copy of the convenio including our contact information.  I intend to follow up this week not really expecting them to find us.  I'm thinking of writing another contract to present to landowners, one that outlines our intentions and the responsibility of the landowners if we collectively agree to re-vegetate their land.  Has this been done before?

We have a new addition to the Planet Drum house. Lauren started on Wednesday. It has been extremely fulfilling to see Jackson and Sol taking the responsibility of showing her the ropes.

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Report #24

Renée Portanova, Field Project Manager 
Planet Drum Foundation  
October 22, 2004  

The Planet Drum house had a wonderfully relaxing, sober time at the beach last weekend.  Without sun or alcohol (due to the mayoral election all of Ecuador sustained from serving/selling booze), we spent the majority of our time curled up on hammocks engaging in long reads and stimulating conversations. It was a nice weekend relief.

Upon our return, we set out to tend to our weekly endeavors. The fieldwork proceeded as usual with the watering of each site.  The plants are fine.  The weekly watering has carried them through the dry season nicely.  There has been little indication of herbaceous insects feasting on the saplings however we have noticed a few bamboo watering pipes teeming with carpenter ants or termites.  I suppose they are drawn to the pipes because of the availability of water.  We have been replacing all the infested pipes (three or four) that have been discovered.

Our hard efforts at the greenhouse last week have already begun to show rewards.  The compost pit is operating (and smelling) much better.  Now you can actually feel the heat of the aerobic processes as you turn the pile.  The seedbeds, too, seem to be in a better state.  The compost added last week has helped to retain moisture in the soil. We are also watering the beds more frequently. Of course weeding has integrated back into our greenhouse chore list.  The tricky thing about planting “new” tree species is that you are not really sure what the seedlings will look like when they emerge, which makes weeding difficult. We have been very selective in our weeding process, plucking only the obvious grasses. I can only say for certain that a few Ciebos have sprouted and that the Amarillos and Fernan Sanchez have not.  It will be easy to recognize these seedlings when they do appear because their seeds are partly exposed.  We planted more Ciebo seeds and Amarillo seeds, however this time we soaked them for 48 hours to help increase the germination rate.  With all the transplanting and replenishing of seeds beds we are running low on compost.  We were expecting a shipment from the municipality this week however it still hasn’t arrived.  Any suggestions on where we can purchase compost if we need too.  I plan to revisit the Dept. of Hygiene to see about our promised compost but I do not want to but too much pressure on them.  According to Ivan the municipality hasn’t paid anyone from that department in two months and they plan on striking.

As I alluded to early in the email, last weekend the mayoral elections were held.  And the winner is?  Well it is still undecided. Currently it is a toss up between the current mayor, Leo Viteri and Jose Mendoza (political party 10).  Apparently there has been much deliberating and recounting of votes in Guayaquil and we should have an answer soon.

Sol and Lauren spent a considerable amount of time this week developing the Planet Drum Ecuador Photogallery. I hope everyone enjoys the site!  (See www. )I’m anxious to hear your comments.  Where the instructions they sent clear?  It seems easy enough for anyone in San Francisco to upload photos. 

Here is the plant inventory we took some time ago.

Cheo and Vladir have offered their assistance in helping us to locate further revegetation sites for the next planting season.  Cheo and I will be spending the day together on Wednesday checking out sites and speaking with landowners. Vladir intends to speak with some friends about our work.

On a personal note my health continues to fluctuate.  It seems I am plagued with the same gastro-intestinal illnesses Brian suffered from; aside from the painful stomach cramps the parasites cause me to run a fever and feel lethargic at times. I am maintaining though!

Cheers,
Renee

[Top]

<<<<><><>>>

Update on Eco Ecuador Project
By Peter Berg
November 29, 2004

Dear Friend of Planet Drum Foundation,

Thanks for the generous support from those who responded to our recent mailing.

We are glad to say that things are moving along very well toward reorganizing Planet Drum. Preparation of a Strategic Plan for completion by February is already underway. New members are being added to the Board of Directors, and we are building both a new Advisory Board and Advisory Council.

The following is a recent report from Renee Portanova, Field Projects Manager of Planet Drum's ecological city activities in Bahia de Craquez, Ecuador. Normally these reports are only posted on our web site. This one contains particularly promising information about the range and success of our work there. It is also pertinent to some of the educational goals featured in our reorganization plans.

Some Bahia highlights. Several new revegetation sites for erosion mitigation and habitat restoration in the Rio Chone watershed are being added to the four that already exist. One is at a high school and involves direct student participation from the onset. There are five new volunteers actively working at this time who are staying in the Planet Drum quarters. As usual, it is an international crew and they learn while working. The greenhouse is full of native seedlings ready to plant. (Seven hundred will be moved into sites when the rains are heavy enough.) Practical planning for the Renewable Energy Project is getting underway, and it may be incorporated into the Bioregional Education Program.

Enjoy the details in Renee's lively account. Your support makes this work possible. If you haven't had an opportunity to make a year-end donation, please take the opportunity now. Thanks.

In diversity, Peter Berg, Director Planet Drum Foundation PO Box 31251 San Francisco CA 94131 USA