Posts
This summer Planet Drum hosted the fourth study abroad program with the University of Oregon. The course is called Sustainable Development in Latin America and covers the tensions, challenges, and possibilities for reconciling development and conservation in the dry tropical forest zone, a critically important and globally imperiled ecosystem. Twelve students were accompanied by professor Moriah McGrath on […]
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Volunteers Nico and Kate helped construct a composting toilet with recycled wood. The design is a simple wood box, open on the bottom, with a toilet seat on top. In the woods near the greenhouse, Orlando and three other volunteers (Laura, Peter, and another Kate) dug a hole approximately 4 ft deep and 2 feet […]
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June was a particularly productive month with excellent assistance from six volunteers: Mikaela (Finland), Alisa (Switzerland), Kate (England), Colleen (U.S.), Nico (Spain), and Laura (Ecuador). The entire greenhouse area continued to evolve and progress. Space for more trees was increased as tree production expanded. More than 1,000 new trees were transplanted from the seedbeds to […]
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A brief bit of background:Planet Drum’s local collaborator from the Astillero Community Greenhouse, José María happens to be the father of another good friend: Chino. Chino is a jack of all trades, who happens to work for Flor María and her son Patricio Tamaríz. Patricio and Flor María were two of Peter Berg’s original contacts […]
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Ceibo trees in the region began flowering copiously in late May, which means there is an abundant source of pollen for the regions pollinators. It also means that there should be ample opportunities to collect seeds within a few months. Together with our Apiculture partner Ricardo, we’ve made several wild captures of bee colonies. In […]
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Los Algarrobos natural sciences teacher and Planet Drum collaborator Enrique contacted me requesting some soil for a garden project that he had in mind for the school. I suggested that the Planet Drum crew assist with the project and that we would be happy to donate the necessary soil. On this particular Friday, we visited […]
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One of Planet Drum’s original contacts in Bahía is Ramon Cedeño. Ramon owns and runs the Punta Gorda Nature Reserve, where over the years Planet Drum has donated and assisted in planting hundreds of native trees for habitat restoration. We visited Punta Gorda with Ramon to go on a hike up the seasonal creek bed and […]
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A longtime friend of Planet Drum, Lucas Oshun, has been involved in a myriad of ecological projects over recent years, including directing Global Student Embassy projects, starting a bamboo construction company that donated bamboo houses to earthquake victims, as well as coordinating Dry Tropical Forest research and reforestation initiatives. Lucas is now administrating a new […]
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The Community Greenhouse in the Astillero neighborhood continues to expand its seedling and compost production. It is possible that José María, Planet Drum’s contact there, is even more enthusiastic about trees and plants than we are. In his excitement to produce more trees, José María had strewn materials everywhere. There were cut bottles, uncut bottles, […]
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There is always lots to do at the Planet Drum greenhouses. At the main greenhouse behind the Catholic University, the trees are growing quickly in re-purposed plastic bottles, while the seedbeds continue to germinate new seedlings. Soil is prepared for filling bottles, and plastic bottles are cut to make receptacles for seedlings. After new greenhouse […]
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