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 areas are prepared for storing trees, and the bottles are […]
Planet Drum has prepared new bioregional education material. The classic workbook introduction to bioregions by identifying native plants, animals, climate and human activities and then drawing them in a bioregional map has been adapted to suit Ecuadorian school children. They enjoy the mapping project and it has become a fun activity for them. We visited Los Algarrobos School in Canoa to teach two classes (6th […]
Behind the Astillero community greenhouse facility is a large hillside with steep, erosion prone slopes. Guayacan and Algarrobo trees grown at the facility are hardy, drought-resistant and have a strong, deep root systems. They are excellent for erosion control. With Jose María, collaborator from the Astillero neighborhood, guiding us up into the difficult terrain, we carried trees and supplies for planting. Everyone planted a large […]
In Astillero, we continue to make improvements to the community greenhouse facility. A roof was built to keep the sacks of sawdust dry. With artistic assistance from Claudia, we painted and installed a sign at the entrance. While the sign was made, the compost piles continued working. About once a month the piles are turned and move along in the process of becoming compost. After […]
The elevated seedbeds at the Planet Drum greenhouse at the Catholic University are bursting with native fruit and forest species seedlings. One has Chirimoya, Tamarind, and Guachapeli trees. Another has various citrus trees, such as Toronja, Mandarina, Naranja, and Lima Naranja. One morning, after weeding the seedbeds, we transplanted seedlings from the seedbeds to repurposed plastic soda bottles. Certain species, such as Mangoes and Guava […]
“The more things you learn, the more places you’ll go” Since early December, 2017 I’ve been working as a volunteer with Planet Drum. I haphazardly encountered the organization back in June on a plain white website full of blue links promising to find me low-cost volunteering in Latin America. I was looking for ways to fully take advantage of my upcoming gap year. I was […]
Many of Bahía’s residents who lost their homes during the 2016 earthquake were relocated into a government subsidized housing development as part of the earthquake recovery. The newly constructed neighborhood near Leonidas Plaza is called “Los Arguellos”. The low-cost housing (4 apartments share each structure to reduce construction costs by sharing common walls and floors) areas are mostly devoid of vegetation and residents are anxious […]
Compost production in the Astillero neighborhood continues at full throttle. We’ve been transporting organic waste from the Bahía to the Astillero for the past five months and already have produced three massive piles of completed compost that is ready to be prepared as planting soil. Jose Maria is using his portion of the compost to plant 2,000 Maracuya plants for his family farm. Meanwhile, Planet […]
Thus far in January, Planet Drum has made significant progress on a new project: beekeeping. At the beginning of the month, Ricardo and Clay visited our friend Miguel Angel (proprietor of La Colmena in Portoviejo) to discuss apiculture. Miguel Angel has been bee-keeping for years and appears interested in sharing his knowledge with anyone willing to listen. While there, he showed us how he was populating […]