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 agro-ecology project on a farm near the town of Chone […]
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, piles of soil, transplanted trees, and sacks of sawdust strewn […]
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 […]