The first trees planted!

Our first tree planted in new soil, a sugar apple planted by Moni
Photo by Doug Fruitarky

We decided that a Sunday with the expectation of rain to come during the night was a good day to plant our first 'test' trees. The road to Itá via the usually busy Ruta 2 was a smooth sail without the usual police traps and road rage. Upon arrival we found no evidence of new cow activity on our land, our words of mouth and sign to stay out seem to work so far (but not for humans). Almost our land because we still have to make and sign a formal contract with our friend and current owner. But everything has its time here in Paraguay. We choose a couple of trees to plant (click on the names for more info): a sugar apple, a jackfruit, a flame tree, a Tropical almond, a candle nut, an avocado and a silk floss tree. Besides these we had four papaya seedlings with us which is not considered a tree (more about papaya and its importance to us in a later blog). Besides the tools for the job we carried a heavy big bulk bag filled with freshly shredded leaves and twigs for mulching. The soil was moist due to the heavy rains that fell earlier this week and digging was fairly easy for such bare, mistreated earth that visibly suffered from the drought during the summer under hungry bovines hoofs. My permaculture teacher Doug Crouch of Treeyopermaculture pressed one thing onto me before I dove in this endeavor: first plant the water, then the support trees, then the rest. So we went ahead against his advice, that we will take at heart, without a water system and without a whole bunch of support plants in place. For us it is a next step to see whether these trees can survive without pampering them. However most of these trees are fast growing trees and should do fairly well without a water hose and legumes around. Unfortunately the land is not free from leaf cutter ants so we will find out if our healthy, juicy looking, fresh trees will keep off their voracious radar. At the moment soil life seems virtually non existent in most of the place so fast growing, nitrogen fixing support plants is in the master plan. This week we must consult an artisan well expert that we found through an amigo to see if this if this water works is a viable option depending on the costs. Under a darkening sky we left the new residents behind, feeling hopeful and fulfilled. So much to learn, to know, to plan, to do.

 

Click this link for more images.

We want you for our army of tree planters!
Photo by Monica Aguayo