Ho and I put a bag around the roots of a small tree in the forest.
Sue and I just got back from a short 35 km trip east to see Thai forest land. We went with Uan, a Thai friend, and Ho, one of our fathers. When we got there we picked up Uan’s mother and went a few more km to the house of some of their friends. Uan’s mother grew up in the forests and knows a great deal about the trees there.
They were clearing their forest land to grow sugar cane. Uan explained that the old Thai forests may well be gone from the area in the future. At some trouble and expense they were delaying so that Uan could come in and dig up some of the larger trees for replanting on our foundation property. A large tree prepared for planting can cost a lot. We are getting them free, just paying some for labor and gas. The last load of seven trees (installed) cost us a fraction of what one tree would normally cost.
It’s dig up trees in the morning; transport and plant in the late afternoon. Ho was up past eleven at night watering the first load to get them initially settled in.
Most of these people are sad at having to do this. They grew up in the forests and would love to keep them. Their economic situation tells them otherwise. The land is an asset that they must use if they are to educate their children and have a normal life in modern Thailand. Some have taken to growing pineapple, which can be done under the trees with little forest clearing, but the cane gives a much better return.
In the future it may be that our foundation property will be one of the few places left in our area where some of these trees still grow.
Planting a tree. The burlap bag keeps the root ball together for a short time.
Just yesterday the first load of larger trees came to the foundation property from the forest. We dug holes with a backhoe and planted them with the help of a crane on Uan’s brother’s truck.
The foreground concrete is for a volunteer shelter. There will be a toilet also. Have I ever mentioned that volunteers are welcome here?
Our two first loads gave us fourteen trees and a few mistakes. I think we know more now.
wow… that is so cool that you are transplanting trees to keep them going and for the childrens home area….. amazing….. the houses are being built…does that mean the electrical and water services are in? i wish i were there to help…. rs
We have temporary power coming across the canal. It should do for up to four houses, after that our permanent installation (already planned) needs to go in. Water comes from one of what will be eventually four wells. We will later have a tower on the back of the property, but are using a pressure tank above ground now.