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Jock
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| Joined: | Mon May 14th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: Thu May 31st, 2007 02:29 pm |
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Just purchased my wife's uncle's 20 h dairy farm near Miramar, Costa Rica. It sits at about 1,200 m high and has some steep slopes. I would like to put trees on the slopes to stop erosion and perhaps improve the existing springs. For my kids' sake I would like to plant trees that could be harvested at some way off date. The area is not as dry as Guanacaste, but it does get serious wind December thru February.
I would be interested in finding a good forestry expert who may work this area. Miramar is close to Puntarenas and Esparza. I work as a grounds manager in northern Virginia and while very familiar with this area of CR, I am in need of lots of specific advice. Replies most welcome.
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Mon Jun 4th, 2007 01:35 pm |
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Hi Jock,
The very best thing to do is contact MINAE in your area. They will have a list of forestry engineers and can also advise you on what to plant.
One other thing you can do that is pretty simple, look around the farm and see what is currently growing well and ask your neighbors (Tico) what works well. They will often know more than a forestry engineer.
You might wish to start with wind brakes - and then plant inside. This is more how a natural forest works.
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Jock
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| Joined: | Mon May 14th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: Mon Jun 4th, 2007 02:01 pm |
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Thanks for your quick response. I appreciate your site for its practical advice.
Hope to be able to give a good report of our progress, Jock
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Mon Jun 4th, 2007 04:30 pm |
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One wood I would probably research would be Cocobolo. The quality of cocobolo is superior from what I have heard when it is grown in higher elevations.
Also, I would look at the book Arboles maderables de Costa Rica by InBio. It list 50 types of timber trees of Costa Rica and where they tend to grow (requirements, etc.). It is a great place to start research. It bi-lingual (Spanish / English) if you need some help with your Spanish.
You are welcome to the information.
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Jock
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| Joined: | Mon May 14th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 02:40 pm |
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Hola Fred,
Just got back from a week on the farm in Laguna de Miramar. We sold all the animals back in January, so the new Brizanta pasture grass is up about 4' high. Looks good.
I spoke at length with the MINAE rep in Bagaces. They are now out of the tree supply business having handed it over to ICE. They do still issue the permits for cutting trees. Anything on their endangered tree list they will not let you cut. At the moment the employee could not fid his list, but he was sure that Cocobolo was on the list.This seems to me to be about as backwards as one can get. If it was legal to cut, I imagine their would be stands of the stuff growing all over CR.
If I get some solid contact info that others might use in finding tree sources, I will post it. Jock
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Sat Sep 1st, 2007 12:30 am |
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Hi Jock,
If you plant it, you can cut it, if it is growing wild (self seeded) and is rare, you cannot. So, plant as many cocobolos as you wish for the future.
I actually have quite a few cocobolos left from this years planting if you want. They are in excellent condition and very healthy. 250 colones for each one. You of course have to haul 
We have a lot of other seedlings left this year as well - and nice mix of natives, including Almendro, cornizuelo, Cenizero, Caoba, Acacia (it isn't exactly a native - but pretty close - South America), Cebo, Areno (same family as cebo but produces a much finer wood - nearly extinct too), corteza, tamarindo, and more.
We did our own nursery this year because of the difficulty of finding good seedings.
All seedlings are 250 colones.
Fred
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Jock
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| Joined: | Mon May 14th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: Fri Sep 21st, 2007 02:24 pm |
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Greetings Fred - Thanks for your offering seedling plants. I would be most interested. My father in law lives in Grecia and perhaps could come by and pick them up. Can you give me a phone number or other method of connecting to get the details? Sorry to get back to you after so much of the valuable rainy season has slipped by, but living around D.C. is a trip.
Thanks again, Jock
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Fri Sep 21st, 2007 04:06 pm |
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Hi Jock,
You can contact the office at
In Country
464-1031
In the USA
866-737-5268
Depending where you are in the country, there is still plenty of rainy season.
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finca vida sana
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| Joined: | Fri Aug 10th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 8 |
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 04:09 am |
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Fred - for some time I have enjoyed readiing you life in the camp series as well as other commentaries on this site. I have meant to contacft you for a long time but have never gotten around to writing.
I have a small finca near Siquirres that I am reforesting with a variety of trees. I am purchasing from EARTH university in Pocora, as well as from a Tico friend who goes up into the mountain to gather and then germinate seeds. I noticed that you had some lefover cocobolo and was hoping that you still have some? i would love to get my hands on a few to plant.
Most fo the time I am in the states but will be in CR for a week around the 1st of february.
If you dont ahve any to sell, do you know of anyone who has seeds or seedlings?
Many thanks!
Charlie Liem
Blissboat@aol.com
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 12:11 pm |
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Hi Charlie,
At this time of year we don't have much left, it is when we start planting again. In fact, you shouldn't plant again until the rains start. At that time you won't have any problem finding cocobolo seedlings.
One of the best sources for seeds in Costa Rica is CATIE - just search on CATIE and Costa Rica and you should find them on the Internet.
Hopefully this is helpful.
Also, for those who are interested we do have a Blog now where I write 2 to 3 times a week about our life here in Costa Rica and of course, much of it is about the reforestation that we are doing. It has replaced the Life in the Campo series and I use it as well as a way to keep our tree owners up to date with our doings.
http://fincaleola.com/CostaRicanLife/
Fred
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finca vida sana
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 01:25 pm |
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Fred, thank you very much for this tip. I have been developing a relationship with the folks at EARTH since they are about 15 km from the finca, but have not gone over to CATIE. Is there a person you know who I could call? if not I will find the appropriate erson. Actually my finca is on the slopes of Turrialba, and there is a beautiful (scenery-wise) road between Alegria and The city of Turrialba which winds all over the flank of the mountain. So CATIE is a great day trip for me. Anyway if there is a person you know I would like to call in advance. Also my spanish is OK but sometimes difficult when the subject becomes technical.
I will be coming down for a week about the first of February, and hope to get some seeds then. THe man who has done the planting for me so far is named Rudolpho. Rudolpho has for years scoured the forests on Turrialba for seeds of various species which he then germinates and plants for people doing plantations or reforestation. I like the notion of using wild seed. but there are some he just cant get.
Regards,
Charlie
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Thu Jan 24th, 2008 02:32 pm |
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There might be a reason you don't want to grow cocobolo - I don't know what your elevation is there - but cocobolo likes it really low. It is better to grow what is local if you can - there is no lack for sure.
Regarding the person in CATIE to contact:
Luisa García Serrano
Secretaria Ejecutiva
Banco de Semillas Forestales
CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica
Tel.: (506) 558 2372
Fax: (506) 558 2052
E-mail: secrebsf@catie.ac.cr
This is the individual that we use for seed orders.
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finca vida sana
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Posted: Sun Jan 27th, 2008 03:08 am |
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Fred- I cant tell you how much I appreciate this help. I have been looking for these seeds for a year!
And yes, finca Vida Sana is at 300 meters, so the altuitude should be right. Anyway I like to experiment and just want to grow some of these trees!
Charlie
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Sun Jan 27th, 2008 12:31 pm |
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You are more than welcome - I am glad to see some activity going on with the forum and I am more than willing to give whatever advise I can.
Oh, regarding planting cocobolo. It needs shade to grow into useful wood. You can either planting a very fast growing wood around it (I might suggest acacia or cebo) or you can plant papaya to create shade. If not, you will have a bush. There is many trees like this.
Once you have your plan in place, post it up here and I will help on comments if you like.
I would love to see some pictures of your reforestation project as well.
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finca vida sana
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 04:01 pm |
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Fred – thanks for your response! I am having difficulty raising Dr. Vasquez via email and so will try the telephone next week.
The information about cocobolo was very helpful in preventing me from rushing in and making a mistake. When I get a line on some seeds I will plant in shaded areas rather than out in the middle of the field where I had planned.
Now, I am concerned about making the same mistake again in planting a secondary succession tree instead of a primary. Here is the list of trees I am putting into my converted pasture beginning next week. Tell me if you see any problems with putting a secondary secession trees in first:
Pilon
Chancho rojo
ocora/ocova
cedro rojo
Teca
few almendro near river
Caobilla
Amarillion
I am not familiar with all these trees – particularly the chancho rojo Is this a good tree or junk? Do you see any problems here?
I am going to see if I can find some acacia at EARTH and try those. Is there a local name I should be looking for?
Thanks!
Charlie
ps - here are pictures:
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/akguinan/vida_sana_farm/
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finca vida sana
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 04:53 pm |
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Fred - I just received a call from my manager who says EARTH just contacted her with two trees I have never heard of. She is excited and wants to put some of these in:
Ceneisaro and Guachipelin
Have you ever heard of these? I think I need a hard copy of Lucia's book! is it available in US?
Charlie
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Sat Feb 2nd, 2008 07:12 pm |
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Hi, I don't see any problem. Chancho normally means cebo - not sure what chancho rojo is - it might be bottarama.
The others you mentioned look good too. Even if you do find one would benefit from shade, it is pretty easy to introduce - just plant some papaya around it - good to eat too!
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finca vida sana
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Posted: Mon Feb 11th, 2008 12:08 am |
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Hello again Fred!
Well, what a frustration. Someone came into EARTH and bought all their teca seedlings. While this is good in that someone is planting, it is very bad for me as I was going to put in about a thousand more trees in the next couple of weeks when I am down for a short visit.
I was sucessful in communicating with Luisa at CATIE, and she was very helpful. I am going to attempt to get some of their english- speaking consultants to come over and look at the finca for any suggestions they may have.
One sad thing - they have no Amarillion seeds. I think this is the same tree as roble coral, and I think EARTH has some seedlings.
I am trying to figure out a way to provide a source of trees that I coan count on. I think I am going to buy bulk seed at CATIE and germinate them myself. I am too small to have employees do this but thinking that I could provide the initial investment to set the guy who does my planting up with the seeds and equipment on my land. Then I could have a steady source of seedlings and he could sell the rest as a little side business. So far he has harvested seeds out of the Turrialba national park and germinated them to sell to others.
Charlie
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Mon Feb 11th, 2008 03:25 am |
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If there is one constant to the tropics it is this - it is inconsistant. Doing anything here often feels like herding cats. You just think you have things working, and then find out otherwise.
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ponchit
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| Joined: | Sat Mar 1st, 2008 |
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Posted: Sun Mar 2nd, 2008 01:09 am |
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I am looking for some cocobolo seeds....would you care to give me some sources of these..... I am from the philippines and would like to plant some in my farm........I have been looking for sources but have not come across anyone yet
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