Roberta's Forest Blog — Let's Get Planting

Chichas in his yoga pose

We have great, good news to share with all of you, so listen up.

Two years ago the LRFF was nominated by a large U.S. non-profit organization to participate in a challenge that, if we can win, will earn us a permanent place on their fundraising website. They collect donations for projects by NGO’s all around the world. The organization is called Global Giving and they have a 501 (c) (3) tax-deductible status. They post international organization’s projects on their website to collect tax deductible donations for worthy projects.

What an opportunity this presents for all LRFF forestry projects, because we will be eligible to receive funds from many U.S. donors. To name a few of the large full-time donors, Hewlitt Packard, Google (and all employees who want to support a project with regular monthly donations directly from their salaries), Mission Fish on eBay, plus many foundations and other organizations.

To win a permanent place on the website we have posted one project on the Global Giving website and must be able to collect, at least, $4000 from a MINIMUM of 50 donors. The challenge start date was August 18th at midnight and it runs until September 18th at midnight. This gives the LRFF one month (31 days) to succeed.

We know we can count on all of you to help us because of your generous support in the past. The trick, for us, is to have at least 50 donors, so please send the link to this blog with a short explanation to all of your friends and family. If everyone could just donate $10 (the minimum donation) this will definitely win us a place on the website.

Please go to www.GlobalGiving.com/3558 and make your donation. There are different options to use for payment. Global Giving keeps only 10% and this has been added over and above the project budget. When we win we will be able to post as many projects as we want. See what I mean, this is a great opportunity to GET US PLANTING!!

So come on everyone and help us to help our Earth and all the life that depends upon her.

Cindy Brand and Christina

Other news, we went to San Isidro del General on August 13th to look at Cindy Brand’s farm, “Finca Salvaje”. We have been corresponding with her for over a year now and trying to figure out how to reforest her farm. With the Global Giving opportunity, if we win, her reforestation project will be the next project we post on the GG website.

Cindy has over 30 hectares (40+ acres). She will sell her portion of the cows on the farm. Her farm administrator, doña Christina, will keep her portion of the cows, but this will free up approximately 12 hectares that we will reforest in all native trees. And get this……her farm is only about 1 mile away from the famous Los Cusingos, Alexander Skutch’s home for over 50 years and bird sanctuary.

Cindy and me scoping out the future forest

The area she will reforest connects to the Rio Calientillo, runs along the public road at the front of her property, all the way to the forest along the river on the other border of her property, Rio Caliente, and even covers a large swampy, sinking bowl in the pasture below the house. Then another strip along the river a ways down that would enlarge the existing forest.

Between the public road on left and the row of trees in the foreground will be planted

Cindy had us stay with her in her beautiful log cabin at the top of the property, with views 360 degrees around. The altitude is over 700 meters and very refreshing. The nights are cold with sparkling, warm days.

Cindy’s house

We also met with some of the neighbors and explained how the reforestation and forest preservation projects work. Everyone got super inspired and said they would talk it up in their communities and amongst themselves. They promised many people in the weeks to come wanting to sign up for the projects.

We drove back to Tilarån on Mother’s Day, a beautiful day. I could actually feel the love all around, it was palpable, in the air rushing in the car window against my skin. Just before the entrance to La Reserva we saw an example of the life that is bursting at the seams here. I like to say that the La Reserva property is cram packed with life, that describes it best. Anyway, here he is, our neighbor.

Gray Hawk

LET’S GET PLANTING!!!!