11/12/2016
This is our carbon sink project located in South East Asia, on a southernmost island in the Philippines in a remote pristine area, which is almost 3 years in the making and has 3 years yet to go to reach early production stage. As the years go on the 20 acre project with absorb more and more carbon as the trees become larger and mature. Formerly this was 20 acres of rice paddy and in the dry season almost as dry as a desert, contributing to global warming.
We have planted over 6,000 cacao trees from seedlings, 1,000 cashew trees from the seed and about 800 exotic dwarf coconut trees from seedlings. It is remarkable how even already now it is quite cool walking in and around the farm where before was scorching Arizona desert type heat.
As far as we know, there is no other project like this in the world. What makes this farm a bit more special is we did not crowd any of these guys in order to maximize planting. Although at the moment it looks crowded as the years go on this will change.
The cashew trees will be allowed to grow quite tall providing shade for the cacao guys as well as a wind break as there is a yearly windy season where severe winds lasting several months can devastate the crop. Also the cashew will provide shade for the cacao creating sort of a tropical forest.
Then the dwarf coconut trees will do the same for everyone. Shade and wind break. We will use the coconut trees to continue producing the Finest Coconut Sugar in the World, as well as other healthy by-products.
This has been an expensive and at times heartbreakingly difficult, very expensive but exciting project but due to the diligence, care and dedication our Filipino family has exerted we are starting to pull through and expect a small cacao crop early next year and a few hundred kilos of cashew.
So we are enthusiastically doing our part for the environment and hopefully will be able to pay for it soon.