New Photos From Our Farmer Rodell Ferrer

Here are the latest photos taken by our farmer Rodell Ferrer during December 2008.

Coconut

See the coconut seedlings at a later date here.

Langka

See the langka seedlings at a later date here.

Kalamansi

See the kalamansi seedlings at a later date here.

Kasoy

See the kasoy seedlings at a later date here.

Guyabano

See the guyabano seedlings at a later date here.

Avocado

See the avocado seedlings at a later date here.

Pomelo

See the pomelo seedlings at a later date here.

Guava

See the guava seedlings at a later date here.

Chico

See the chico seedlings at a later date here.

Kalamansi

See the kalamansi seedlings at a later date here.

New Photos From Our Farmer Rodell Ferrer

Here are 730 photos taken by our farmer Rodell Ferrer during November 2008.

Visitors

In November 2008 we welcomed our first visitors from Manila and Singapore.

Vegetables

We are growing a variety of vegetables. The first harvest of cucumber and eggplant was in November.

You can also see a banana flower in the photos.

Plowing For The Vegetables

Rodell Ferrer is plowing the field at the lower part of the farm to start the vegetable plantation.
See a tour through the vegetable garden here.

New Photos From Our Farmer Rodell Ferrer

Here are 452 photos taken by our farmer Rodell Ferrer during October 2008.

Mahogany Seedlings

The seeds are grown in the seed boxes first, then are transferred to the nursery after a few weeks.
You can follow the development of the Philippine Mahogany seedlings on the slide show.

Eucalyptus Seedlings

Eucalyptus seeds are sensitive during the germinating process, so a small seed-box was built for their protection. More seed-boxes for a larger number of seeds were completed in August.

Acacia Auri and Acacia Mangium Seedlings

The seeds are grown in seed boxes before being transferred to the nursery after a few weeks.
You can follow the development of the Acacia Auri and Acacia Mangium seedlings on the slide show.
Acacia Auri
Acacia Mangium

Teak Seedlings

The seeds are grown in the seed boxes first, then are transferred to the nursery after a few weeks.
You can follow the development of the teak seedlings on the slide show.
The scientific name of the Philippine Teak is Tectona philippinensis. It is endemic to the Philippines and is threatened by habitat loss.

Molave Seedlings

The seeds are grown in seed boxes first and are transferred to the nursery after a few weeks.
You can follow the development of the molave seedlings on the slide show.
The scientific name of molave is Vitex parviflora. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Kamagong Seedlings

The seeds are grown in seed boxes first and are transferred to the nursery after a few weeks.
You can follow the development of the kamagong seedlings on the slide show.
Kamagong belongs to the ebony family (genus Diospyros), and like many other very hard woods is sometimes called "iron wood", so-called because its wood is iron-like and nearly unbreakable.

Red Lauan and White Lauan Seedlings

The seeds are grown in seed boxes first and are transferred to the nursery after a few weeks.
You can follow the development of the red lauan and white lauan seedlings on the slide show.
The scientific name of red lauan is Shorea Negrosensis, the white lauan's is Shorea Contorta. Both are threatened species and endemic to the Philippines.

Apitong Seedlings

The seeds are grown in seed boxes first and are transferred to the nursery after a few weeks.

You can follow the development of the apitong seedlings on the slide show.
The scientific name of apitong is Dipterocarpus grandiflorus.

Narra Seedlings

The seeds are grown in the seed boxes and are transferred to the nursery after a few weeks.
You can follow the development of the narra seedlings on the slide show.
The scientific name of narra is Pterocarpus indicus.

New Photos From Our Farmer Rodell Ferrer

Here are 428 photos taken by our farmer Rodell Ferrer during September 2008.

Photos Of The Farm From The Opposite Mountain

Rodell Ferrer regularly takes pictures of the farm from the opposite mountain with an eastern direction. From that viewpoint, there is a very nice view of our forest farm.

View On The Farm From The Opposite Mountain

The video shows a walk on the opposite mountain in eastern direction to a view point, from where you have a nice view over our forest farm. The outline is clearly identifiable because of the ipil-ipil planting which was in progress along the border lines in the upper portion at that time.

Alfredo Liongoren holds an individual stewardship as a tenurial instrument over three hectares on this opposite mountain. His earlier attempts to reforest this land have not succeeded and it is all covered with cogon grass which grows as high as three meters at the moment.

The Forest Tree Nursery (4)

The nursery is almost finished and ready to accommodate a few thousand seedlings that we are growing in the seed-boxes first.

You can watch the next stage of the nursery here.

Ipil-Ipil Planting

Ipil-Ipil is popularly known in the Philippines for firewood and is useful in reforestation work. It is also much used as a cover crop and is a good exterminator of cogon grass.
This is a small tree, 2 to 6 meters high. The leaves are compound, 15 to 25 centimeters long, with hairy rachises.

We planted a few thousand ipil-ipil wildlings along the borderline to prepare the upper area for reforestation next year.

Free Farmers Association (3)

Georgy Maragundon is the president of the San Josef Free Farmers Association.

He is explaining the status of the application for the Protected Area Community-Based Resources Management Agreement (PACBARMA).

As soon as this application is approved by the DENR the legal status of the farm land and our rights to develop it will be protected for 25 years. After 25 years this tenurial instrument can be extended for additional 25 years if the development was successful.

DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region IV-A, Calabarzon), Antipolo City (4)

On 19 August we received the response from the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region IV-A, Calabarzon) in Antipolo City regarding or request from 3 July 2008.

CENRO Flordelino M. Rey is explaining the procedure of how a tenurial instrument for Limuranin could be issued.

Limuranin is located in the Marikina Watershed Reservation area and no individual stewardships can be granted there anymore. A tenurial instrument can be granted to community based initiatives only. For this we need to meet with Georgy Maragundon, the president of the San Josef Free Farmers Association.
On the same day we were able to meet Georgy Maragundon in San Joseph to talk about this issue and request the status of the application for the Protected Area Community-Based Resources Management Agreement (PACBARMA).

The Forest Tress Nursery (3)

We started the nursery for the forest tress in July with narra, apitong, mahogany and eucalyptus seeds.
The nursery was expanded to its third stage and a bigger seed box was completed. It carries acacia auri, acacia mangium, kamagong, red lauan, white lauan and teak seeds.
You can watch the next stage of the nursery here.

Narra Seeds

The scientific name of narra is Pterocarpus indicus.
Follow the further development of the seedlings here.

Apitong Seeds

The scientific name of apitong is Dipterocarpus grandiflorus.
Follow the further development of the seedlings here.

Red Lauan and White Lauan Seeds

The scientific name of red lauan is Shorea Negrosensis and the scientific name of white lauan is Shorea Contorta. Both are threatened species, endemic to the Philippines.
Follow the further development of the seedlings here.

Kamagong Seeds

Kamagong belongs to the ebony family (genus Diospyros), and like many other very hard woods is sometimes called "iron wood" so called because its wood is iron-like and nearly unbreakable.
Follow the further development of the seedlings here.

Teak Seeds

The scientific name of Philippine teak is Tectona philippinensis. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Follow the further development of the seedlings here.

Acacia Auri and Acacia Mangium Seedlings

More information on these species on Wikipedia: Acacia Auri and Acacia Mangium
Follow the further development of the seedlings here.

The Forest Tree Nursery (2)

The nursery was expanded to its second stage and another seed box was completed. It carries teak, molave and more eucalyptus seeds.

Later a bigger seed bed was added and the bamboo construction for the 300 sqm-large nursery was finished.

You can watch the next stage of the nursery here.

DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region IV-A, Calabarzon), Antipolo City (3)

The daily flag ceremony of government offices in the Philippines was held in the morning at the exact time we arrived.
The letter from DENR to our request was prepared, but we could not pick it up because it was in another office where the clerk was absent on the day of our visit.
Gabby Mondragon explained the result of the survey in front of the office building, after the meeting with CENRO Flordelino M. Rey.

On 19 August 2008 we visited the office again and received the letter with an explanation from the CENRO.

Germination Of The Seeds

Our first selection of seeds is starting to germinate!

DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region IV-A, Calabarzon), Antipolo City (2)

On 31 July 2008 we had another meeting at the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region IV-A, Calabarzon) in Antipolo City. We were discussing the results of the survey. We are waiting now for the official answer to our request from the meeting on 3 July 2008.
Follow the further progress on 8 August 2008.

f.l.t.r: Dirk Fleischmann, Renato Habulan, Flordelino M. Rey, Aguinaldo L. Lugayan, Manfred Leongoren, Rodolfo Ferrer

Philippine Mahogany Seedlings

After our first discussions about our plan to develop the farm, Rodolfo Ferrer began sowing Philippine mahogany seeds in April 2008 at another place near our farm. The first photos were taken in the end of May. In the end of July we relocated approximately 300 seedlings to our nursery.
Follow the further development of the seedlings here.

Bank Account

Rodolfo Ferrer opened his first bank account in Antipolo City on 28 July 2008, so that I can transfer his payment also when I am abroad.

He applied for a Social Security System number, too.

Rodolfo Ferrer

Rodolfo Ferrer is the farmer and care taker of our forest farm. He moved to Sitio San Josep when he married his wife Pecina. He has seven daughters and two sons.
In the video he is explaining about his work experience since he lives in Sitio San Josef.

Guided Tour 2008

The planting of the app. 500 fruit trees was completed in July 2008. We were walking to the different sites of the farm and Gabby Mondragon is explaining which trees were planted in the area and where we are going to plant the forest trees next year.

Free Farmers Association (2) Honorary Membership

On 31 July 2008 I was accepted as a honorary member of the San Josef Free Farmers Association after my application from 11 July 2008.
Rosa M. Nangit, the treasurer of the association is handing over the official letter to me.

GPS Survey

Referring to our request submitted to the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) in Antipolo City on 3 July 2008 regarding the legal status of our land ,the DENR sent Aguinaldo L. Lugayan to survey the land. He defined the border lines with the help of a GPS system. A map was issued by the DENR for the official recognition of Thomas Daquioag as the occupant of the land. The next meeting with the DENR is on 31 July 2008.

The center point of our forest farm is located here.

Pineapple Planting

We inter-cropped 500 pineapple saplings along the contour lines between the avocado and pomelo seedlings for a short term benefit while we are waiting for the fruit trees to grow up. The pineapple should be ready for harvest after two years. Our other short term crops are, besides the vegetables, banana and papaya plants.

Free Farmers Association (1)

On 11 July 2008 I applied for a membership in the San Josef Free Farmers Association. This organization represents the interests of farmers in the area. Thomas Daquioag has been a member for a few years.
On July 25 2008 I was granted a honorary membership in the San Josef Free Farmers Association.
During my presentation the board-members (Amor Guevara, Sonia Panes, Rosa M. Nangit, Sister Luding) as well as Thomas Daquioag, Renato Habulan and Alfredo Liongoren were present.

Pecina Ferrer

Pecina Ferrer is the wife of our farmer and caretaker Rodolfo Ferrer.
She has lived in Sitio San Josef since the 1970's. In this interview she talks about her memory of the land in Limuranin, her father and how she met her husband.

The Forest Tree Nursery (1)

We started the nursery for the forest trees in July with Narra and Apetong seeds. Later in August the nursery will be expanded with Eucalyptus, Kamagong, Red Lauan and White Lauan, Mahogany, Molave and Teak.
You can watch the next stage of the nursery here.

4.7.2008, The Forest Tree Nursery, 5'59 from Dirk Fleischmann on Vimeo.

Request at DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region IV-A, Calabarzon), Antipolo City (1)

On 3 July 2008 Thomas Daquioag and I met Mr. Flordelino M. Rey, officer in charge at the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region IV-A, Calabarzon) in Antipolo City. We submitted a letter of request regarding the legal status of the land in Limuranin that we are about to develop. We were asking for a tenurial instrument for the area where our farm is located. With this we intend to secure the legal status of our reforestation initiative and to guarantee our occupancy of our farm land in the future.
In response the DENR sent Aguinaldo L. Lugayan to survey the land on 17 July 2008.
Our next meeting is on 31 July 2008.

Planting Fruit Trees (2)

We stored the fruit tree seedlings at the house of the Ferrer family after the transport from the nursery in Batangas province. The seedlings were then carried with the help of a water buffalo to the farm site.
The video shows how we brought pomelo seedlings to Limuranin and planted them on our farm.
You can also watch how we planted banana and pineapple here.

The Creek

After Typhoon Frank the rain increased and the tiny creek in the center of the terrain was not dried out anymore. We are now preparing the site for the vegetable plantation on both sides along the creek. The vegetables will grow in between some fruit trees.

Walk From San Josef To Limuranin

The walk starts at the house of the Ferrer family in Sitio San Josef where we deposit the fruit tree seedlings before planting. It ends at the top of our forest farm. The place is called Limuranin. From the top you have a good view over the mountain area in our neighborhood. These mountains were covered with a rainforest 30 years ago. Some areas are farmed now but with inappropriate techniques that exhaust the soil and cause more erosion.
You can find the exact location on google maps.

Fruit Trees Planting

The planting started in June 2008. On the photos you can see how Rodolfo Ferrer is transporting the seedlings from his house to the farm. So far banana, cashew, jackfruit, kalamansi and mango have been planted.
The planting process continues here.

Farm Layout

We begin the development of the land on the lower part with fruits and vegetables. The video shows the contouring with the A-frame. The A-frame is a tool with a perpendicular to find the contour line along the slope.

Farm Plan Second Meeting

Our farm plan is the brain child of our consultant Gabby Mondragon. We rely on Gabby's expertise from reforestation projects within the last 20 years. The video shows excerpts of the planning and design process.
It tells about Gabby's background and gives insights into the ideas of the forest farm in regards to the complexity of reforestation issues.
The video was shot during our ride to the mountain and on the ground in Limuranin.

It closes with a shot of a cogon grass fire on our way back to Manila. This is one of the threats that we will be confronted with in our reforestation endeavor.

Fruit Trees Transport

We purchased the fruit tree seedlings from the Pioneer Green Plant Nursery in Balas, Talisay (Batangas Province) owned by Jocie and Aurelio Matienzo.
We chose a variety of fruit bearing trees - avocado, cacao, cashew, chico, coconut, dalandan, duhat, guava, guyabano, jackfruit, kalamansi, macopa, mango, pomelo, siniguelas and santol.

You can watch the planting of the fruit trees here.

Limuranin Landscape

Views from our forest farm land before we started to develop it.

Farm Plan First Meeting

Our farm plan is the brain child of our consultant Gabby Mondragon. We rely on Gabby's expertise from reforestation projects within the last 20 years. The video shows excerpts of the planning and design process.
It tells about Gabby's background and gives insights into the ideas of the forest farm in regards to the complexity of reforestation issues.
The video was shot during our ride to the mountain and on the ground in Limuranin.
The third meeting took place on June 2 2008.

From Manila To Limuranin

Limuranin is the name of a mountain area near Antipolo (Rizal Province). Thomas Daquioag has been occupying a piece of land there for several years. The lot is 1.7 hectares. We decided to develop the land and start our own reforestation project on this site. The video shows the way from Manila to Limuranin on our first visit in March 2008. It takes one or two hours to go there by jeepney and tricycle, depending on the traffic.
Limuranin on Google Maps

The Carbon Me Story Part (1)