Trees for Paraguay

Teodocio completes a mass planting of Tajy and Peterevy

2000 trees, delivered right to our patio! That’s how phase two of our tree project began. To recap Phase One: We went to agriculture comite meetings and talked to the farmers  about how planting native trees near cultivated land could serve as wind breaks, living posts, and introduce nitrogen and organic matter into the soil. Seeing there was interest in this project, we worked with comite presidents to write grants to a Paraguayan non-profit organization, “ A Todo Pulmon Paraguay Respira”, which has interests in the reforestation of Paraguay. The grants were approved, the farmers signed up for specific numbers and varieties of trees native to Paraguay, we made contact with a tree nursery in Villa Florida, and about two months later, the trees arrived!

Comite Yvy Pyta poses for a picture

A group was on hand to help unload the trees, placing them in designated areas, to separate them by variety. Next, we labeled the trees, counted them and prepared each farmer’s order. The following Saturday, 30 farmers came to our house for the tree distribution. Felix, President of the Yvy Pyta comite, gave a demonstration on how to correctly plant the trees, including how to care for and protect them.  

Comite President, Felix, teaches his members about trees

 Mark and I thanked the farmers for doing their part in re-foresting Paraguay, and the NGO for providing the trees. We also explained that we would be available to help with planting, and would be sending GPS coordinates of the planting sites to the NGO, as required.

Leyla "heads" home with her trees!

And then, the little trees began making their way to new homes, some by wheel barrow, some by horse and cart, some even on the tops of people’s heads!

Jesu Maria takes his 178 native trees home with a little help from a friend

Since then, we have helped  a few farmers plant trees, worked with a 7^th grade class to plant trees at the police station, taken GPS coordinates of completed plantings, taken pictures of proud farmers with their completed tree projects, and are waiting out some cold rainy weather before we set out again.

Juan completed a fence line planting

This has been a rewarding project for us. We worked to: raise awareness about Paraguayan agencies and the grant writing process to access services; empower the farmers to teach each other; and were able to plant a few trees at the same time!