Vol 3 Iss 3 Oct/Nov/Dec 2005 - Jan 2006 For best printing results set Page Orientation to 'landscape'
	Dear Friends As tropical storms and hurricanes formed and raged over the Caribbean in September and October 2005, Puerto Rico was fortunate to escape major catastrophes and damage. Sustained, heavy rainfall however, demanded attention to all aspects of drainage, erosion control, and road maintenance at Las Casas de la Selva. The hectic pace at the project continued, and over November, December 2005 and January 2006, Las Casas welcomed people from all over the world, to partake in scientific studies, tree surveys, night-time frog studies, and happily hosted dozens more who put in their time and energies into upgrading the infrastructure. During her stay in November 2005, Sierra was invited to the Earthwatch Principle Investigators Conference, in Boston, to make a poster board presentation about the Rainforest project and to encourage volunteers for the 2007 Earthwatch Programs at Las Casas de la Selva. Andrés Rúa is now living full time at Las Casas de la Selva. Born in the local town of Patillas, he has been working with us as a volunteer since May 2005. Andrés has upgraded many of the electrical systems around the homestead, working on all projects, and just recently installed the hot water system in Bano Azul. With a view to long-term ecological maintenance of the area, Andrés' work has included the massive undertaking in cleaning up Lake Patillas, and initiating community-based responses to environmental issues. As well as partaking in all aspects of the project, from hosting volunteer groups, to organizing local interactions, Andrés will continue to make beautiful musical instruments from the Blue Mahoe. He is accepting commissions. Andrés traveled to Europe for five weeks in December and January and spent time living at The October Gallery, Bloomsbury, London. An accomplished guitarist and composer, Andrés performed a solo evening of Nova Trova music at the Gallery. 3t spent two months in Europe, traveling to London, Berlin and Amsterdam with Andrés, and as of February 2006, is settling for an extended period at Las Casas de la Selva. 3t has been making a short film about the rainforest, based on her paintings. A CD is available. Contact 3t Earthwatch Since 2001, Earthwatch volunteers have arrived at Las Casas de la Selva to partake in the surveying of trees as part of our sustainable forestry research program. The information obtained from this study will help to create a future planting program including thinning of some of the planted tree areas and the replanting of areas that have been severely damaged, usually due to hurricanes. Earthwatch volunteers are also carrying our Coqui Frog Surveys, a program initiated under the guidance of Patricia Burrowes and Rafael Joglar of the University of Puerto Rico, who we thank for their unflagging enthusiasm and involvement at our project. Over the last season, two Earthwatch teams met the challenges of carrying out the research study on our terrain with humor and diligence. Few of us will forget the sight of George Benson sailing down a steep, muddy slope towards the river, catching himself just in time, and standing up to announce in true British fashion that everything was perfectly all right! We hope to publish the results of the ongoing Earthwatch studies soon. Who has been staying in the rainforest? In November 2005, Freddy Dempster, Systems Engineer for Global Ecotechnics, Santa Fe, NM, designed the foundations for our new bunkhouse and headed up the crew digging and building the foundation, stopping only to remove the caked mud from his boots when they became too heavy for his feet to carry!! Marie Harding, President of Tropic Ventures, Manager of Synergia Ranch, Center for Innovation, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, artist and photographer, brightened up our kitchen and guest room with a whisk of a paintbrush, organized storage spaces, and built very useful shelving, including a back-door rack to store our muddy shoes! Heavy rains and power outages did not deter Biff Houlden, the founder of Globalworks, and his team of friends, Tom McDowell, Dave Drews, Dayton Coles, Ted First, Erik Werner, Patrick O’Reilly, Gianni Salvador, Fritz Moriarty and Colin Millar, from building a bunk house with five bunk beds in 6 days. All the materials were donated by The Bunk House Boys and Globalworks. This is an invaluable upgrade to the project and will provide comfortable shelter to our teams of researchers and volunteers for years to come- thank you so much guys! Molly Robertson and Joe Sarquilla spent the winter season with us hosting the Earthwatch teams. Joe has made several trips to the project now, and is becoming a proficient field assistant. Molly has been Sierra's marvelous field assistant with Earthwatch teams for three years and she is completing her science courses in California to enable her to study tropical botany at UPR in the future. Mark Nelson spent December with us hosting Earthwatch and helped to gather the last essential data needed so that we may write up and publish our findings on this round of tree surveys. Andrew Hayim de Fries from Australia visited for a few weeks , fixed our main gate , assisted in completion of the Bunk House and gave Joe some valuable welding instructions. Reka and Priska Komaromi have spent time here at the project, consulting in all areas. Reka has instigated an open-air bath that can receive hot water and provide aromatic baths. Priska continues with her home schooling program and has been an invaluable help in all aspects of the project. Thank you both for your wonderful enthusiasm. Karin, and Katie her daughter, came to stay for a week during Earthwatch, helped out at the homestead and with food preparations. Sculpture In the fall of 2005, Omar Collazo (sculptor, restorer and natural builder) made a 13 foot high sculpture (metal, wood and plastic) called "The Philantropic Lace" for the Philantropic Communitary Foundation of Puerto Rico. Philantropic foundations from many parts of the world came for the unveiling of the sculpture. Many projects related to fine arts and natural building were discussed and developed in the meeting. Please contact Omar for more information. vidasustentable@gmail.com or omar.collazo@gmail.com (787) 271-3402 Cell: (787) 501-2711. Labyrinth/Mandala @ Las Casas Maria Benedetti , from Las Vegas, Cayey, Puerto Rico, the author of "Earth and Spirit: Medicinal Plants & Healing Lore from Puerto Rico" , instigated a magical afternoon for us at Las Casas during which we created a beautiful labyrinth with the help of friends and neighbors. In spite of the rain it was a memorable afternoon, and everyone is welcome to come and take a meditative walk in it! Organic Gardening Raul Rosado organic agriculture expert, has been staying with Omar Collazo at Los Helechos (formally known as the saw mill) since early 2005, where he has set up an organic plant nursery and garden. Raul has provided us with many delicious herbs and vegetables. With the help of Damian Garcia, Raul has planted gardens in many urban areas and has attracted a large clientele for his organic produce. Raul is always happy to teach volunteers who wish to learn by assisting in his nursey and making gardens. For more info on his future projects: Contact Our organic gardens at Las Casas have been thriving, providing fresh herbs for teas & cuisine, as well as giant tomatoes, habaneros, jalapenos, papayas, guavas and bananas. Education and Theatre Mary Wooten from the Woopets Performance Company in Athens, Georgia, stayed at Las Casas for 10 days with her daughter Casey and her friend Charlie. They brought two big boxes full of puppets and costumes, and we had a wonderful time playing in the forest. Together with Reka , Priska , Charlie and Casey, Mary put on a wonderful show at the Tasis school in Dorado. We performed a Taino myth and a Brer Anansi story that has its origins in West Africa, but has travelled all across the Caribbean. The kids had a lot of fun, and so did we. Las Casas de la Selva would like to graciously thank everyone who has helped the project in various ways, this season. Freddy Dempster, Systems Engineer for Global Ecotechnics, Santa Fe, NM Marie Harding, President of Tropic Ventures, Manager of Synergia Ranch The Bunkhouse Boys: Biff Houlden, Tom McDowell, Dave Drews, Dayton Coles, Ted First, Erik Werner, Patrick O’Reilly, Gianni Salvador, Fritz Moriarty and Colin Millar Omar Collazo would like to thank Janice Falcon, Damian Garcia, Raul Rosado, & Andrés Rúa, for their help with the Philantropic Lace Sculpture. Javier Rojas & Carmello Torres , Sonadora, Patillas for help on the bunkhouse foundations. Santtos Torres and Chila, for always being there, and generous support and encouragement in every aspect involving the project and people. Monica Caldari for organizing the show at Tasis Dorado. Mary Wooten, Charlie, Casey and Woopets Performance Company, for bringing the Woopets to the forest & Puerto Rico. George Benson, for the water saving showerheads and your generosity. Isah JahMichael Sternick, Curby & Amber, for help with the bathhouse and work on the road. Photo Credits: Marie Harding, Reka Komaromi, Molly Robertson, Cameron Tommey, Sally Silverstone, 3t Vakil www.eyeontherainforest.org Home * Blue Mahoe * Wastewater Garden * Frog Study * Green Gallery * Archive * Donate * Contact * Links & Credits