Notes from Jenny

The following is a chronology of some of the things I learned about this farm from forester and Costa Rican resident Jenny Smith:

June, 2005:
The streams are all covered and the water in the area is very healthy. There are 6 streams in total running thru the 87 hectares (217 acres) that belong to Gilbert and his Brother. Also, Gilbert did express interest in staying involved in your project, helping to care for the farm, working with me, etc. He loves this part. He had a great feeling with you and was very thankful for the colorado cap!
Take care, good luck, keep the faith and as the Ticos say, "si dios quiere". I am slowly adopting more and more this attitude and it is amazing how much Less stress I feel.
Pura vida,
Jenny

The Tico Owner of the Mother Farm, Gilbert:
Gilbert said that he would certainly keep an eye on things for you and me and help take care of the farm in terms of administration or organization under me. He is not a machete type, with Gilbert being more of a business man and thus will not be one of the actual workers on the farm, but does have a cell phone and can help me keep an eye on stuff for you without incurring travel time or costs etc. So this is good news too.

...Truly, the more I get to know this family, the more I think it is the farm for you. They are wonderful and Gilbert is going to do all kinds of special things over the years I know. He is also happy about building a relationship and his eyes lit up when I said that you want his kids to come to Colorado one day.

Sept. 29, 2005

Waterfalls and fruit trees:

There is a little waterfall on your land. We will be putting fruit trees around this area as there is a trail leading up top it currently deforested. The fruits will be accessible for you and the animals and should be a great place to build a rancho, bird watching area etc.

We planted all of the fruiting trees along the stream and made several areas near the waterfalls little fruit orchards etc. There are nice little horse watering holes all over and this area will be great in the future. The hardwoods we concentrated on the non building portion and did not block any views etc. In fact, we really focused everything to the right of the light pole plantelle and kept all the trees together for competition over towards where the platanoes etc. are growing and the hills on the other side of the stream. The area where a road could go in one day to the second ocean view plantelle on KC was reserved by ten meters in the space we all thought would be the easiest for the road. Wood trees line the area and will be easy to take out one day. A few little flat area were reserved for fruits also towards big plantelle.

Views and topography from ocean view lots:

I know the first little group of hills going to your plantelle have ocean view. Gilbert says the further one does too. All are very buildable. At least 300 meters squared the smallest natural home site area and the others are all very large and can be groomed even bigger. At least 500 meters squared. Plus, all the hills offer themselves to be terraced as the shape of the land is naturally this way. ANd they are not steep so you re not building on risky terrain or landslide terrain.

Setting fences, and getting a good ocean view photo during this rainy week:

We have to use the heaviest barbed wire to protect the trees against any runaway cows or horses who love baby trees for a snack.

Still no sun and no views but always a strong breeze and super pleasant. We went on the four wheeler since we were not delivering and it was a beautiful ride early morning along the river. We saw SOO many animals.

Amenities, Ocean view lots

Here is electricity, cell phone coverage, great two wheel access on a public maintained road, and clean potable aqueduct water with tubes running at the front door.

Reforestation areas on the farm:

In general, there is soo much space to plant Kathleen. All of the land is usable and there is a lot of water yet well drained. We were not working in soup even with all the rains.

We are making a few blooming sections in areas that are key and not interfere with the plantation and be good privacy providers if you end up selling other plantelles.

The farm is really nice down by the streams and in general.

My other investment on a reforestation project in the north--comments from Fred re tree spacing:

As far as spacing, it depends more on soil than on future purpose. If the soil is average, it is normally 3 meters, we are at 3.5, and sometimes it is as low as 2.5. You want the trees to compete some, especially natives. Some of the natives do much better with shade as well. Always start nearer to the the large trees when you are working with natives.

...By the way, I saw the footprint of a Tapir on the Monte Cristo farm a couple of weeks ago. Very cool. It was also a little surprising. Looks just like the print of a small elephant.

Fencing:

I think the $400 you sent will just cover all of these expenses with the heavy barbed wire etc. It is a strong fence and the cows should not break in. They also fenced in the stream area as I asked just in case. GIlbert and I had a good chat about the cows and HE PROMISED me to keep them out of the vicinity. He will also keep an eye on all fences for us and repair as needed to prevent tree damage. SO, I feel tranquila with leaving the farm without regular visits as we were hoping to do with gilbert's help.

Jenny Smith's policy on the trees she planted on my land:

I will give you a 10 % guarantee in free trees next year in other words, 330 trees free to replace dead trees, trying always to replace with similar growth rates and or special fruits that are diverse from ones I have this year. I do not pay for the workers to plant them unless I return to plant more trees the next year. Otherwise, I will deliver the trees to the farm and yes, organize workers etc. for a fee.

So, good thing, You still have soo much space to plant and I think the entire farm lends itself to successful tree farming with biological corridors protecting all of the water and nacientes and stream banks. It will be producing wood and food in the coming years!

Sustainable Futures Center Location Description:

The land contains a steep area covered with big trees. This land will follow down to some undescribed point below including a lot of pasture etc as well, no ocean view. The access right now is bad with erosion and the electricity etc. is not right up next to the plantelle. Lacks about 500 meters.

The road going up to the plantelle is the responsibility of the land owner and Gilbert only cut that road for people to get up to the plantelle. He will not be doing more work on it, I bet. The public road is the responsibility of municipality but many times the community has to pay for its upkeep. Usually this is reasonable considering all the work. No requests for contributions have been made of you and whoever buys the upper piece will have to work on the entrance and the utilities

November, 2005

Will the houses on the farm be in view of one another? How about the ocean view?

We can do creative tree plantings between all of the plantelles that will create natural view blockers and privacy makers, plus give shade, food and animal corridors, and beauty. It can be designed with keeping each view intact given the natural set up of the land.

Where is the land owner, Gilbert's house?

His house is located in the curve before you get to the fork in the road. It is below on the hill that ascends to the farm. It is not visible from your land or the land where the other ocean-view lots are located. The land at the ditch would be Gilbert's land and he says the only area he may sell sometime would be going up the road where there is a little natural plantelle with no ocean view. This lot is not visible from your land either because of natural tree barriers. Given I am a stickler for wanting to only see my own land and vision too, I can totally understand your question and can only say that the set up does not offend my own sense of privacy and or desire to control what is in my eyesight. It is just a little lot. He intends to keep the rest of the land for him and his kids etc.

What are the reforestation credits the government provides there, and carbon rights for growing trees?

Cristian at ASANA can help with all these applications. When you come down, you can meet with him. The programs are complicated and require a lot of administrative paperwork. I have helped clients int he past but it is a frustrating process and requires travel to San Jose etc. Cristian at ASANA has all the current info and in fact, we are working on a note right now to be published here and I will send to you when it is done in the next few weeks, summarizing the benefits for 2006.

PSA or Pagados for Servicios Ambientales pays you for preserving jungle. Usually is about $75 a hectare and is case by case decision and by area and how close to a corridor, whether water is involed etc. The other is a reforestation program that pays $800 over a ten year period per hectare. These programs are given on a quota basis determined by the forestry department of CR, FONOFIFO, and organizations like ASANA active in the area. See oficinaforestal.com. Also see, oficinaforestal.com.

What are the frustrations a person from another country might deal with in Costa Rica?

Try to explain to your buyers that they are DEALING with a different country and different ways of doing things, perhaps a lot looser than in the States.

Try to explain to your buyers that they need to be prepared for little complications like email and telephone headaches that happen down here and if this is gonna stress them out, they need to re-think cuz this place down here is not for the meek or the perfectionist. Roads wash out, telephones don't work, email is a terror, internet is hard to come by and undependable and very expensive without a high speed line and is not always good or trustworthy,

Regarding lawyers, English speaking offices with good full service staffs are very difficult to find. Many lawyers down here will do any deal and not stand behind it and this is very dangerous. I have seen too many shysters down here and again, will do whatever I can to make sure you and your buyers get what docs they need in a timely basis.

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