Day5 CR – Tree planting

Day 5 – Nothing can sum up exactly the impact or the beauty of this day. We travelled to the coffee cooperative where we split up into smaller off road vehicles. The roads we were going to be heading toward were small isolated roads that winded up mountains to reach the coffee plants that are at elevated altitudes. Many years ago, the coffee farmers realized that the weather was changing and that through climate change they had to start building canopies of trees within their coffee fields for them to grow and produce well and keep them cooler. This tree planting started well into the 80s at the lower altitudes. Over the years, they moved their crops higher into the mountains where it was cooler to offset this change. Eventually the temperature increases have followed them into these higher elevations and they have been planting canopy trees in anticipation of the same pattern. When we offered to plant trees, we were given these areas where some of their highest crops were found. Along with being higher on the mountain, the crops were also on a steeper incline. So, you could imagine how our day went.

This year was a new location from other years and so we were not sure what the location would be like or what the conditions of the soil and terrain would be.  I was a bit nervous as I have had issues with my hips, knees and ankles in the past and didn’t want to not keep up or contribute.  In the end, it all turned out fine and there were no serious injuries.  I wore good Merrill shoes that were so helpful and pants that were quick dry that was also good.  We split into smaller groups and got into the back of the trucks and jeeps provided. The climb up the hill was equally as scary as the climb down. At times, there was little road and only dirt where we ploughed the wheels through. We met up with diggers who were expanding an existing road such as this to create a smoother path. All the while next to a ravine of nothing. We would look across the great valley expanse and our driver pointed to a side of a cliff or at least that is what it appeared like from our perspective and said that is where we would be planting. We all laughed nervously and with some excitement as we were very close to the edge and hoped our driver had his morning coffee.  When we arrived, we could see a small overhead shelter that had been erected for the harvest season and a small washroom house. The views from this vantage point were incredible. We were oriented to our tools of spades and shovels along with baskets of trees. We split into small groups and made our way down rows of coffee plants and were told by the leader where to plant. This went on for a few hours with over 100 trees being planted. Although this is not an incredible number for tree planters, the type of path we had to steady ourselves on and soil conditions were challenging. At the same time, it felt rewarding knowing this was building more coverage in Costa Rica and subsequently for the world. At one point when I describe this experience to my friends and family, I ask them to imagine me climbing like Spiderman from one row of trees to the other one above and had to belly down on the edge and crawl up to the next row. There were a few falls with balance due to the incline. We all survived with little injuries and lots of dirt. Our hosts in between had a lunch wrapped in plantain leaf of rice and beans and chicken. Not only was this an incredible experience from a physical perspective it was also an incredibly important one from an emotional and spiritual one. Who would have thought that a 47 year old woman like me would be Spiderman climbing the side of a steep incline trying to plant trees in Costa Rica. It was a personal win on many levels and something I had been making sure my body was able to handle before going.

I did at times think that this sweat and labour is only partially making up for the destruction that we created by our flight to CR.  The sad part is that there are thousands of flights a day and no one is planting trees with each of those flights.  How do we offset our carbon footprint not just when we fly but also when we drive and do other activities that consume or create items with carbon emissions?  If it didn’t save the planet, it was a tangible way to feel some discomfort in our lives that required effort to make us understand that nothing is for free.  There is a cost to someone or something directly or indirectly.  I think in North America we tend to forget that and live off the fruits of our labour in isolation and not consider the bigger picture.  How do we get the bigger picture infused in our lives, thoughts and heart?  In Costa Rica, they did this with their children.  They planted the seeds starting in the classroom knowing they were raising a generation of environmentalists.  They taught them the science and they have them live it by being responsible to plant trees every year.  This is one way that they create a sustainable future in their youth.