Planting of our Cacao – Bolivar Garden

Early on a bright and sunny day a bunch of volunteers, students, teachers, parents, social service students (and some in detention) came to the Bolivar Garden to plant our 64 clones!

*Students mixing and sieving compost and soil together.*

The day started by collecting more compost from Carlos´s compost area and mixing it with soil residue from Dr Martin´s mushroom farm. This was tough work. As the compost had to be sieved to remove stones and excess clayey soils from the mix. Mixed soil was placed in sacks and taken to holes ready to be used for planting. Additionally, final holes were dug by students and cleaned of rocks.

*Mariana and Jorge sieving soil ready for planting.*

Next clones were allocated to their holes according to the map that had been certified by Dr Olivier Souniga, our on call expert and friend.

*The planting schedule for our cacao clones. Our 11 Fec 2 clones are in green and you can see that they are surrounded by other clones to ensure successful pollination and fertilization.*

Once trees and soil were allocated all involved were given a tutorial on how to plant the cacao trees with the first tree planted by Dana! Volunteers then went through the process of planting trees.

*Our first cacao clone of 64 planted by Dana and the team*

*Marie Elisa and Ivar from our science department came to plant trees with Federico Doering.*

Dr Waliszewski explaining why clones had to be planted in the arrangement that they were. Principally so that the clonal variety FEC 2, had other clones around it to help it fertilize with other trees pollen as it is auto incompatible.

The day was a great success with 24 trees planted.

Planting of our Cacao