A small contribution to mother earth
The idea that the small undertaking I have been doing these past few years does not dent, even a bit, the horrendous problem of global warming will never discourage me at all. Friends and detractors alike who know what keeps me busy on weekends, have a common tack. On one hand, well meaning buddies, believing that I may be motivated by such icon as climate change, have been telling me that my efforts, no matter sincere are useless. Ironically, critics of mine echo similar point although they do so in a more derisive manner. But, I laugh them off.
Why am I not affected by these seemingly negative thoughts? Truth to tell, when I started to plant Mabolo and other trees in my small area way up in the mountains, alongside patches of vegetables like tawong, paliya and batong, my purpose was purely personal. Erning Potot, a friend and a physical conditioning buff, even erred when he entertained the idea that I was mainly trying to keep myself physically active although I must admit that sweating it out in the farm had been quite beneficial that thank God, I do not have any maintenance medicines to take.
Well, planting those trees, at every opportunity I could, had nothing to do with much publicized government reforestation programs. Not even the prick of social consciousness prodded me to do what I was undertaking. To provide my children and their own kids with some home-building materials of the hardwood variety when the time comes, was, is and will be the only consideration why each Saturday since 2005 up to the present I visit my small place and tend to my plants.
Early on, choosing the kind of tree suitable to my objective was my first biggest problem. Wanting to get the correct specie at the outset, I had to be meticulous and thorough in my selection process. With my background in law being not helpful, I had to ask from knowledgeable people. If it had to be hardwood, what specie should I plant? Bayong, Kamagong and Yakal were mentioned as among the hardest of woods. What I learned was that they were so hard that one would need to drill thru them before using any nail, the reason being that it was almost impossible to impale such hardwoods directly with hammers and nails.
Bayong and Yakal seedlings were hardly available. In fact, I was able to secure 8 Bayong seedlings only and none of Yakal. But also in my early efforts, I learned that Kamagong was a local name given to the lumber coming from the Mabolo tree. Having seen such trees growing in the UP Cebu campus and in some parts of the city, I decided to focus on that specie. I got my first 50 seedlings from the then Visayas College of Agriculture, in Baybay City, Leyte.
A Mabolo tree does not grow fast. (To compare, the other hardwoods in Tugas and Chico that I belatedly planted, are much taller now). Desiring to make sure that newly planted seedlings survived, I had to cultivate the soil where I planted them quite regularly to remove the grass and weeds. Upon suggestion of the knowledgeable, I did not and have not scrimped on fertilizers. In those long stretches of sunny days, I took the task of watering the plants.
I noticed that the trunks of the 30-year-old Mabolo trees growing at the plaza grounds of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, were not smooth. An expert I consulted taught me to cut the branches while young and indeed, my trees, some of which are now fifteen-footers, have better trunk formations.
Today, I have more than 100 Mabolo trees in my mountain lot. There are of course Avocado, Bangkal, Bituon, Bugnay, Caimito, Cherry, Chico, Lomboy, Nangka, Talisay and Tugas that I have been taking care of. I am sure my kids will find these useful in the future.
But, the point that I write on this subject today is my realization that if only each of us plants and more importantly, takes care of our trees, we, without knowing it contribute, in our modest ways, to help mother earth. Who knows our individual efforts help address global warming.
- Latest
