As we enter the hectic pre-monsoon months, where we only think about how to prepare for this year’s imminent floods, we assess the past few months of work.
We lost most of the new trees we planted in June-July 2022. Theories about what happened vary. Some trees didn’t make it through two weeks of standing water. Others’ roots were eaten by termites. Some were inadequately watered through the dry months. Whatever the combination of factors, we are sad to have lost hundreds of fruit tree saplings, and others lovingly planted.
The good news is that the Miyawaki trenches planted in 2020 and 2022 are growing very well, just as we hoped and predicted. Some are truly amazing: we have kadamba trees that look five rather than two or three years old! And when we consider that the seven acres which had only babul, bamboo, and kasha just three years ago is now home to almost sixty varieties of trees, and hundreds of trees, we can’t help but rejoice.
The clock is ticking, however, and we are turning our sights towards protecting the land from the floods…more about that soon.
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