We are really thankful that individuals decide to come and volunteer their talents, time, and labor at Las Casas de la Selva. The project is a perfect place to immerse yourself into a new biome: the rainforest of Puerto Rico!
Special thanks to Tim Dehm, who stayed for three months and looked after Las Casas de la Selva for the month of October, in 2015, whilst 3t and Andres attended the annual Synergist Conference, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
We will always share news of a Walk-Talk Tour. Join our email list to stay informed of this and other events at Las Casas de la Selva.
WALK-TALK-TOUR -This tour will be in English. 9.30am-2.00pm, Sunday 31st January, 2016. Cost: $20.00 per head includes lunch. (Children under 10 years free.)
Where: In the homestead, forest, and woodshop facilities of Sustainable Forestry Project, Las Casas de la Selva, Patillas, Puerto Rico. Disabled facilities very limited.
Clothing: Please wear suitable shoes or boots for a forest walk. Open-toed sandals, or flip flops are not suitable at all on uneven paths and potentially muddy trails. Wear long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. We reserve the right to refuse entry to the forest to anyone unsuitably dressed.
Schedule: 9.30am: Coffee and Cake, orientation Digital presentation of the history of Las Casas de la Selva and ongoing work, and introduction to Puerto Rico Hardwoods. 11.00am: Guided Forest walk to see plantations, identify trees, understand the history of land-use, & current projects, including planting of endangered tree species. 12.30pm: Gourmet lunch with organic salad, fruit juices, tea and coffee. 1.00pm: Tour of the wood workshop, drying sheds, & projects in progress. An opportunity to buy or order wood, or beautiful hardwood products seen at our homestead. 2.00pm: Group Photo and Finish.
BOOK NOW: Please send an email with the following info to 3t at: wanderwoman3t@gmail.com • How many people? • Dietary restrictions (meat/veg) or allergies if any. Please ask for directions if needed.
See you here! 3t and Andres Some of the products that will be available.
Back row L-R: Inset, Israel Guzman, Herb Wexler, Janet Richards, Kamal Daghistani, Ziyou Yang, Diane Bentz, Julio Rodriguez. Front: Magha Garcia, Marigail Bentz, Chari Kauffman, Danny Nip, Patricia Salomon, Riona Kobayashi, 3t Vakil, Andres Rua.
Israel Guzman, President of SOPI, led the team into the forest for the first Winter Bird Surveys at Las Casas de la Selva. Marta Edgar previously carried out two years of surveys in the summer months with Earthwatch volunteers.
Magha gave a tostone-making class.
Through a presentation the team learnt about the work of SOPI and preliminary training in identifying birds of the area, and below, the elusive Warbler that hasn’t been seen in this region for several years.
A wonderful dinner at Habitarte, a project run by Wanda Rodriguez and Ricardo Valles Perez (below).
With 3t, the team also carried out the monitoring and care of nearly 300 saplings of critically endangered trees.
Finally, we had a great New Years Party. Thank you to everyone who contributed time and energy into making this a seriously fun-filled Earthwatch Expedition. Happy New Year!
Globalworks brought the whole of the 8th Grade from San Francisco Day School to Las Casas de la Selva, May 2015.
We hosted three teams consecutively, for three days each. This wonderful bunch of teens planted critically endangered endemic Cornutia obovata trees in the forest.
Thanks to SFDS teacher Chris Corrigan for his tremendous leadership skills, and the enthusiasm he has brought to Las Casas over the last several years on Globalworks expeditions. Thanks to all the wonderful staff and students for the hard-work planting these Cornutia obovata out in the forest, and for the wonderful evenings back at the homestead. We salute you all! Thank you also to Globalworks staff, and to Las Casas volunteers Alfredo Lopez and Helen Galli, for all their help. All pix by 3t Vakil unless otherwise credited.
The mahoe tree, Talipariti elatum, was planted nearly 30 years ago at Las Casas de la Selva, and we are currently thinning the mahoe plantations. This rare and beautiful wood is available in various dimensions, including very large slabs. Help support sustainable forestry in Puerto Rico by buying our wood, and sharing this info widely.
All Mahoe lumber at $20-$24 per board foot, unless otherwise stated. Images show both side of each piece.
Please ask if you want the slabs cut smaller and/or fitted into Flat Rate mailing boxes. A large Flat rate box to USA is $18.95 Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Boxes Size A) 23-11/16″ x 11-3/4″ x 3″ Size B)12″ x 12″ x 5-1/2″
All dimensions are bigger than the specs below and the average width is taken on tapered slabs. Please contact us for Mahoe turning and carving blanks.
Q: 59″ x 5.5″ x 1″=2.25 board feet =$45.00 R: 65″x 5.5″ x 1″ =2.48 board feet =$49.60
I: 48″ x 8″ x 1″= 2.66bft = $47.88 (discounted for check on one end) J: 47″ x 6.5″ x 1″= 2.12bft =$42.40 K: 57″ x 6″ x 1″ = 2.37bft =$47.40 L: 70″ x 5″ x 1″ = 2.43bft = $48.60 SOLD
H: 72″ x 8.5″ x 1.75″ = 7.43bft = $148.60 SOLD
G: 71″ x 6″ x 2.25″=6.65bft =$133.00 SOLD
F: 48″ x 12″ x 1.75″=7bft=$168.00 A real primo slab. SOLD
