Forest products – Eye on the Rainforest

by thrity November 30, 2016

Mahoe Hardwood available now – December 2016

Mahoe, Hibiscus elatus, from our 30 year old tree plantations. These slabs were harvested in May, 2016, this year and were milled in August. We have had torrential rains for most of this year and keeping the shop and drying shed maintained is keeping us busy. Hence we are letting our woodworkers know that they can order wood that is not fully air-dried. Most woodworkers – we have learnt – like to continue to dry or season tropical hardwoods at their own pace in their local climate. The lowest moisture content we can achieve is 16% when we do dry it for 9 months to a year. The mahoe wood shown here varies between 20 and 30% moisture content. Please note well, that it is wise to dry it slowly in your area, which means leaving it wrapped in plastic and monitoring the further drying for at least two months.

All measurements are in inches, and all the pieces are BIGGER than stated for pricing. All ends are anchorsealed. All pieces include sapwood, and we do not include so much of that in the measurements. Where a board tapers, we make an average of the width. The photos show both sides of each board (eg: A1 and A2 are both sides of the same board).

Many of you already know our mahoe and are familiar with it. We have not planed any of this wood, so you are seeing the rough sawn surface, and some pieces (EFGH) were hosed with water. You will notice that there are dark streaks in some pieces, and they all have the delightful purple and bluey tones that mahoe is so famous for.

Please ask us if you have any questions, we are here to help. Please include in your email to 3t@ eyeontherainforest.org :
1) The NAME of the slab:
2) Your shipping address.
3) Your shipping preference for a quote: USPS Priority (4-6 days) or USPS Retail Ground (12-14 days) .

Secure payments through Paypal.

Buying our wood and products is the best way to support our sustainable forestry enterprise in Puerto Rico. Thank you for your support, it is highly appreciated.
More about Mahoe Hardwood

SLAB NAME	Length	Width	Thickness	Bft	Price
A	61	9	1.5	5.71	$114.20 SOLD
B	68	6	1.5	4.25	$85.00 SOLD
C	54	11	1.5	6.18	$123.60 SOLD
D	55	9	1.5	5.16	$103.20 SOLD

SLAB NAME	Length	Width	Thickness	Bft	Price	SPECIAL PRICE	Notes
E	57	12	1.4	6.65	$133.00	SOLD
F	56	12	1.5	7	$140.00	$120.00 SOLD	Pith just under 0.5″ on one side
G	54	14	1.5	7.87	$157.40	SOLD
H	40	11	1.5	4.58	$91.60

SLAB NAME	Length	Width	Thickness	Bft	Price	Notes
I	58	11	1.5	6.64	$132.80 SOLD
J	50	10	1.5	5.2	$104.00
K	60	11	1.35	6.18	$123.60 SOLD	Knot in K1 side
L	60	9	1.5	5.62	$112.40 SOLD

SLAB NAME	Length	Width	Thickness	Bft	Price	SPECIAL PRICE	Notes
M	51	11	1.5	5.84	$116.80		RESERVED
N	49	8	1.5		$81.60
O	33	8	1.35		$49.40
P	45.5	12	1.35		$81.76	$65.00 SOLD	Has pith through the slab.

Thank you!

Fine wood product Wood Woodwork Woodworker

by thrity August 9, 2016

August 2016 Mahoe (Hibiscus elatus) available

We are currently harvesting for next years stock. First come first served on these Mahoe slabs below. Scroll down.

NB: All images show both sides of a slab: Example: A1 and A2 are both sides of one slab.

August 2016 Mahoe Measurements in inches

Name	L	W	T	Board Feet	Price@20pbft	Notes
A	54	8	1	3	60	SOLD
B	54	8	1	3	60	SOLD
C	54	8	1	3	60	SOLD
D	54	5	1	1.87	37.40	SOLD
E	45	7	0.75	1.64	32.80	SOLD
F	45	9	1	2.81	56.20	SOLD
G	58.5	7	1.75	4.97	99.40	SOLD
H	61	6	1.75	4.44	88.80	SOLD
I	69.5	8	0.75	2.5	150.20	SOLD
J	60	14	1.5	8.75	175.00	SOLD
K	36.5	12	1.25	3.80	76.00	SOLD
L	60	10	0.75	3.12	62.40	SOLD
M	36.5	8	0.75	1.52	30.40	NOT AVAILABLE
N	49	9	0.5	1.53	30.60	SOLD
Q	46	4.75	3	4.55	91.00	quartersawn SOLD

All dimensions are in inches and all slabs are slightly larger than stated. All pieces have been planed on both sides unless stated.
Shipping is not included. We accept secure payments through Paypal.
Please include in your email to 3t@eyeontherainforest. org
1) Your shipping address.
2) Your shipping preference for a quote: Priority (8-12 days) or Standard Mail (14-18 days) .

Mahoe is the timber tree currently being harvested from 26 – 30yr old plantations at Las Casas de la Selva. Mahoe or Hibiscus elatus, (also known as “Blue Mahoe” for the characteristic coloration of its wood after milling), is a tree native to Jamaica and Cuba. A volunteer species, characteristic of open disturbed habitats and also found, due to its shade tolerance, as an understory tree in secondary forests, mahoe grows to 25 m tall and upwards of 100 cm DBH (KIMBER, 1970). It was recognized as a potentially important species for plantation and forest enrichment after a survey by Jamaican foresters (LONG, 1963 cited in KIMBER, 1970). It is an excellent wood with a rich variety of colors and attractive grain, but surprisingly, very little mahoe is currently being produced anywhere else. The first plantings in Puerto Rico were in the 1940s and it has been also been introduced to other Caribbean islands and Hawaii for evaluation. It has become naturalized in Mexico, Peru, Brazil, southern Florida and the West Indies (CHUDNOFF, 1982 cited in WEAVER, FRANCIS, n.d.)

BUY OUR MAHOE WOOD

Mahoe lumber (wood from the mill that requires no further processing) is $20.00 per board foot. Mahoe turning and carving blanks are $26.00 per board foot. Wood for sale may include some sapwood, and all ends are anchor-sealed. Mahoe can vary greatly in color from tree to tree, the blue tone does not tend to endure for many years. The wood transforms over time to shades of browns, purples, greys, and bluey-greens.

Events Press Waste management Wood

by thrity July 20, 2016

Sustainability Award, May 2016

Puerto Rico Hardwoods Inc (PRH) is delighted to have won the prestigious 2016 EnterPRize business award for Sustainability, sponsored by Grupo Guayacán and the Aireko Foundation.

Hardwood trees that are felled by government and other agencies for public safety in Puerto Rico are currently dumped as ‘waste’ in the islands landfills. PRH rescues these trees and processes them into valuable timber for export and domestic use. PRH also harvests and sells timber from 30 year old plantations at Las Casas de la Selva, Patillas, and promotes sustainable harvesting of timber from other plantations in Puerto Rico.

PRH maintains that sustainability must start with minimizing waste and the intelligent use of local resources rather than importing timber which contributes to the devastation of forests in other countries. In the context of global increases in deforestation, PRH demonstrates long-term methods for economic utilization of previously disturbed secondary forests in Puerto Rico. This is essential in helping to reduce pressure on the exploitation of pristine rainforests elsewhere. PRH is built on a renewable and recyclable resource model and as one of the first of Puerto Rico’s hardwood distributors, believes that sustainability is much more than just a marketing device; it is a practice that ensures a healthy future for our lives and businesses.

PRH is located on the land known as Las Casas de la Selva, home to the Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry Project established 30 years ago by The Institute of Ecotechnics in the southern mountains adjacent to the Carite State Forest, in Patillas, Puerto Rico.

PRH was created and developed by Andrés Rúa and Thrity Vakil, also both Directors of Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry and Rainforest Enrichment Project. As founders of the Agroforestry Development Advisory Council (CADA), their broader vision is to promote sustainable forestry in Puerto Rico and convert unwanted trees into a valuable resource.

Here are some images from the award ceremony, 24th May 2016

Winners of Sustainability Award: Puerto Rico Hardwoods, and Crosstech
Above: L-R: Keila Lopez, Grupo Guayacan Program Manager, Andrés Rúa, CEO PR Hardwoods, 3t Vakil, President PR Hardwoods, Jose David Torres, Crosstech, Jose Humberto, Crosstech, and Francisco Uriarte, Chairman of Grupo Guayacan.

Below: All the semi-finalists on the night.

EnterPRize’s objective is to strengthen startups through a rigorous educational curriculum, mentoring and access to capital. In this 10th edition, EnterPRize broadens its offering through two phases focused on promising startups that are capable of growing locally and internationally. This new generation of entrepreneurs has the capacity of launching innovative projects with a global economic mindset and we’re proud to be part of the start of their entrepreneurial journey,” said Laura Cantero, Executive Director of Grupo Guayacán. EnterPRize seeks to identify startups and entrepreneurs with significant potential and to spur their development by providing access to the tools and resources they need to scale.

With Johnny Dolphin, founder of the Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry Project, directed by 3t and Andrés in Patillas, PR.

The PRH team: Alex Figueroa, Magha Garcia, Andrés Rúa, 3t Vakil, & Ricardo Valles. 2016

Grupo Guayacán, Inc. is a private sector driven non-profit organization founded in 1996 with a unique model that has coupled private equity investment with a series of programs aimed at developing, strengthening, and advancing Puerto Rico’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Aireko Foundation’s vision is that Puerto Ricans develop and sustain leading organizations and enterprising initiatives recognized in and outside Puerto Rico for their sustainability. Our mission is to promote the development of individuals, businesses and non-governmental organizations in a measurable and sustainable manner in Puerto Rico, in order to achieve positive social, economic and environmental change. We value and support education, charity, entrepreneurship and solidarity, integrated with a dynamic search for sustainability.

Fine wood product Forest products Forestry Wood Woodwork Woodworker

by thrity April 11, 2016

April 2016 Mahoe (Hibiscus elatus) available

SUSTAINABLY GROWN AND HARVESTED HARDWOOD.

#	LENGTH	WIDTH	THICKNESS	BOARD FEET	$ $20 per bft	NOTES
A	44.5	7	1.25	2.70	$54.00	SOLD
B	57	10	1.25	4.94	$98.80	SOLD
C	65	7	1.25	3.94	$78.80	SOLD
D	67	7	1.25	4.07	$81.40	SOLD
E	64.5	10	1.25	5.59	$111.80	SOLD
F	65.5	8.5	1.25	4.83	$96.60	SOLD One side (F2)few pin holes
G	63.5	8	1	3.52	$70.40	SOLD
H	73	9	1	4.56	$91.20	SOLD
I	74	7	1.25	4.49	$89.80	SOLD
J	60	8	1.25	4.20	$84.00	SOLD
K	67	6.5	2.25	6.80	$136.00	SOLD
L	56	6	1.25	2.91	$58.20	SOLD
6a	43	3.75	1.25	1.39	$27.80	SOLD
6b	39.5	4	1	1.09	$21.80	SOLD
6d	38	4	1.25	1.31	$26.20	SOLD
6e	36.5	4	1.25	1.26	$25.20	SOLD
6f	24	4	1	0.66	$13.20	SOLD

All dimensions are in inches and all slabs are slightly larger than stated. All pieces have been planed on both sides.
Shipping is not included. We accept secure payments through Paypal.

Please include in your email to 3t@eyeontherainforest. org
1) Your shipping address.
2) Your shipping preference for a quote: Priority (8-12 days) or Standard Mail (14-18 days) .

Mahoe is the timber tree currently being harvested from 26 – 30yr old plantations at Las Casas de la Selva. Mahoe or Hibiscus elatus, (also known as “Blue Mahoe” for the characteristic coloration of its wood after milling), is a tree native to Jamaica and Cuba. A volunteer species, characteristic of open disturbed habitats and also found, due to its shade tolerance, as an understory tree in secondary forests, mahoe grows to 25 m tall and upwards of 100 cm DBH (KIMBER, 1970). It was recognized as a potentially important species for plantation and forest enrichment after a survey by Jamaican foresters (LONG, 1963 cited in KIMBER, 1970). It is an excellent wood with a rich variety of colors and attractive grain, but surprisingly, very little mahoe is currently being produced anywhere else. The first plantings in Puerto Rico were in the 1940s and it has been also been introduced to other Caribbean islands and Hawaii for evaluation. It has become naturalized in Mexico, Peru, Brazil, southern Florida and the West Indies (CHUDNOFF, 1982 cited in WEAVER, FRANCIS, n.d.)

BUY OUR MAHOE WOOD

Mahoe lumber (wood from the mill that requires no further processing) is $20.00 per board foot. Mahoe turning and carving blanks are $26.00 per board foot. Wood for sale may include some sapwood, and all ends are anchor-sealed. Mahoe can vary greatly in color from tree to tree, the blue tone does not tend to endure for many years. The wood transforms over time to shades of browns, purples, greys, and bluey-greens.

SEE MORE MAHOE FOR SALE: SERIES 7 SERIES 8 SERIES 9 MAHOE SLABS MNOPQRS

Education Events Forest products Friends of Las Casas de la Selva

by thrity January 22, 2016

Walk-Talk-Tour 31st January 2016

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.

Endangered plants Rare trees Research & Education Tree planting Tvref Collaboration Volunteer Groups Volunteers

by thrity December 7, 2015

Globalworks teenagers, Treeplanting, May 2015

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.

See more about this tree-planting project https://eyeontherainforest.org/?p=5462

Above: Chris Corrigan, Expedition leader, SFDS

Education Fine wood product Forest products Forestry Wood Woodwork

by thrity November 4, 2015

Students from University of PR – Department of Fine Art

In April this ebullient group of students from the Department of Fine Arts, University of Puerto Rico, arrived on a day trip to find out more about the forest plantations at Las Casas de la Selva, and to see the timber operation; the sawmill, drying shed, and workshop. Everyone was wowed by our wood collection, that we inherited from Jose Mari Mutt, and have been adding to. Eyes opened wide at the beauty of these different and relatively unknown hardwoods that Puerto Rico has. Many discussions ensued about sustainable use of forest resources, especially wood, and later all left smiling, having bought some of our wood to create their latest projects. We look forward to seeing the results soon.

Fine wood product Forest products Wood Woodwork Woodworker

by thrity May 12, 2015

Fine Artist and our Mahoe Hardwood- May 2015

Joel Kaufman of Ellicott City, MD, has created this fine intarsia piece in about 6 months, and we are honored to share it with you. The pattern was replicated from a Phillip Ratner tapestry. There are 50 different wood species using no stains or coloring with over 400 individual pieces. It has over 100 shims and measures 19” x 35”.

Joel: “The blue mahoe pieces are the water on both sides of the ark, the whale’s spout of water (this is where I love the varying shades of blue mahoe), the translucent pieces through the whale and the stripe on one of the people on the ark. No other wood I could find had these various shades of blue/purple/green and it was very easy to cut, shape, sand and finish”.

Here is a link to the process:

Arts Fine wood product Forestry Friends of Las Casas de la Selva Press Research & Education Sustainable lifestyle Tvref Collaboration Uncategorized Wood Woodwork Woodworker

by thrity December 10, 2014

Symposium and Exhibition of Forest Products at IITF, 6th December 2014

SEE MORE IMAGES HERE:
https://plus.google.com/photos/114745085458651133282/albums/6089798854434161681?authkey=CLytzaWvsMmIfg

L-R: Luis Soto, (Land Authority Director) Carmen Guerrero, (Secretary of DNR), Connie Carpenter, Magaly Figueroa, (USDA State & Private Forestry), Andrés Rúa, 3t Vakil, (Tropic Ventures and Nuestra Madera), Magha Garcia, (Director Pachamama Organic Farm), Sheila Ward, (Mahogany for the Future), Edgardo Gonzalez (Landscape Conservation Center).

Education Forestry Uncategorized

by thrity May 12, 2014

Consejo Asesor para el Desarrollo Agro-forestal, May 6th, 2014

Another historic meeting for CADA, this time at Las Casas de la Selva, sustainable forestry project in the steep mountains of Patillas.

CADA, comprises of individuals brought together by a strong commitment to stimulate and create the sustainable management of all forest resources on the island of Puerto Rico. Founded in 2013 by Andrés and 3t.

SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THIS MEETING HERE:

Participants Name	Agency or group
Andrés Rúa González	Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry
Thrity Vakil	Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry
Magaly Figueroa (Vía teléfono)	USDA US Forest Service
Arnaldo Astacio	Departamento de Agricultura de Puerto Rico
Alexis Laurent Dragoni Cebollero	Consultor Fundación Aireko
Christina Cabrera	Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de PR
Enrique Santiago	Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de PR
Jess Zimmerman	UPR Rio Piedras
Franklin Román	Servicio de Extensión Agrícola
Jimena Forero	UPR Rio Piedras
Rosamaría Quiles	Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de PR
Tomas Torres	Fundación Aireko
Orlando Gómez	Paddle Sur
Francisco Alicea	Municipio de Arroyo
Elizabeth Rodriguez	Voluntaria
Milagros Solís Ocasio	Pridco
Hector Rodriguez	Pridco
Evelyn Melo	Pridco
Omar Garcia	Paddle Sur
Enrique C. Colon Burgos	Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica

Credit for images to 3t, Andrés and Norman

SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THIS CADA MEETING AT LAS CASAS DE LA SELVA, 6TH MAY 2014

See images from the CADA meeting at Cyber Café, Caguas, 4th March 2014
See images from the CADA meeting at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, 30th August 2013.
See images from the meeting of The Forest Products Assessment group, at Cayey University, the day the group formally became CADA, 6th May 2013
See images from the meeting of The Forest Products Assessment group at International Institute of Tropical Forestry, March 18th 2013.
See images from the FPA Field meeting at Las Casas de a Selva, 8th August, 2012
See images from the FPA Symposium at the Department of Natural Resources, Rio Piedras, 11th April, 2012

Fine wood product Forest products Wood Woodwork Woodworker

by thrity May 1, 2014

Hardwoods of Puerto Rico

Boards By Andrés Rúa. Andrés Rúa has been super busy making his signature items, cheese and bread boards from a selection of Puerto Rican hardwoods.
Put on show this afternoon and nearly all, promptly sold!

Forest products Forestry News Tvref Collaboration

by thrity March 6, 2014

Consejo Asesor para el Desarrollo Agro-forestal 4th March 2014

Meeting at Cyber Café, Caguas, 4th March 2014

Nombre	Agencia o grupo
Andrés Rúa González	Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry
Thrity Vakil	Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry
Magaly Figueroa	USDA US Forest Service
Arnaldo Astacio	Departamento de Agricultura de Puerto Rico
Fernando Arroyo	USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Christina Cabrera	Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de PR
Enrique Santiago	Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de PR
Lisette Fas	Cafiesencia
Franklin Román	Servicio de Extensión Agrícola
Mariano Robledo	Bamboo Puerto Rico
Maria Benedetti	Botanicultura
Daniel Caban	Bamboo Puerto Rico
Sheila Ward	Mahogany for the future
Félix Aponte González	Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de PR
Enrique C. Colon Burgos	Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica

Images by 3t Vakil, 2014

Education Forest products Forestry Wood Woodwork Woodworker

by thrity August 31, 2013

Talking about wood

L-R: Mark Schofield (Ex-Editor of Fine Woodworking Magazine); Yolanda Flores (Department of Agriculture); Augusto Carvajal (Biologist); Magaly Figueroa (USDA Forest Service, IITF); Andrés Rúa (Tropic Ventures Research & Education Foundation); 3t Vakil (Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry Project); Connie Carpenter (US State & private Forestry, IITF); Christina Cabrera (Departmento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales, Ayudante Especial, Oficina del Secretario); Aileen Amador (Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas).

CADA meeting at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, 30^th August 2013.
Consejo Asesor para el Desarrollo Agroforestal de Puerto Rico

“Working towards the development of Sustainable Forestry in Puerto Rico, and the research and creation of a forest products industry and relevant markets.”

See www.nuestramadera.org for more info on this new council and its mission, founded in May 2013 by Andrés Rúa and 3t Vakil.

All images by 3t Vakil

Forest products Forestry

by thrity May 6, 2013

May 6th 2013, meeting at Cayey University.

The Forest Products Assessment group formally became C.A.D.A. (Consejo Asesor para el Desarrolo Agro-forestal de Puerto Rico).

Back row: Andrés Rua (TVREF), Enrique Santiago Irrizary (DRNA), Augusto Carvajal (UPR Cayey), Mark Schofield (former editor of Fine Woodworking Magazine), Gerardo Hernandez (Management Official for Toro Negro State Forest), Franklin Roman (UPR Agriculture Extension Officer and Agronomist), 3t Vakil (TVREF)
Front: Jimena Forero Montanez (UPR Phd student), Christina Cabrera (Special Assistant to the Secretary, DRNA), Rosamaria Quiles (DRNA)

Forest products Forestry News Wood

by thrity March 18, 2013

March 18th 2013, Forest Products Assessment Counsel

March 18th 2013, meeting at International Institute of Tropical Forestry. Talking about forest products, wood, extraction, economics, realities of timber production in Puerto Rico. More here.