To date we have planted ~3 hectares with syntropically managed agroforestry, including two main plots specifically for mixed-cacao production. Syntropic 1 is one hectare of what used to be mixed cacao and mandarin plantation and we began planting in June 2022. Syntropic 2 is 0.8 hectares of what was previously cattle pasture, and we began planting in December of 2022.
These two plots are currently in their placental stage, pumping organic matter into the soil to regenerate the previously degraded plots of land. The mixed cacao-mandarin used extensive fertilizer and herbicides, along with tractors for management, destroying and compacting the soil microbiome which we are currently rebuilding. The cow pasture (characteristic of much of our province) compacts soil and also simplifies the microbiome. The result is unhealthy soil with weak microbiomes, low water-holding capacity and high erosion rates. Our first stage of planting is our placental focus on regenerating soil for the cacao-avocado-coconut 17 species food forest we hope to see in the future.
We plant rows of food and timber crops alongside biomass producing lines which are periodically cut and added to the crop lines to feed our growing forest. As of now, we are growing 20 species of plants, including amarillo, teak, guava, Brazilian fern tree and banana, with an eventual focus on cacao, avocado and coconut. Our biomass producing lines include mombasa grass, botón de oro (Mexican sunflower) and yuca (cassava) harvested sequentially to add onto the mulch lines feeding our crops. The mulch pumps biomass back into the soil, improving soil structure, water retention and erosion control in addition to cooperating with our diverse plants to feed a diverse and healthy soil microbiome. Read below for a more technical description and check out this blog post for more on syntropic agriculture!
Our current plan includes planting cacao, avocado and coconut beneath the established banana, pachaco, eucalyptus and amarillo. See key for detailed information on which plants are where, and their given strata level.
Our 1st syntropic agroforestry plot in February 2022, just after planting hundreds of tree seeds.
Our 1st syntropic agroforestry plot in May 2023, after 1.5 years of care and growth.