Herault department of France, May 2021
Thanks to your support, Eudeline’s garden forest project is fully funded. Many thanks! As a reminder, the planting will be carried out over three planting seasons. The first campaign of the project took place between autumn 2019 and spring 2020; the second planting campaign, which has just ended, from autumn 2020 to spring 2021; a third and final campaign is planned for October 2021 to March 2022.
With regards the initial programme, planting is behind schedule. On-site delivery of saplings and protective barriers was late, plus Eudeline’s partner couldn’t be there for the first planting season. The occasional help from family and friends couldn’t make up his absence and resulted in delays in planting. The work involved is huge for just one person and so represents a massive challenge.
The couple recently started welcoming volunteers (wwoofers) to lend a helping hand. This has speeded up planting and a large part of the trees were planted in autumn 2020. A planting day was organised on December 18, 2020. To date, 976 (66%) of the young trees are now in the ground. The objective is to plant a total of 1,480 trees.
Even if the saplings are adapted to pedo-climatic constraints (climate conditions for soil), the extremely dry months following planting led to a significant loss of trees that couldn’t benefit from a good irrigation; the rugged terrain means mechanical water supply is impossible. All these trees were replaced during the winter (from mid-November 2020 to mid-January 2021) and the planting date brought forward to give them the best possible chance of survival.
During monitoring, the technicians noted significant damage from wild boars and deer on some plots and the need to replant young trees partially dug up.
Apart from this, the trees are doing well!
Since Eudeline’s partner has returned and the arrival of woofers, the plantations are making good progress. The project should be completed as planned in the spring of 2022.
Based on the trees now growing, a first harvest of produce (leaves, bark, fruits, etc.) is expected in 2025!
