Improving lives with value added wood, Costa Rica

Hello everyone!

I wanted to touch base with all of our donors about how our project is going.

Our solar dryer is being designed by the Technological Institute of Costa Rica. In the design we have to make decisions about using solar energy versus ordinary energy which we have to carry from about 100 meters away. We need energy to move the fans that make the air circulate inside the dryer. 

We also are starting to sell our first dried melina wood. We visited a group of organized furniture makers recently and they are interested in buying directly from us, as is a local furniture factory. Our ecologically produced wood is a plus for all involved because it assures final buyers that the wood not only is legal, but it is also produced locally, by small farmers. 

Since we do not have our own dryer yet, we have to outsource the drying- which costs about double doing it ourselves and does not achieve the quality we hope to achieve. Still this is very positive, as we are now identifying future clients for our dry wood.

ASIREA is one of the few farmers´organizations doing this in Costa Rica. Our dream is to be able to pay better prices for our value added wood to farmers. If farmers percieve this is a good business, they will plant more trees. More trees means more carbon is fixed from the environment, and local climate is protected. More jobs are created in our rural areas, hopefully, our children can return from the city and work as profesionals in local businesses doing design, marketing and administrative work. 

You are part of this social construct, this change. Thnks so much for walking near us. We hope to have even better news soon. Donations are still super welcome, until we achieve our goal.

Have a great week!