Man with a Plan

Overall plan for Cerro de Oro project

Site plan for tourist center

The summer heat has finally broken and Paradise returns to Canete. Cool nights and warm, sunny days, with sea breezes and no chance of rain. The season change also brings FRUIT !! While mangoes are fading, figs (fresh and dried), dates, grapes, cherimoya and lucama abound. And avocados – the green ones get packed off to the States, leaving the tree ripened ones here. The famous Canete mandarin oranges – the main fruit crop here – will be coming soon. They are already in the market as “mandarino verde” – not quite ready for my taste, but very popular with the locals. This year will be the first production from the new, large passion fruit orchard. I’m looking forward to that.

But, even in Paradise, there is work to be done. The big paving project is underway. ALL of the urban streets are being paved with asphalt. I can not say what a big deal this is. Until now, only the main street – and only part of that – has been paved. All other streets are dirt. And very rough. Every morning folks come out early and wet them down, creating a muddy mess until the sun dries them out again. They rattle the bolts on every car and moto-taxi and throw dust in the air when dry. The main entry road is the very worst – an unsightly welcome to our little town. But, all this will soon change. Folks are already swelling with pride at being a “real” town.

Even better, as soon as the paving is done, I’ll be coordinating the planting of Poinciana trees in the little round planters that dot the streets. They are empty right now, as an earlier planting of fichus trees flopped. They were the wrong trees – needing lots of water – and the poor clay soil was not amended or fertilized and there was no protection or support for the seedlings. We’ll be using a native tree – the same ones that grace the Plaza. Poinciana is familiar to my S Florida friends and has lush green foliage and brilliant red flowers. It uses less water and puts down a deep tap root. We’ll also add some compost from the Eco-Banos , rice husks for aeration, and some liquid fertilizer from the biodigesters. I love synergy. The seedling will be tied to four sturdy wooden supports, which will also serve to fend off careless moto-taxis and reckless kids. The only down-side is that the trees grow slowly. But, they should be spectacular in 10-15 years.

The playgrounds have spawned yet another project : a skateboard park. The local skateboarders saw the park and have started a campaign – including a nicely done YouTube video –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxZCxrrQArw&feature=youtu.be

to get a place where they can safely skate, without bothering folks in the Plaza and marking up the park benches and sidewalks. So, the dynamic duo of Goyo and Angel ride once again.

The project to protect and develop tourism for the Cerro de Oro burial ground and ruins continues. The USAID grant proposal is complete, after many rounds of revision and budget crunching. Francesca, the Stanford archeologist, has been crucial to getting this done. She is young, but has contacts in high places. One last meeting with the Vice-Minister of Culture to get our permissions in order. Fortunately, between Francesca’s friends at the Ministry and my USAID contacts, I think we have it locked. I’m really looking forward to a good solid construction project, building the museum and doing all the plumbing and electric. Plus, the excitement of participating in a real archeology dig.

Aside from the trees and skatepark and Cerro de Oro project, my service is shifting to kind of a consulting gig. Many of my comrades are starting projects now and my experience is in high demand. I’m also doing lots of writing for PC publications and training for the newer PCVs. I’ll be hosting a big ECPA Renewable Energy conference here in May and there tons of details – housing, food, transport, events to arrange. A bit like being a travel agent. Thank goodness the goat farm is a ready-made meeting and training site. Mama and Chanel will be cooking up a storm – on bio-gas and Cocina Mejorada, no less. Side trips to the castle and Cerro are planned to add some spice.