Eco-friendly behavior here in the rainforest

The folks that live here at the research station (las casa de la selva) are very conscious of their effect on the environment. After all, they are sharing this place with the local wildlife. From recycling to growing their own food, the residents here are committed to having a low impact on the environment. The waste water from the toilets even gets recycled into a waste water garden.

... sign posted in the kitchen.

Compost bucket in the kitchen. All food scraps make their way into the compost bucket.

This is the compost pile where the bucket is dumped daily.
(It is located beyond the dried palm frond in the picture.)

...herb garden near research station.

...tomatoes in the garden.

...papaya tree. Yummy! We have been having papaya for dessert.

... waste water garden.

Assignment for Kiwi Students!

Howdy Kiwis,

For Tuesday's class with Ms. McCarthy please be prepared with the following:

1. Journal Response: If you were in the middle of the forest (any forest, even one near your house) and you wanted to collect data on that forest, what kind of things would you measure and how? Try to think of at least 3 features of the forest you would measure. When explaining your methods, remember that someone else should be able to repeat your methods.

You ideas should be written. If it helps, you can use diagrams to explain your ideas.

2. Journal Response: What is your favorite picture from the blog and why?

On Tuesday, I will post more about the techniques we are using to analyze the forest and what exact features of the forest we are focusing on.

I look forward to hearing about your ideas.

~ Mr. Lafond

Another cool frog... this is a white lip wood frog.

Into the Forest...

On Saturday, we set out early in the day to measure the trees in a particular acre of the forest. An acre is 208 feet wide x 208 feet long. It took us 6 hours to survey the trees in half an acre. I was working in a three-person team with two college professors, Alice and Jeff. We made an excellent team and managed to learn many of the tree names.

Can you guess what I might be doing in these pictures?
























Once again, it was surprisingly dry. It hasn't rained in two days. The wildlife, especially the reptiles and amphibians, stay hidden when it is dry. I did, however, see a few anolis lizards. Here is one posing for me!