Terraces Below the Treehouse

The stone terraces below my treehouse has been relatively stable, no big erosion happened. But is also a bit neglected, some unstable terraces were not repaired, lots of grasses and small vines. This photo taken last May 09, 2015.

After being cleaned, near-collapsing terraces were repaired. The uprooted grasses and vines were used as filling materials along with soil behind those stones.

Updates, taken last May 20, 2015. View from the 1st floor of my treehouse.

I don't know how to adjust my cameraphone against glaring noontime sights like this. Not clearly visible, but the repaired stone terraces are now  high, 2 layers or rows.

When I go back there, more rows will be constructed.
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See also:

Terraces, Part 10, August 30, 2014

Terraces, Part 11, October 22, 2014

Terraces at Mahogany Area, March 10, 2015

Terraces, Part 13, March 13, 2015

Terraces Beside Narra Trees, May 10, 2015

Charcoal Economics, Part 2

Updating this blog post from the original version last November 28, 2014. Revenues from charcoal help in paying the salary of our caretakers Nong Endring Paragas and his son, Danny. The DENR and locals do not complain of "illegal cutting" as the fallen trees, big branches are from our planted trees, not from the public forest land.

Below, some of the trunks ready for charcoal making. They are big, right, but crooked, not good for lumber production.

New wood prepared. Standing is Mama Pitong, assisted by his son. Photos taken May 9, 2015. Wood, then  covered by rice straw, then  covered by soil, supported by coconut leaves so that the soil does not erode.

I didn't know that camote (sweet potato) thrives in a previous charcoal pit, like this one.

Pruning and cutting trees that are too close to each other is necessary, otherwise no or very few trees can hope to become big and appropriate for lumber production someday. We have too many of these small, medium-size trees; generally they just grew on their  own. Using them for charcoal making is the wise thing to do.

See also:
Denuded mountains, March 31, 2009 
New Upland Dwellers and the DENR, August 21, 2013
From Forestland to Grassland, September 21, 2012 
Charcoal Economics, February 23, 2014
On Grass Fire, April 17, 2014

Terraces Beside Narra Trees

Old and existing terraces are further stabilized and raised with new layers of organic matter, soil and stones added on them. On one side of the farm, here are a series of photos as of August 2014, mid-March 2015, and May 9, 2015, respectively.

Another angle. Photos as of mid-March 2015.

Cleaning up litter falls that will simply be washed out by flash flood. Before and after.

Behind the big stones are these organic matter and soil. Photos as of April 04 and May 9, 2015. .

The new top soil were organic matter and eroded topsoil that were trapped by this structure. Imagine the amount of top soil  that has been preserved, and flash flood that has been temporarily impounded, for a few hours. How thick or how high is the new soil that has been trapped at the base? Here  is one measurement, about 6-8 inches high, or about 3/4 of the shovel base, at around 1.5 meters distance from the big stones.

How it looked before the new topsoil was formed -- hard soil with lots of small stones on the surface.

A small group of blocking stones, as of April 04 and May 9, 2015, respectively.

The big stones were transferred in building the 2nd layer of terraces. Front view of big stones, as of April 04 and May 9, 2015, respectively.

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See also:

Terraces, Part 10, August 30, 2014

Terraces, Part 11, October 22, 2014

Terraces at Mahogany Area, March 10, 2015

Terraces, Part 13, March 13, 2015