The great French Marshall Lyautey once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow growing and would not reach maturity for 100 years. The Marshall replied, 'In that case, there is no time to lose; plant it this afternoon!'
— John F. Kennedy

 Infrastructure Improvements and
Future Expansion Plans for the ABCP

    Our trip to Tanzania last year provided us with extended periods to meet with our Project Partners and discuss plans for the future of the ABCP. We wish again to thank Roger and Pauline Stockbauer (Bette’s brother and sister-in-law), for their generous contribution in providing air miles (and lots of incentive!) to make the journey, which has had the result of expanding our vision for the future into new areas.

Infrastructure Improvements: Projects completed during the past year include a new nursery structure at the original Moshi Mpingo Plot and a chain link fence around the expansion acreage recently contributed by the local village council (see photos). Consequently, we now have the capacity to raise 100,000 seedlings every 18 months. We also have permanent nursery attendants, Raphael and Joseph, who live on-site and provide the constant care needed by a large nursery operation.

Coffee: The Kibosho East Environmental Group, one of our Project Partners, has planted several hundred ‘mother plants’ from which to harvest cuttings for coffee trees. These cuttings will produce disease-resistant trees that, after final planting, will be ready to bear within 2 years. Sebastian has already distributed over 20,000 coffee trees and this project will increase his outreach. The objective (cont.p.5)

 
Workers at the Moshi Mpingo Plot have constructed a new nursery shelter using Cottonwood Foundation and contributor funding. The poles are set in plastic pipe sleeves filled with concrete to inhibit termite infestation. Sunshade netting covers the roof to control the amount of sunlight reaching the tender seedlings which will be germinated and grown under the shelter.

A delighted young conservationist from Sungu School on Mt. Kilimanjaro learns the skills of tree planting and environmental conservation. Here he carefully weeds Grevillea/Silk Oak, a fast-growing tree for fuelwood.

Mpingo seedlings just emerging in Sebastian’s nursery. The seeds are sprouted in flats and later transferred to pots.

A chain-link fence was constructed around the new acreage at the Moshi Mpingo Plot. This will ensure survival of young mpingo trees planted from seedlings in our nursery.

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