LRFF Costa Rica, Fundraiser 2008

    On March 15, 2008 a fund raising dinner was held to benefit the creation of a new biological corridor. We call it the Kiki corridor because the owner’s name is Kiki and he has signed on to participate in La Reserva’s forest regeneration project.
   
    Thanks to Jim and Rene Aoki the fundraiser was a complete success. They let us use their beautiful indoor/outdoor restaurant, the Five Corners Grill, with the most excellent accommodations this side of the old United States. Thank you so much Ichiban and Curly. Without your generous input the party wouldn’t have happened.Over 125 people were in attendance to bid on the silent auction, put on by Mike and Marcy Wagner. Many beautiful items were donated to be sold at the auction. There was a 50/50 raffle and Barbara Beeres won 50,000 colones ($100). She said that she only bought 10 tickets so she quadrupled her investment. Music was provided, beautifully, by the “no name’ band made up of Chris and Sonia Sullivan on guitars, harmonica and vocals, Daniel Spreen on bass, Bernard Hudson singing the bluesy lead vocals and Gary Graham on the rhythm guitar. When they all played together the room really rocked. But the big attraction was the delicious Mexican food cooked and served by Mary Blizzard who is also Secretary on the Board of La Reserva U.S. There was Chicken Mole, enchiladas, guacamole (tons of it, a rarity), many different salsas some provided by Pura Comida S.A. of Quebrada Grande, refried beans, rice, many different salads and fruits. Everyone who bought a ticket for the dinner received all the Mexican food they could eat and one free Margarita.

    Mike Wagner and his friend Tom Wilkinson did the bartending and had a tough time keeping up with all the Margaritas. In fact, they ran out of Margarita mix early on but there was still plenty of wine, beer and tequila.

    The budget for the approximately 4 meter by 1000 meter corridor for the 5 year contract came to $1604.00 US. At the end of the night everyone gathered up the money collected and Dan, Richard and I counted it. As we kept counting I had to swallow the great joy and appreciation that welled up within me so that I wouldn’t burst out crying or jumping up and down. The final count came to over $2000 and some more donations came in afterward to make the grand total $2500.

    First thing Monday morning I was on the phone to the topographer to have him come and make the map of the area and plant the stakes so that we can start cutting the branches from the Pochote, Higueron, Jinocuabe and Jocote trees in the next 2 weeks and get them planted during the waning moon. Afterward, we will string up the wire and wait until the rains begin so that we can plant the 600+ native seedlings from our nursery to fill it all up. The seedlings that we will be using come from all the hats and t-shirts that we have sold in the past 6 months. There will still be a surplus of trees available from these sales so we plan to get those in the ground at La Reserva when the rains begin.

    Thank you to everyone, and especially you Mary, for all the selfless hard work and intention that went into this party. It was all of that positive energy involved in the planning and manifestation of the party that made it the great success it was. Remember, this corridor and every other one that we create is ALL of ours, because we are all working toward the same goal, healing our Earth for the good of all life upon her.

    Many people, especially children, have expressed interest in doing the planting of the Kiki corridor. I am taking everyone’s names and will call you when it is time to plant. We will do it on a Saturday so that everyone can participate. As an army we shall descend upon Kiki’s barren pastures and we will all heed the call on that particular day…….

                                                                LET’S GET PLANTING!!