2016 Jun: Baobab Guardians: our baobab babies are growing up!

Written by on June 14, 2016. Posted in BAOBAB FOUNDATION

This month I did our bi-annual measurement of the baobab guardians’ trees.  Two of the trees have already reached the 2 metre mark and being as short as I am,  I had to stand on two bricks to measure them!

We now have 18 trees with baobab guardians being sponsored by two companies: Bonga Foods and Sevenhills Wholefoods as well as some individuals.

The fastest grower in the last 6 months (since November 2015) was Miriam Mulaudzi’s tree which grew over 1 metre (101cm) and is sponsored by Sevenhills Wholefoods.

2016 06 Mirium Mulaudzi 3

The tallest tree is Selina Manovhele’s tree and has a height of 210cm already.  It was germinated in November 2014 and is also sponsored by Sevenhills Wholefoods.

2016 06 Selina Manovhele Tallest Tree 700x323

You’ll see that the late rains have meant that most of the trees have not yet lost their leaves for winter.

I’m so proud of the baobab guardians; they have to fend off goats who love eating baobab seedlings… and have to build the most ingenious structures around their trees to protect them – everything from bricks, thorny branches to pallisades made of sticks!

2016 06 - ingenious ways of keeping away livestock 700x239Baobab guardian Rebecca Nenzhelele, sponsored by Afka & Liesbeth, was initially shy about being photographed next to her healthy looking sapling!

2016 06 Shy Rebecca Nenzhelele 700x525

Our next measurement is in November 2016.

Exciting news is that I have received sponsorship for another 7 trees which we will plant in November when the rains begin. We’re half-way to achieving the vision of planting 50 strong new healthy baobab trees by 2017!

It costs just R1900 to sponsor one baobab tree over a 3 year period as it grows from seedling to a 3 metre sapling when it can survive on its own in the wild. The donor will receive 2 progress photos a year and measurements.  For more information, or to make a donation, please contact me, Sarah Venter here.

Thank you so much to our wonderful donors! Your contribution is helping to shape the African landscape for the future!

Related posts:

What is the baobab guardian’s programme?

Baobab Guardians: women planting baobabs for the future

From Seedling to Sapling: why sponsor a baobab guardian?

Continue reading....

Find more interesting articles below

Fine Art Baobab Inspirations

Fine Art Baobab Inspirations

Heike Pander, a German artist who paints baobabs,  visited me over the weekend.  She is passionate about baobabs and will be exhibiting some of her baobab art along with her other paintings later on in the year in Germany. She says “my enthusiasm for the marvelous and enthralling nature of Africa has grown steadily. I am not […]

Read more
It’s been a good year – baobab harvesters

It’s been a good year – baobab harvesters

The area where baobabs are found is usually very arid and the climate not easy to grow crops in.  Many of the harvesters with whom I work have fields around their villages where they do dry-land cropping for food and to supplement income.  Dry-land cropping means that there is no irrigated water to the fields […]

Read more
Baobabs Tell of Ancient African Past

Baobabs Tell of Ancient African Past

A wonderful story that meanders along a trail, 1 000 years old, linking Vilanculos on the coast of Mozambique with the home of the little golden rhino, Mapungubwe. The trail is marked by the presence of giant baobabs, observers, watchers, sentinels of the past, silent witnesses to the rise and fall of cultures and communities. Along the way, we hear from EcoProducts owner Dr Sarah Venter.

Read more