| I spent 2 years in Belize, Central America. While | | | | trees would grow well on the land we had |
| I was there I spent a fair bit of time in the | | | | purchased and that both trees grew about an inch |
| jungles and around logging operations. The | | | | in diameter each year. That would give us trees |
| climate is very different from that of Southern | | | | with a trunk-diameter of 25 inches by the time I |
| Ontario. They have a dry season and a rain | | | | turned 60 years of age. That was very |
| season but it's always warm. This is why I | | | | exciting. We figured that we should supplement |
| decided to plant trees in Belize. | | | | our plantation with some teak although we were |
| Years ago when I was in college, I took a 2 year | | | | a bit far north in the country. Teak would grow |
| horticultural program. I was most fascinated by | | | | about the same speed in ideal conditions but we |
| the arboriculture classes. I had thought about | | | | did not have those conditions. We planted about |
| setting up a tree farm for years but when I got | | | | 10 thousand teak. The wood is expensive and |
| to the point of planting, some 'kill-joy' would steal | | | | the real bonus with teak is that it regenerates. |
| my thunder by making a remark like, "ya, you'll be | | | | A teak tree can be cut down and almost |
| growing those trees for your kids". That would | | | | immediately, a new shoot will emerge from the |
| stop me in my tracks. Trees in Canada are a | | | | side of the stump growing into a new tree. This |
| very long-term project and they were right. I'd | | | | can happen up to seven generations. That would |
| never see the money. Don't get me wrong. I | | | | take care of my children as well. |
| love my kids but there's a good chance that I'll | | | | I would love to tell you that its been all roses |
| need money in the future as well. That | | | | since we planted but that would not be the case |
| comment stopped me for years because I felt | | | | at all. The mahogany and Spanish cedar trees |
| that it was more prudent to put money into a | | | | have a shoot borer problem that causes the tips |
| Registered Retirement Savings Plan than to invest | | | | of the branches to die. There seems to be |
| in my children's retirement. Everything would be | | | | nothing we can do about it except prune. The |
| left to my children anyway so it did not make | | | | teak is growing slower than we had hoped due to |
| sense to take a risk and possibly become a | | | | the soil and climate conditions. Our hope though |
| burden on them in my older years. Then we | | | | is that the second generation of teak will grow |
| moved to Belize for 2 years and everything | | | | much quicker because the trees will already have |
| changed. | | | | established roots. We have a full-time worker on |
| As I mentioned earlier, I spent a lot of time in the | | | | the plantation that we pay to look after the place |
| jungle but also driving the country and visiting tree | | | | and keep it up. After 5 years the trees should |
| plantations. There are a couple of large teak | | | | be large enough that they will grow on their |
| plantations in the southern part of Belize. That is | | | | own. Now we wait for the harvest. |
| where the itch came back. I needed to start a | | | | I believe that tree planting can be done by |
| tree farm. I partnered up with a fellow Canadian | | | | anyone and that there will likely always be a |
| and started doing research. The 2 most popular | | | | demand for lumber. In current market |
| woods used for lumber in Belize are mahogany | | | | conditions, I'm glad that I have money in trees |
| and Spanish cedar. We bought a piece of | | | | instead of a Registered Retirement Savings Plan. |
| clear-cut land, got some seed and started a | | | | I would encourage everyone to plant some trees |
| nursery. Our research showed that these 2 | | | | for retirement or for your children. |