September 1 - 7, 2008

This week got off to a bad start. I returned late Sunday evening from São Paulo, but it was not until Monday morning that I discovered that all 10 of the chicks I recently purchased in São Luiz do Paraitinga had been eaten by the cachorro-do-mata or bush dog. The cachorro-do-mata had clawed its way through the roof of the makeshift henhouse that Johannes, Esben and I had so carefully prepared -or so we thought at the time.

It was also on Monday morning that I discovered that the two ant colonies in our recently-planted fruit orchard were full of leafcutter ants. According to Wikipedia, 'They feed on special structures called gongylidia produced by a specialized fungus that grows only in the underground chambers of the ants' nest...The ants actively cultivate their fungus, feeding it with freshly-cut plant material'. In a word, with the leaves from our fruit trees. I thus spent the morning fervently digging out the two ant colonies, not an altogether easy task. Thankfully, I had the help of our caseiro or foreman, Clair, a mythical character who can best be described as a cross between Paul Bunyon and John Henry, and his trusted enchadão or hoe. Nonetheless, it took us a couple of hours to reach the underground chambers, after which all I could do was look on in wonder as millions of ants (a mature leafcutter colony can contain more than 8 million ants) continued about their business...largely undisturbed. Fortunately, Lone quickly researched and identified a biodynamic ant pesticide, Macex, which I purchased and will apply next week when it arrives by mail.

The ant episode diverted us from planting the remainder of the 90+ fruit trees I recently purchased. We thus spent Tuesday planting another 27 fruit trees near the casa do caseiro. We have now planted a grand total of 78 fruit trees. Planting so many trees is physically demanding but spiritually rewarding.

Most of Wednesday was spent at Deposit Cursino in São Luiz do Paraitinga ordering/purchasing the remaining materials to complete phase I construction.

On Thursday I built a henhouse using the scrap wood from the various houses/buildings currently under construction. My highest priority, not surprisingly, was safety...belts and suspenders all the way! The end result was the nuclear bunker of henhouses, an impenetrable structure that took four men to move from the side of the main house to the fruit orchard. In all, I estimate it to weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 kg, give or less-likely take 50 kg.

The week wrapped up as always with a frantic rush to complete as much construction work as possible, a quick trip to Ubatuba to withdraw cash to pay the construction workers and (window) shop for household appliances, and finally unload the Wednesday's order of construction materials, including 100 treated fence posts for the first of many pig pens, which, uncharacteristically arrived at approx. 17:00. This was followed by a little cleaning, a quick dinner of canned tuna, canned corn and almonds followed by canned peaches for desert.