Mangrove Planting Count: 600 for the week so far

I am firmly convinced there is simply nothing in this world more satisfying than a hard day of work doing something you deeply believe is worthwhile.

First there was the little experiment this weekend to see what kinds of propagules survive better under different conditions. That's 200 planted...

Then today I visited a shrimp farm and put several rows of propagules along a little delta from a drainage ditch. As the mangroves grow, they'll slow the run-off and spread it out more, making more sediment settle out before it reaches the estuary. That's 250 more.

Then I spoke to a dredge operator about plans to rehabilitate a sedimentation pond. For good measure I added another 150 to the end of the pond that won't be cleaned. They'll trap nutrients and sediment there...

That's 600 red mangroves this week and counting.

Also in this week's body count...

3... dolphins swimming under the kayak.

2... iguanas eating buttonwood blossoms outside the bedroom window

1....proposal for a mangrove preserve, approved

I'm hanging in there.