Saturday, October 10, 2009

End of a Tree


‘Albizzia Falcata’ trees were planted for shade in tea estates. Our land being part of former ‘Mount Pleasant Tea Estate” we inherited a big Albizzia tree. It grows very fast about 10 meters in first two years!


Our original intention was to spare the tree and build around it. However, listening to good advice we decided to remove the tree.


It was no easy task. An excavator, chain saw, and several people with axes, mamoties, and crowbars took four days to fell the tree and remove the root! We also had Ceylon Electricity Board turn off power to the village and lower the power lines to the ground!


We were contemplating how to clean the debris after the trunk is taken to the saw mill. However, it became no big deal. Villagers came in droves as branches kept falling and collected even the tiny twigs for firewood. No money exchanged hands!


We are still left with the root which is 15 feet long and 20 feet in circumference! We hope people will come with axes and chop it for firewood as it dries.

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