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Money Can Grow on Trees
Natural Home Magazine
- November/December 2002
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Money Can Grow on Trees
Natural Home Magazine -
November/December 2002
Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk
In 1991, Steve and Sherry
Brunner left their home in Columbus, Ohio, and bought a 1,400-acre
former cattle ranch in Costa Rica in the hope of starting a tree farm.
Before a single tree was planted, the Brunners conducted an extensive
land survey to study not only the needs of the trees but also those of
the local wildlife. Since then, they have planted more than 1.5 million
trees on 10,000 acres. Another 4,000 acres of rainforest are being
protected and 2,200 acres allowed to regenerate as erosion protection
and wildlife habitat.
The Brunners have developed a
"tree owner program," in which individuals own specific trees and the
lumber they produce. Sold in lots of 100, the trees cost about $30
each, which includes the cost of planting and care of the tree and the
use of the land. At harvest, the owners can choose to keep the wood,
sell it themselves, or sell it through the Brunners. Investing in trees
makes cents as well as sense. For example, a stand of 100 teak trees
bought at $3,797 today will be worth more than $100,000 in twenty-five
years; comparatively, the same amount invested in a certificate of
deposit making 5 percent (compounded annually) would be worth only
$12,858. (back to the top of the page)
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