Planting a forest in Salento

Dear friends,

Welcome! We are writing to tell you how Arbaroj is progressing.

We have been busy creating our «forest postcards», which are now finally on their way to you! It has been wonderful creating each one, and we are excited to think that they will connect you to us and to all the members of the forest community. It has been lovely writing your addresses and sending them to so many different countries around the world :) One is flying across the ocean…

As for the forest, there is news that here in Salento, this last month has been and continues to be very rainy, so the land is not yet workable. The timing is likely to be delayed, bringing us quickly towards the explosion of spring, a somewhat risky time to plant because the plants would not have time to adapt to the soil before receiving the external stimulus to flower. Furthermore, the summer here is very «aggressive» in terms of temperature, and we do not want to risk losing seedlings that are still fragile.

That is why, after consulting with our agronomists, we have developed a second action plan that suits us very well.

We will develop a project that follows the guidelines of the Japanese Miyawaki method, which has been tested by a skilled agronomist on nearby land, which we visited and whose photos I am attaching.

This method involves planting different native species densely (3-4 plants per square metre), combining, for example, two shrubs with a tree, in order to create a typical undergrowth environment, ideal for plants to help each other grow, protect each other, form root relationships and mutual aid connections: exchanging nutrients that make them more resilient.

Soil preparation is fundamental to this method. That is why we will devote this spring to preparing the ground by:

1. Delineating three macro-areas to host the tiny forests

2. Pointing the soil: deep mechanical tillage of the soil carried out with a tractor, aimed at breaking up compact and deep layers without overturning the soil

3. Adding compost, a natural fertiliser, to the soil (5 kg per square metre)

4. Mulching with natural materials

Planting will take place in October 2026, so that the soil will have time to prepare to welcome the seedlings, which, once planted, will enjoy the cool climate and rainfall of the autumn season.

We are delighted to follow this method because, unlike the traditional method (which requires a distance of 3-5 metres between plants), it is based on the creation of root tissue, which is the real strength of the forest, together with fungal networks.

Furthermore, Tiny Forests, which are only possible with native plants, create microhabitats that promote soil biodiversity, provide diverse habitats for insects, birds and small mammals, increase resilience to pests, diseases and climate change, and help plants grow faster.

Another piece of good news is that we will soon be announcing the planting days, which, being in October, will allow those of you who live further away to organise yourselves to be there in person and celebrate the First Festival of the Emerging Forest with us!

Full of joy and anticipation… We send you a big woodland hug.

PS: Write to us if you feel like it! We love receiving your messages :)

See you soon!

Ilaria, Alberto and Eluney

Dear supporters,

2026 has begun with great energy for us and for the forest, and we have entered the operational phase. Last week, we had a meeting with the agronomists who developed the project, and together we planned the next steps to be taken.

This morning we visited the plant nursery and inspected all the seedlings. Each one is one or at most two years old, so that it can adapt to the soil easily and take root well. Delivery will take place this week! The nurseryman will bring them to the field. It was exciting to see all these wonderful baby plants in person.

In the meantime, on Monday and Tuesday, we will meet with the technician who will take care of the irrigation system and the excavator operator who will allow us to bury the water pipes, which will water the plants and protect them from fire. Soon we will have all the information we need to announce the planting days! We will soon announce both these dates and the date of the Festa del Bosco Nascente, when the last oak trees will be planted and this new beginning will be celebrated with a ritual and a community festival.

Regarding REWARDS ::: We are preparing forest POSTCARDS to send to each of you, so please reply to this email with the postal address to which you would like them sent. Thank you! :)

Those who have chosen the GUARDIAN TREE, please write to us also indicating which tree species you would like from among the following:

Celtis australis (hackberry) Ceratonia siliqua (carob) Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean cypress) Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) Pinus pinea (stone pine) Quercus coccifera (kermes oak) Quercus pubescens (downy oak) Quercus ilex (holm oak) Quercus ithaburensis (Walloon oak) Quercus suber (cork oak) Ulmus minor (field elm)

Thank you !

We will write personally to those who have chosen the forest visit and the night in a caravan.

A warm resinous hug to each and every one of you!

See you soon,

Ilaria, Alberto and Eluney

Dear supporters of the Arbaroj forest, We are writing to say a huge THANK YOU because… WE MADE IT! ! ! The forest will be created ! ! !

The official news of the campaign’s success arrived just in time for Christmas, like a magical gift to unwrap.

It has been an intense few weeks, but thanks to the heart and initiative of each and every one of you, the fundraising campaign has been successful and the Arbaroj Forest will be created! ! !

In fact, it has already been born, through the connection between all the people who are now dreaming it together with us.

While waiting for the first seedlings, we decided to celebrate by dancing among the marigolds and planting some of the first olive, aloe and myrtle plants donated by a nearby supporter.

A beautiful journey awaits us together and we will keep you updated on every single step by post. The first will be a meeting at the beginning of the new year with agronomists and other experts to establish the timing of the interventions.

We will soon be sending you the forest postcards and details of the rewards you have chosen.

In the meantime, we invite you to follow the IG page we have created for the forest:

IG PAGE LINK https://www.instagram.com/arbaroj_boscochedanza?igsh=MWMyZ3ZodWlwZHNsOA==

A big hug to each and every one of you, wonderful guardians of the forest, near and far… Our roots send you love and peace. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

See you soon! ! !

Ilaria, Alberto and Eluney

DEAR FRIENDS,

We are in the final week of crowdfunding and our hearts are connected with yours, near and far, even more strongly.

The platform hosting this fundraiser has an all-or-nothing rule, meaning that the proposed project can only be realised if the total budget is reached. Therefore, if this is not achieved, the donations will be returned to the supporters . . .

As things stand, we assume that this is probably what will happen… unless other people want to join in these last few days, driven by the time limit… Sometimes urgency has this effect!

So we invite you, in these remaining days, to spread the word to anyone you think might be interested in the issue and who, like you, might want to entrust us with the care of a forest. LET’S CREATE THIS SMALL MIRACLE TOGETHER! And we will celebrate the start of the new year by entrusting 1,300 new plant lives to the earth.

A big hug, with all our branches, leaves and roots! ! !

Ilaria, Alberto and Eluney

Dear supporters of the project,

Thank you so much! Your support gives energy to the community forest and to the possibility that a group of people who do not know each other can join forces to give nature back its space to express itself and the fields their wildlife.

We are moved to see among you the names of people who are close by, and those of people who are geographically distant, some of whom we have never met, who live many kilometres away from here, in other lands with other climates, and who, despite never having crossed these fields, love them as if they could see them from their windows.

We are grateful that this journey connects us to you through invisible, deep connections.
This is the first lesson that the forest is teaching us: to be a network.

Recently, it also received its name: «ARBAROJ - dancing forest».

A word in Esperanto («arbaroj» = «forest»), a language created to connect the peoples of the world, just as an ecosystem connects all the beings that inhabit and constitute it within the same harmonious balance of subsistence.

Yesterday we received an invitation from Salenti Asd, a very interesting and active association in the area that deals with environmental and social issues, and which began its activities here in Nardò in June. The wonderful people who make up the association have offered to support us through an event whose proceeds will be donated entirely to the forest! An immense gift that has moved us deeply.

So this Sunday, 30 November, at 10.30 a.m. in Santa Maria al Bagno (Nardò), on a beautiful wooden platform overlooking the sea, we will have breakfast together and talk about reforestation. Alberto and I will tell stories and sing songs for the little ones about protecting forests. It will be a precious moment to be together and unite our hearts, just as trees do.

Of course, you are welcome and free to invite whoever you wish! It will be a joy to embrace everyone who is there.

See you soon! Ilaria and Alberto

Dear friends,

Thank you so much for your support. You have no idea how happy it makes us to read your names, one by one, joining us on this journey. To you, the very first generous hearts to have ignited our dream, we want to tell you a little story starting with this photo.

A very wise person whom we never met planted 150 trees around Casa Pepe 25 years ago: eucalyptus, pink pepper and rosary trees. We were looking for a house in the countryside with a bit of greenery, but we never expected to find one surrounded by a real grove to look after, where we could watch our daughter run and explore every day.

Going through the seasons together with these trees, which live them to the full, is a gift that makes us feel grateful every day.

And one gift leads to another… Today, these trees planted by that kind person look out over the field as it is covered with marigolds. The earth of the field trembles with the desire to receive and to give. We have felt its desire since we arrived. Spring on this field brings flowers of a thousand colours.

And this year, thanks to you and those who will come, it could become home to 1,300 different plants.

We take you with us, step by step, on this path that leads to the forest that will be.

See you soon!

Good night

Ilaria and Alberto