Follow the progress of our programs

TREES for SEAS: SEASON 3

Our ongoing TreesForSeas program completed it’s third season in 2022. Thanks to all the hard work of our staff and volunteers, this season was our biggest yet with 4,000 trees planted in the Bellbird Biological Corridor of Costa Rica.

DUGOUT PROA - “BOBOCHIZO”

After several months of work and thanks to the talent of different carpenters and sailors from all over the world, we present our Dugout Sailing Proa: Bobo-Chizo. Inspired by the MotMot bird, known as Bobo, it uses locally sourced materials and totally handmade techniques to create a unique design.

TREES for SEAS CROWDFUNDING EVENT

We held an event to raise funds for our reforestation program TreesForSeas. The activity was carried out thanks to the collaboration of the Belmar Hotel and its brewery, who also donated $1 for every beer sold. We would like to thank the Hotel Belmar and all their collaborators for supporting this type of cause and encouraging us to make it happen.

2021

New year, new projects! AstilleroVerde starts 2021 in full momentum as the team gets larger and more multifaceted. We are excited to support the development of new programs such as Mar Y Miel Community Garden and to expand and improve TreasForSeas. Both of these programs have as main goals to improve the living conditions of our neighbouring communities, by regenerating the land, creating job opportunities and aiding in food security. We have also started a series of free baking classes as a means for personal and professional development.

TREES for SEAS REFORESTATION PROGRAM: AN OVERVIEW

TreesForSeas is our ongoing reforestation program. So far we have planted 5,000 trees in the ecosystems surrounding our shipyard. Our commitment and professionalism has put us in the global restoration movement through a partnership with Plant For The Planet.

Watch this video to know more about this program.

TREES for SEAS NEW AND EXCITING PARTNERSHIP

We are super excited to announce that TreesForSeas has officially been recognized as a partnering program in the United Nations' Trillion Tree Campaign, hosted by Plant For The Planet! Now every tree we plant counts towards the global goal to plant 1 trillion trees by 2030, as part of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

Consider donating here.

TREES for SEAS SEASON 2: CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

Season 2 of TreesForSeas is about to start! This year we will be directing our focus to the neighbouring Tropical Dry Forest, which is one of the rarest and most threatened ecosystems in the world. This year we aim to plant 3,000 native trees and establish our very own tree nursery to grow all our seedling for future campaigns.

Read more about this campaign here.

2020

Despite being a strange year with all the constrains of the pandemic, AstilleroVerde did not stop! In fact, this was a year when many ideas were developed and transformed into reality. The construction of the education center marked a new era for our association. From now on we would be able to host courses and workshops on site on various areas; from shipbuilding to general construction, to blacksmithing and more. TreesForSeas, our very dear reforestation program, was also kickstarted this year.

THANK YOU!

We received a huge donation of tools from the fans of Acorn to Arabella. We just want to say thank you to everyone for the time, effort and tools. It's really going to make an enormous impact on the quality and diversity of courses that we will be able to offer in the future.

BLACKSMITHING & TOOL MAKING COURSE

Our blacksmith and forging course was a massive success, received with great enthusiasm by students from our neighbouring communities of Punta Morales and Costa de Pajaros, and with attendance of students from the Cloud Forest region of Monteverde. Special thank you to Med Chandler (Ship’s Coy Forge), Jack McAuliffe and Alix and Steve from Acorn to Arabella.

Read the journal entry about this course, written by our Program Manager Mariel, here.

2019

This was the year when it all started! Soon after SAILCARGO INC. moved into Punta Morales, it was evident that this shipyard amongst mangroves was meant to be much more than just a ship building facility. AstilleroVerde was born as a means to support the development of the local communities and landscapes, through access to free and relevant education, training and professional development opportunities and reforestation and food security programs. Our first educational program was the Small Boat Building Course.

1ST SMALL BOAT BUILDING COURSE

Master boat builder Bert van Baar came all the way from the Netherlands to lead a small-boat building course attended by artisanal fishermen from the nearby fishing village of Costa de Pajaros, just across the water from the shipyard. The result was 'La Primavela', a small wooden vessel suitable for low-impact fishing in the area. It was made entirely from wooden offcuts from the Ceiba build project.