Life and Livelihood among Rubber Trees
- Author Michael Penny
- Published July 27, 2011
- Word count 544
In Kerala, tropical southern India, most rubber tree farms are very small—a typical holding is less than 20 acres. These are not rubber plantations with thousands of acres of land. Kerala-based Cocolatex, supplies natural Dunlop latex for Savvy Rest organic mattresses, a small company, privately owned and operated.
The rubber tree, or hevea brasiliensis, grows at higher elevations with good drainage, and does not lend itself to mass cultivation. The farmers take great care in planting the trees to ensure their health. In more open areas, pineapple trees are inter-planted among the rubber trees. In hilly regions, companion shrubs are added to shade the soil and maximize the water available to the trees’ roots.
Rubber trees have three "skins" that are somewhat delicate. When tapping a tree by hand, it’s easy to cut too deeply. The idea, which involves much practice and skill, is to create a long, slanted opening in the bark at just the right angle. Although the farmers are kind to visitors and may even allow one to try the knife, one can sense their collective sigh when an amateur injures the bark. Fortunately, an experienced farmer will swiftly reshape the cut so the serum will run properly. The cuts heal over in about an hour.
Farmers start their day around 5 a.m. because rubber sap runs most freely in the early morning. Walking from tree to tree in the shade, they finish the daily collection around noon. At its peak, each tree yields just one to two cups of serum per day. Older trees produce less, and the latex runs more slowly toward the end of the tree’s annual cycle. Years ago and in some locations still, farmers use halved coconut hulls to collect the serum. They combine the output from many trees one at a time into steel buckets and then pour the contents into drums that are sealed before being moved to the factory.
Farmers regularly replant their holdings, setting in new seedlings. They treat the trees with great respect and care. For its first seven years, young trees are left to grow robust and remain untapped. A tree can produce usable latex for up to 20 years, then is cut and sent to a mill to be made into furniture. Rubber wood is one of the most sustainable woods, and is growing in popularity in the United States. It is also widely used in local economies, such as in making office desks for Cocolatex.
The Cocolatex facility employs 80 skilled workers in various roles whose livelihoods depend on the remarkable utility of the rubber tree. They produce foam rubber on a daily basis—emptying the drums into giant mixers or centrifuges, testing and correcting the liquid mixture, filling molds, steam-baking and washing finished layers, and inspecting the final quality of the sheets once they have dried. The finished sheets are double-wrapped in plastic and a puncture-proof material.
Just as the renewable serum yielded by tapping a tree is transformed into many kinds of important products, the rubber industry itself provides livelihood and comfort for many individuals and their families.
While the deep interdependence of humans and trees often goes unremarked, the stately rubber tree is one of the most durable, renewable and dependable resources for human manufacturing.
Michael Penny is the founder of Savvy Rest Organic Mattresses and an expert on body dynamics and sleep issues. An entrepreneur and a yoga practitioner, Penny brings a unique perspective to the natural mattress industry.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- The Data-Driven Dinner: How Hospitality Uses Analytics To Know You Better
- “Blood, Power, and Legacy: The Godfather Trilogy’s Triumphs and Tragedies.”
- The Healing Flame: Why Ginger Deserves Its Place Beside Turmeric.
- Visionaries Beyond Tomorrow: The Five Directors Who Reimagined Sci-Fi Cinema.
- The Timeless Power of Turmeric: Nature’s Golden Secret to Vitality
- New Port Richey Fl: Navy Vet found dead in Walk in Freezer.
- Golden Roots: How Turmeric Became the World’s Most Powerful Natural Healer.
- “Greta Gerwig and the Rise of Women Behind the Camera in Hollywood.”
- “The Crown of Cinema: From Citizen Kane to The Godfather.”
- The Miracle of Mother’s Milk: Unveiling the Lifelong Benefits of Breastfeeding.
- The Evolution of James Bond: Six Decades of Cinema’s Most Enduring Spy.
- Pumpkin Spice, But Make It Office-Friendly: A Beginner’s Halloween Makeup You Can Wear to Work
- The Man Behind the Cape: The Life and Tragic Fall of George Reeves.
- Is Learning to Drive in an Automatic Car Easier? — Expert Answers from Autogear Driving School Glasgow
- Nature’s First Superfood: Why Breast Milk Is the Ultimate Nourishment for Your Baby.
- Decorating the Humble Ranch House This Holiday Season with Vintage Carved Wood Furniture
- Personalized Carved Wood Doors: Your Gateway to Resort-Style Living at Home
- Cozy Neutrals and Natural Textures: Creating Your Deep, Lived-In Sanctuary
- Home for the Holidays: Creating Wholesome Spaces with Vintage Furniture and Antique Carved Doors
- Beyond the Buzzword: Understanding the Difference Between Ketosis and the Ketogenic Diet.
- The 24-290 mm Paradox: Why a 12× Zoom from 2001 Still Outresolves Today’s 8K Sensors
- The Power of Ketosis: Unlocking Your Body’s Hidden Energy Source.
- Navy Veteran With Dementia Found Dead in Assisted Living Freezer!
- Fueling the Future: Why Ketosis Is the Key to Lasting Energy and Metabolic Health.
- The Genetic Stew
- Common challenges in IT modernization
- Naka Solutions Reviews: Innovation, Quality Service, and Trader Trust
- The Style Upgrade: Why Coretec Floors Outshine Traditional Vinyl
- Ketosis Unlocked: The Science Behind Your Body’s Natural Fat-Burning State.
- Luxury Morocco Shore Excursions: Discover Authentic Beauty in Comfort and Style