The Secadora is our drying rack for the cacao which has been fermenting. We still use the same rack that Nacho the original owner used, although it has needed work each year. This week it finally stopped rolling out. The concrete the rollers move on finally started crumbling away.
We have been using two shelves that roll out up to now. But with all the care and special fertalizer we have used over the last three years we are expecting a huge harvest this year and are fixing the rack so that not only the two shelves work but the lowest third level on the ground can be used as well. We'll also have to buy another horse for bringing the cacao from the forest. Miloo is too old for this much work and the guys have been telling us for a while that it's too much work for him and we need another horse.
Carlos is our one and only carpenter in the area and very dear to us. He has been away on a job working construction in another part of the country. We saw him last Sunday while taking a trip to the river in the village of Balle and he was telling us how cold it was up in the mountain where he was working. Something happened and he decided to quit and come home. We're so happy!!! and he looks happy too. He's mixing all the cement by hand and re-making the tracks for the racks to slide on. Giovani and Humberto are washing one of the racks, so you can get an idea of the size. Lots of space for lots of Cacao.
I had no idea of the size of the rack--amazing. Great that Carlos is returning to fix it.
ReplyDelete