SEED TO SEAT

NURSERY

We establish our nurseries each year during the dry season.  We have a nursery at our facility in Managua and other nurseries at our plantations in Sapoa and Chinandega.  We collect and purchase certified seed stock and germinate seedlings on site.  Each nursery (or vivero) produces between 50,000 -200,000 seedlings. The seedlings are cultivated over a 3-month period before they are planted when the rains begin in late May or June.  Many seedlings are also donated to municipalities and local NGOs to plant in parks, on riverbanks, public roads and public areas. 

REFORESTATION

Trees are planted on lands spent by cattle farming, initially about 400 trees per acre.  The reforestation process begins immediately.  By year two, some of the seedlings are six feet tall affecting the soil and temperature.  The first 2-3 years require intense maintenance as the seedlings establish as trees. Hand cleaning and pruning is necessary to protect the young trees from competing vegetation and pests.

By the fourth year, some canopy is formed and the forest begins to return.  The canopy shade cools the earth, allowing species of birds, reptiles, and insects to return to a renewing habitat. Local streams begin to clear as the new trees inhibit erosion.  Full canopy is established by year seven, and the forest inhabitants include various species of monkeys, sloths and other small mammals.  The first thinning occurs at year eight.  By year 20 some of the trees are 80-100 feet tall. The forest established is a functioning economy and the land is returned to its natural use.  Mother Nature is happy.

MILLING

Our sister company Maderas Sostenibles maintains a facility in Managua with woodshop and sawmill capacities.  Harvest and thinning material is brought to Managua where the wood is graded, trimmed, and air-dried. Biomass, scrap, and other wood waste are sent to a biomass generator and converted to sustainable energy.  We dry our hardwoods in solar kilns on site.  In addition to being used for furniture, we export some of our harvested wood as lumber to countries where abusive forestry practices have virtually eliminated the supply of wood.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Our products are handmade to last for generations.  Our team of architects and furniture designers design with optimal usage in mind, knowing how to incorporate different wood species into our products.  Our high-quality teak lumber is great for both indoor and outdoor use.

Local artisans from Masaya, Managua, Nagarote and La Paz Centro bring our designs to life, handcrafting our lumber into furniture at our sawmill and carpentry shop.

Our manila cord is produced in-house and woven onto our colorful lounge chairs by skilled weavers, trained onsite. All patterns on our chairs are created and designed by founder Abril Zepeda.

Masaya & Co is dedicated to design and sustainability.  We integrate classic and contemporary design with traditional artisan production methods and dense tropical hardwood.  We are proud of the quality of our workmanship, and you will be proud of the beautiful addition to your home.

And… together we will have planted at least 100 trees.