Any one out there with experience growing eucalyptus trees and returns thereof? Have some idle land (black cotton soil), somewhere off Isinya town, sitting idle. Thought of something l can do there; that isnt too involving like a greenhouse; and just be checking on periodically as l live in Nairobi. Eucalytus came to mind. The good friendly type of eucalytus. Any experiences?

Got concerned after reading in yesterdays Nation about Nobel laureate Prof Wangari Maathai opposing the planting of eucalyptus tress (the new species. Dont know who's fooling who? According to her, the government is doing this purely to earn carbon credit and that the eucalyptus trees are BAD for the environment.

Make sure you plant clones from KFS. Seedlings from other sources are water guzzlers. Remember to incorporate costs of harvest including removing the stump n roots.

The Eucalyptus tree comes with health benefits.
It can treat respiratory problems like the flu, and diabetes (controlling the sugar levels). It has also been proven by researchers that as an oil it can be used for dental care and skin care...

@ barrywhite, congrats. Do you have tentative selling rates per tree for both timber and poles? Have you established potential customers? Did you follow the minimum spacing required?

@ Lolest. Thanks alot.The more trees you buy, the higher the discount you can bargain. I bought the 4800 trees at 25/- per tree. I dont need to establish customers at this point yet; when the trees are mature l will establish a base on some 1/8 of an acre in Kitengela l have; and employ a few guys to walk around construction sites and have the trees hired. The rate lately is 80/- per tree per month (it takes 28 days for a slab to cure). Any delays on the developer is charged at 10/- per day. Minimum spacing for the trees next to the boundary of your plot is 2m; minimum space for the rest is 1m. The 2m is given so the branches dont cross over into your neighbours plot.

@bwenyenye. I just called their office and booked an appointment. For the three visits l made their, l kept getting different officers; so l didnt particularly take anyone's number. Their office line is 0722157414.

I have a buddy doing this with 3000 poles; and rakes in 200k a month around ngong area. His second crop is nearly maturing. Hope the above info is of help to you folks!

What is this concept of hiring? Never heard of it. Please do expound. Have some maturing in the next 2yrs, pole size, would like to derive max value more than communserate of the time the land has been committed. Thanks in advance.

@Barry White I am very greatful & be blessed, you are truly made of the Wazua spirit!! Wow..never thought out-sourcing had reached such an extent! That is very creative of us! All this time I have been awaiting to sell and as I mentioned earlier I have two years to go & they'll be "KPLC ready" so you know that's a tall & wide tree. Thus, can hiring still apply? Or will that take sawing the poles somewhat.

Gracias..gracias. Thanks for that. For now I am happy that I know what more to do with them other than bulk selling. Please note that to me they are principally a rich store of value - either a bail out package when other things ever go wrong or where I can derive sizeable capital from to finance/bolster another better yeilding venture. I am very thankful Bw. Barry White.

Great information guys - just wanted to check, has anyone sold these eucalyptus trees in bulk for timber and how much can i hope to make from one acre of mature eucalyptus trees in this manner? Is there a likelihood that the market is getting flooded?

I have someone offering me a few acres that are packed with these trees at a bargain price.