My last sight as I wait at the bus station to leave Canarana – rainbow post downpour. It’s been real, Mato Grosso. #fieldblog

My last sight as I wait at the bus station to leave Canarana – rainbow post downpour. It’s been real, Mato Grosso. #fieldblog

The plane that brought the first settlers to Canarana in the 70s, “Vaca,” or cow. Those settlers, largely agriculturalists from the south of Brazil, are still memorialized by this plane, which sits in a square off the town center. Crazy that this town and so much of the local ag sprang up in the past 40 years. #fieldblog

The plane that brought the first settlers to Canarana in the 70s, “Vaca,” or cow. Those settlers, largely agriculturalists from the south of Brazil, are still memorialized by this plane, which sits in a square off the town center. Crazy that this town and so much of the local ag sprang up in the past 40 years. #fieldblog

It’s officially time to come home. My sandals have duct tape on the soles to hold them together. Wah wah wah wahhhhhhhh! #fieldblog

It’s officially time to come home. My sandals have duct tape on the soles to hold them together. Wah wah wah wahhhhhhhh! #fieldblog

Rainy season in the forest. Dope. #fieldblog

Rainy season in the forest. Dope. #fieldblog

A baby corn plant, about two weeks old, in an Amazonian crop field. #fieldblog

A baby corn plant, about two weeks old, in an Amazonian crop field. #fieldblog

I spend my life here trying to memorize how absolutely beautiful the sky is during the wet season. #fieldblog #nofilter

I spend my life here trying to memorize how absolutely beautiful the sky is during the wet season. #fieldblog #nofilter

Egg of a bird that lives on the forest floor – a “nambu.” This egg has probably been abandoned by its mom because there is normally a little leaf nest around the egg. #fieldblog

Egg of a bird that lives on the forest floor – a “nambu.” This egg has probably been abandoned by its mom because there is normally a little leaf nest around the egg. #fieldblog

Forest selfie! #fieldblog

Forest selfie! #fieldblog

How do you build a permanent pit 10 meters deep for soil research? With some epic scaffolding to install as you dig. #fieldblog

How do you build a permanent pit 10 meters deep for soil research? With some epic scaffolding to install as you dig. #fieldblog

A million tiny vials to collect samples of greenhouse gas emissions from Amazonian soil. #fieldblog

A million tiny vials to collect samples of greenhouse gas emissions from Amazonian soil. #fieldblog