PERMACULTURE

After one year of observing natural cycles and repairing the houses (zone 0), we started planting our permaculture zones. Zone 1 includes ~10,000 ft2 (~1,000 m2) of terraced and double-dug garden beds which we amend with homemade compost, forest soil, mulch and bio-fertilizers. Zone 2 includes the composting center, recycling center and tool sheds (chickens soon?!). Zone 3 is our food forest with many types of fruit trees, coffee, bananas, edible vines, and intercropped annuals like yuca, sweet potato, corn, beans, and squash. Zone 4 is the bamboo forest which includes 6 types of bamboo that we use as the main structural element in new construction projects. Finally, zone 5 consists of 2 acres (0.75ha) of secondary forest complete with trails to observe forest processes and large trees like targuas, cepropias, strangler figs, walnuts, cedar, pines, and many native species. We help accelerate natural processes by selective trimming and planting diversity. In 2021, we received a donation of 300 local trees for further reforestation and conservation.

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​Our 2025 sustainability goals:

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1) Harvest more weight in food than we consume.

2) Catch and filter rainwater for all of our drinking and agricultural needs.

3) Gather 90% of our construction materials from the farm. 

4) Produce more energy than we consume.

5) Generate zero waste.

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ORGANIC GARDENS & PRODUCE

We sustain beautiful vegetable gardens and rock terraces near the houses to provide a high percentage of our vegetable needs. We harvest dozens of species including delicious salad greens, yuca, tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, beets, cooking herbs, passionfruit, bananas, and plantains. It is fun and healthy to harvest the day's meals and create tasty dishes! We purchase organic vegetables and fruits from nearby farms to supplement whatever we aren't growing (yet), for a well-balanced and chemical-free vegetarian diet.

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FOREST AND TRAILS

We protect an important secondary tropical forest that is one of the few forests left in our farming region. Home to at least 60 species of birds (including motmots, tucans, orioles, and falcons). There are many interesting insects and animals such as armadillos, snakes, kinkajous, and coyotes can sometimes be seen taking refuge around the farm. We interact with the forest by planting and aiding tree growth, maintaining trails, mapping, birdwatching and just being. 

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BIO CONSTRUCTION

All our new building projects such as rainwater collection systems, retention walls, recycling center and greenhouse use recycled and natural materials harvested here on the farm. The four main elements we use to achieve structures with nearly 100% biological materials are volcanic rocks (floors, walls, retention walls), bamboo (posts, walls, roofing structures, furniture), earth (walls, flooring) and vetiver grass (roofing).

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HANDMADE PRODUCTS 

Most of the vegetables and fruit we eat are harvested in our organic gardens or in the gardens of nearby organic farmers. We prepare amazing vegetarian dishes with homemade sauces - always from high-quality ingredients.  We make several products for our own consumption and for sale such as Kombucha tea, wholegrain artisan sourdough bread, hot sauce and banana vinegar. 

 

COMPOST, VERMICOMPOST AND HUMANURE

We dedicate time and space to these processes to create rich soil for our gardens and fruit trees. These cyclical processes help us achieve our zero waste goal.