Regenerative living + sustainability 

Our regenerative living goals help us to create and maintain a farm which is regenerative, sustainable and self-sufficient.

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.

Bioconstruction

Our new building projects such as the learning center, 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 nearing 100% biological materials are volcanic rocks (floors, walls, retention walls), bamboo (posts, walls, roofing structures, furniture), earth (walls, flooring) and wood (structural elements).

Wellbeing

Essential aspects for healthy and sustainable living, we foster space for expression and cultivating awareness and personal development. We like to make time for beautifying surfaces, practising artisanship, dancing, drumming, fire circles, yoga, hikes, and adventures.

Syntropic agroforestry

Syntropic agroforestry is a regenerative farming system that mimics the dynamics of natural forests. Along with permaculture, we started integrating syntropic agroforestry system (SAFS) techniques into the farm in 2022. Since then, we have improved our local reliance on materials from the farm by utilizing trimmings directly in the planting area. More aggressive pruning of pioneer trees stimulates growth in those trees while creating an abundance of organic material and also opening sunlight for smaller plants and trees below. We have even reduced pest problems by integrating medicinal cuttings such as lemongrass into the veggie gardens.

Organic produce

We sustain beautiful vegetable gardens and rock terraces which cater to most 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. We love to harvest the day's meals and create tasty dishes together. We purchase organic vegetables and fruits from nearby farms to supplement whatever we aren't growing (yet), for a well-balanced and chemical-free plant-based diet.

Artisanal products

We make several artisanal products for our own consumption and for sale such as kombucha, kefir, wholegrain artisan sourdough bread, hot sauce and banana vinegar. We’d love to teach you too!

Animals + wildlife

We are dedicated to maintaining our farm as a wildlife sanctuary and prioritizing the protection of local biodiversity in a region heavily affected by deforestation. Our grounds and surrounding secondary tropical forest provide refuge for a wide variety of wildlife, including more than 60 species of birds such as motmots, toucans, orioles, and falcons, as well as butterflies, insects, squirrels, lizards, snakes, armadillos, kinkajous, coyotes, and the occasional sloth. We actively care for this ecosystem by planting and nurturing trees, maintaining forest trails, mapping habitats, birdwatching, and simply spending time in nature.

The farm is also home to our adopted rescue dog, Bamboosa, and is occasionally visited by friendly neighbourhood dogs and cats. Guests can enjoy exploring the trails and observing the rich wildlife that makes this place so special.

Bio-controllers

We practice methods of pest control that are chemical free and wildlife friendly. In our biofactory, we make, mix and apply products to help our plants including bio-fertilizers, fermented manure, chile-ajo, sulfocal broth and more.

Compost

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.