Sustainable Agriculture and Reforestation
the problem:
There is a small farming community in Coopabuena, Costa Rica that was hit by a major cooperative bankruptcy, sending them into downward spiral into poverty. Desperate members of what remains of the community are cutting down the remaining trees on their farms, in an area that once had the highest biodiversity on the planet. These farmers have sold their tropical rainforest jungles to loggers and are now left with barren pastures being trampled and eroded away by cattle so they can be sold to make some quick money. This is destroying the land and its high potential to absorb the over-abundant carbon in the atmosphere.
This project solves these problems through community awareness programs, functions and demonstrations on "Finca Salveverde," a farm turned vegetative from pasture. There is a native tree seedling nursery there where free trees will be distributed to pastures and degraded lands in need. Cob structures such as houses and ovens will be built from natural materials from the local land. Sustainable practices and permaculture education will be always available on Finca Salaveverde via this project. This includes diagrams and information on various alternative green methodologies that any visitor can look at and do themselves.
Interns will be able to come from all over the world to learn and receive credit from their college or university. They can choose to live with real Costa Rican host families, or bring their tent to camp out on Finca Salveverde. Independent learning contracts should be agreed upon with a sponsor from the student's school. Some projects to be done on the farm are tree planting, terracing, pruning, harvesting, cooking, cleaning, and nursery work. On Finca Salveverde, students can gain outdoor experience or certifications living in the wilderness without electricity.
vital stats:
people impacted:
20people involved:
0why it's important:
I work with several non-profits in this area including Finca Project(with their reforestation nursery), Earthwatch(an international reforestation organization), The Community Agroecology Network, and ASOPRODI (as a committee member organizing the local farmer's market and cooperative). My dual ESL certification allows me to teach free professional English lessons to jobless Costa Ricans. I have been living off the grid in this same area for four years now practicing sustainable methodologies and directing several ongoing permaculture projects.
the plan of action:
I personally plant hundreds of different native trees, fruit trees, medicinal herbs, and agricultural crops on degraded and abandoned weedy pasture land. Not a single chemical treatment was used during this labor intensive volunteer work. Students from CAN and colleges and universities around the world attend the natural building workshops I have been teaching for free. I built the first cob structure in the area (and perhaps in the world) out of 100% natural materials that operates as an oven, dehydrator, and kiln. This structure operating at full potential gives job opportunities to several workers at a time. This place in Costa Rica has a large nitch for paid positions like this that will eliminate some of the poverty many Costa Ricans are forced into.
how you can get involved:
This project welcomes anyone and everyone including students, workers, family, neighbors, children, adults, and anyone interested in saving the planet with action not just words. This is not limited to just human beings. Plants, animals, fungi and all sorts of organisms play an active role in any ecosystem so symbiosis is of utmost importance. Humans could help by planting, pruning, renovating, cooking, cleaning, gardening, painting, cobbing, or playing music. They will have a whole-systems approach being environmentally conscious of the long-term future of our desperate climate changing Earth.
