Ecovillages: The way of the future

Posted: Friday, April 20, 2012 in The Tico Times.

Ecovillages integrate green building, organic agriculture, alternative energies, along with Earth-based spirituality and progressive education for our children.

Courtesy of Stephen Brooks

From the print edition

By Stephen Brooks

Do we have a choice in creating the world of our dreams? Do we have any say in the way our communities, towns or cities are designed?  In where our food and water come from and where our wastes go? Can food be produced right where people live, or must it be shipped around the world before it graces our dining room tables?

These are such important questions, and for a long time they have been completely removed from our scope and power of decision. However, an ecological movement is bubbling globally and it is emerging with extreme vigor; communities of people around the world are dedicated to changing the way things are by creating and living in what are being called ecovillages.

The Global Ecovillage Network defines an ecovillage as an urban or rural community of people who strive to integrate a supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life.

Sounds logical, right?

For thousands of years people have lived in communities close to nature and also deeply connected to the source of their food, water and the materials they used to build their homes. It is only in the last 100 years or so that modern cities began to break these ties, creating a disconnect that has resulted in depression, social divide, poverty and scarcity.

From rural hippie communities in the woods of Northern California to coastal Scotland to urban China, groups are forming that are working to break the mold of today’s cities and take back control, while reconnecting with the land and with their neighbors.

Ecovillages are now spreading throughout Costa Rica. This is not a passing trend, but a transition to a whole new way of interacting with our surroundings and with each other.

Ecovillages integrate green building, organic agriculture, alternative energies, along with Earth-based spirituality and progressive education for our children.  The Ecovillage Movement is manifesting itself in Costa Rica in many different forms, from high-end ecologically planned communities to groups of friends pooling their resources to secure land and unfold their dreams.

For many years, Costa Rica has attracted alternative people from around the world, and many have come to Costa Rica seeking community and a simpler way of life.  Eco-living does not mean that one has to live rustically or in a thatch-roofed shack.  There are ecological living options for all budgets and all kinds of people.

The ecovillage is a solution to many of the drastic problems we are facing on our planet today, as population explodes and resources dwindle. Living in Earth-based communities could be the way to stop destructive environmental practices and help us leave our grandchildren a world we are proud of, and a legacy worth carrying on.

Stephen Brooks is founder of the Punta Mona Center for Sustainable Living and Education (www.puntamona.org), La Ecovilla (www.laecovilla.com) and the Envision Festival (www.envisionfestival.com), and offers  permaculture design consultations. Contact him at stephen@laecovilla.com

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Perils of property development in Costa Rica.

Check out this link.  It’s a very useful overview of the perils you will encounter, not may encounter, in developing property in Costa Rica.  Thank God we survived our nightmare in southern Costa Rica and can move forward with spectacular ecoburica!

 

http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/Top-Story/In-Limon-battle-lines-are-drawn_Friday-April-20-2012

End of season wrap-up.

Hello my fellow adventurers.  I’m back in Canada, gearing up to sock away some dough and prepare for next season in Costa Rica.  We hosted a handful of intrepid travelers, all of whom raved about ecoburica.  Glad you all had a blast, I certainly enjoyed hosting you.  My last week there was spent repairing the solar system.  We installed new cables, new controller and inverter.  It all works superbly now, but we will add another panel and battery for next season.  I thoroughly enjoyed ten days of bonding with “mi baron” Zach and my partner Francisco.  For the first time in 20 years I had plenty of chill out time and was not following a work schedule.  Lots of body surfing, beach volleyball, pleasure hikes and backgammon with the young lad.  We’ll jack up the off season marketing with some new ideas.  Keep checking up on us at Facebook and Youtube and our new social media outlet on Pinterest.  We will amaze you!  Pura Vida.

 

Heading back to ecoburica.

It’s been a frustrating winter.  Just had a handful of bookings and people raved about ecoburica.  Then disaster struck at home in Canada.  My Dad took a fall in the driveway of his house, resulting in a surge of adrenalin that somehow sent him into delirium.  So I’ve been taking care of him, got him out of the hospital and now at the point where he is back home.  Caregivers will have to make daily visits, but it looks like he’s out of the danger zone.  So my flight (with my son) is booked for March 9th, eager to get back and fix the solar system and show the “baron” what Dad has accomplished in this forgotten paradise .  Too bad his buddy could not come along, parents just not  clicking with the marvelous opportunity.  But it should be a fantastic March break for the boy and his dad!  And if there are further bookings for this spring, who knows, we may decide to extend our stay.  If not, I’ll shut the place down until next winter and head back to the drawing board to generate fresh marketing ideas.  I could be selfish and keep ecoburica all for my enjoyment, but a place this beautiful (see photo below) needs to be shared with the world.  So come on world, I want to entertain you!

Journal entry ecoburica Costa Rica

I was up at 5:00 today. Getting to bed at 8:00pm will do that! Another night without rain. I was going to visit the police today to call Alex and to collect some shells but I’ll do forest paths instead. And paint the shower, it’s dried enough now. Arcadio gets almost all of the walking trails cleared! Good worker. I do about 10% of them, he does rest. Two huge trees fell over “Camino Arcadio”, new name. So instead of rerouting the trail we will build stairs over them. Be interesting for tourists to see the power of nature. Benjamin fishes most of day, paints some posts. It’s an excellent fishing day. The pelicans dive bomb all day. Benjamin catches a new record, 18 fish! We eat fish all day, lots to share too. He has a couple with 3 kids drop in for a visit from south pta Burica. Rains a bit in afternoon and I carve out some more punky bits from shower. No painting today, I spend a solid hour digging out platforms. The rains have washed mud up to base of a couple, need to get air at the joists and dry them before Benjamin paints with our black mix. Ben fishes into the night, I hit sack at 9:30.

 

Rite of passage pta Burica Costa Rica

One day I had to make some telephone calls.  Since there is no signal on the ecoburica site, one has to walk down the coast about 25 minutes to the local police detachment.  The police here are super co-operative and let us use their phone to make calls whenever we need.  So, I grabbed my “baston” (walking stick) and headed down the coast.  the walk involves mostly level beach so it’s a pleasant stroll for 90% of the way.  But, that 10% can be a killer!  There are boulders you have to cross for about 100 meters, and then the infamous hole in the rock.  (pics below)  You can get through this hole at the absolute low tide, and the water is about thigh high.  But, you have to time your run so that you don’t get caught by opposing waves.   My first time on the walk, I had no idea how deep the water would be, so I climbed up the rock face and down the other side.  Not recommended.  One slip and you fall and at the very least break several bones.  But I had some valuable gear with me and did not want to chance it getting wet.  So, got to the station, made my calls and started the trek back.  Which by the way passes some beach where the tides bring in an amazing plethora of sea shells.  We’ll take you there when you come to ecoburica.  So, I get to the hole and can’t discern when would be the best moment to run across.  I don’t see any sand, just a whack of sea water splashing and crashing into the rock face.  But, I know it can be done, my guys have done it, the police cross this way.  And, I don’t want to miss the low tide and see my opportunity slip away.  So, I pick my moment and crash into the water.  A wave comes exploding in from the other side and drenches me up to my waist.  But, I hang onto the rock face, wait for the surge to pass, and scamper around the rock to dry beach on the other side.   Made it!  What a rush!  Pura Vida!

 

Sitting in latitude 8 in Golfito’s best bar.  Enjoyed an afternoon party here, celebrating the bartender’s birthday.  Had some of the best ribs I’ve had anywhere, bar none.   Given up on fixing the solar system this week, it ain’t gonna happen.  I spoke with Larry, technician who understands the whole concept of solar.  The Cobra inverter I had is good for camping, but not for the long term.  I need an Outback sealed inverter, and that is something to source in Canada or USA.  (Or, if somebody down here knows where I can get one I’m all ears!)  Here are some photos for you all, hope to see you here before the rainy season comes again.  Pura Vida!

ecoburica Costa Rica Jan 17 2012

Murphy’s Law. The solar system continues to plague me. Now the inverter fried and I’ve had to return to Golfito to get it repaired or replaced. Pura Vida! It’s been an amazingly hot time here, 30C every day. The fishing has been absolutely spectacular. Benjamin caught 18 fish one day. So we gorged on fresh fish for three days! Proof is in the picture below! No set menu at “ecoburica”. If the fishing is good we’ll eat fish. Or if someone in the local area slaughters one of their chancos (pigs) we’ll be eating pork. Always lots of fruit and veggies on hand. You will have a healthy diet here, no deep fried food. Unless you count the cicarron, which is basically pig hide fried for a solid half hour. You end up with a crunchy and yes, tasty snack. But it can’t be doing my arteries any good! We saw whales for the first time this year. No humpback breaches yet, just the slow graceful arcing of the whales back, as it slices down the coast. A huge turtle (either a Pacific Ridley or a leatherback, not sure which) waddled its way to shore a few nights ago and dropped 53 eggs. Thankfully most of the locals respect them and do their best to protect the nest. Unfortunately there are some doughheads who still insist on eating them. Very few mosquitoes, hooray! Had a visit from the local cop shop as well, nice to know that the policia are just down the beach. I’ll tell you about my trek to get there in the next post. Problem right now is no electricity so no cold beer. So I better get on that project pronto. Catcha later! Here’s a few photos to whet your appetite.

Good help is hard to find!

It is a never ending source of amazement and frustration, the search for good help.  I had a solar system installed by this guy in Golfito, thought he would be the perfect handyman and even chef to have around.  So he installed the system, cost a pretty penny too, not cheap.  Then a branch fell on the solar panel and fried the batteries and inverter.  Now, I paid the dude another $700 to ´´repair´´ the system.  Some repair.  The lights work for about 2 hours, and that is only if you don{t run the stereo!  Forget about using the refrigerator!  So I had to make a special trip back to town to go and get another battery.  And the correct battery this time, deep cycle with heavy plates.  And while I was in town I thought I´d do a little internet research on solar systems, something still did not seem right.  Guess what?  Mr. Electrician dude whose name will not be mentioned, did not install what is called a combiner box with fuses!!  So it is no wonder everything fried!  I mean, electricity 101, basic course.  Fuses to ensure you do not harm your goodies.  Sometimes it is just such a pain in the ass to rely on other people.  Sorry for this rant, had to vent.  Next post won´t happen until end of January.  I hope to get back to you all with a more positive attitude, a few weeks at ecoburica on my own will give me a chance to relx, recover and maybe, just maybe, get everything ready so cold beer is on hand!  Cheers and Happy New Year to all!

Ecoburica in Costa Rica

well, it’s a day to go to new year.  i’m sitting in a marina bar called Fish Hook, having a cold beer and posting to the net.  Finished all the preparations for receiving our guests, doing promo for a few days here.  it’s a tough chore this advertising!  Hope we can attract some visitors to my ocean front paradise.  Everything is in place.  Tent shelters are ready.  Bar and larder are fully stocked.  Grass is cut.  And, monkeys have arrived!  Bananas will be ripe in about a week, and those little buggers love to come and raid our banana grove.  It’s OK, not as if we have a shortage!  We hiked out thru Panama this time, a 3 hr trek along the coast, quite pleasant actually.  Level ground and hard pack beach.  A 4×4 trip thru the border crossing and back to Golfito.  I’ll be spending New Years eve here in Golfito, no big party planned.  Getting some provisions (like a new axle for the cart) and some other stuff that is just impossible to scavenge in the jungle.  We’ll look into getting a couple of new batteries for the solar system as well, got to beef that up so the beer is cold all day/night.  Firing up the generator is just a pain in the ass, the noise drives teh monkeys asway, and frankly I’d rather be looking at monkeys with a OK beer than no monkeys and a cold beer.  Hey, call me crazy!  So, here’s as few more photos.  Check out our Youtube link direct from the website www.ecoburica.com  for some cool video.  Pura Vida  !!