Project Summary

The Eco-farm that you will be working with was established on January 16, 2001, as a non-profit project with the aim of spreading awareness of environmentally sustainable agricultural methods to other farmers in the region. The farm is run by a family of five and is twelve acres in extent, and accommodates horses, chickens, ducks, medicinal plants, fruit trees, grass for forage, several crop species, spring-water wells, an area of rainforest, red worm composting for soil regeneration, and a pond. It is intended to provide an example for other farms of how the following practices can be employed successfully:

• :: Organic farming
• :: Soil regeneration and conservation
• :: Natural herbicides
• :: Natural pesticides
• :: Enhancement of the natural environment

The main aim of this project is to provide a working example of a farm that operates in a sustainable manner, removing the need to clear new areas of forest. Each volunteer task has been specially chosen and rigorously prepared to help ingrain the values of the farm and the ethos it engenders - that is, maximizing farm production in a highly sustainable, ecologically friendly way.

At a Glance

Minimum Program Length:	2 weeks
Start Date:	Every Monday
Arrival Date:	2 days prior to your Start Date (Saturday)
Minimum Age:	18 years old
Volunteer Gender:	Male and Female
Accommodation:	The volunteers will stay with the host family in a rustic cabin. There are four rooms set aside for the students, with two bunk beds in each. Another set of cabins is soon to be constructed at the edge of the forest, two hundred metres from the main finca building. The finca is generally well-equipped, with hot showers, washing machine and electric power sources in bedrooms. The volunteers are expected to keep their rooms clean, including the bathroom and kitchen.
Food:	2-3 meals per day are included in your program fee. We can accommodate individuals with special diet requirements or restrictions.
Pick-up Info:	The host family will cook all the meals except on the days off. The meals will consist of simple Costa Rican food, and will include a lot of cooked rice and beans. Volunteers can even learn how to process, and help drink, the farms very own house wine, a sweet concoction that always goes down smooth. With the large number of guests staying, the mother will need a little help in the kitchen, and so each volunteer will help with food preparation for a day.
Project Schedule:	A typical a workday could go as follows: :: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Work :: 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Break :: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Work :: 11.30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch :: 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Work

Your role as a Volunteer

Your daily activities will include construction, feeding the animals, planting seeds, soil conservation, maintenance of medical plants, using and producing organic fertilizer, maintaining the spring-water wells, and harvesting crops. It is asked that you respect the instructions of the staff, and leave tools such as shovels and hammers clean and in their correct places inside the tool shed, along with boots or work shoes. Each morning you will find a whiteboard with the day's tasks. The work is at times will be challenging, but volunteers have invariably found it stimulating and rewarding.

Project Location

The Ecological Farm is situated in the county of Perez Zeledon, three hours south of San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The farm overlooks and is surrounded by stunning views of El Valle de General and Costa Rica's tallest mountains, including Mount Chirripo, protected forests, sublime beaches and fabulous waterfalls.

Local Activities and Excursions

There are many activities for volunteers in their free time, from relaxing in a hammock, to enjoying the local scenery and exploring the local area. The farm organizes regular tours to various sights of interest, including the hot springs in San Gerardo de Rivas ($2 entrance fee); horse riding, taught by the homestay family's son; and visits to the nearby waterfall and beach. At the local school, a ten minute walk away, there is a decent-sized football pitch with proper metal goalposts where 'mejengas' (huge, frantic games of football, usually about twenty-a-side) often take place. Volunteers are warmly welcomed to join in whenever there's a game (you can see the pitch, and thus when children are playing, from the finca!)

You may decide to take advantage of some of the more local activities in your area such as football, latin dance classes, cooking classes, swimming etc.

Suggested Skills and Interests

Volunteers should enjoy working outdoors and performing physical labor.

Suggested Language Level

There is no Spanish language requirement for this project. You may choose to take Spanish lessons at the farm at an additional charge of $5/hr.

Suggested Donations

Mosquito net, rubber boots, working gloves, sunblock, insect repellent, reusable water bottle, flashlight, sleep sheet or lightweight sleeping bag. Most (if not all) of these materials can be purchased upon your arrival in Costa Rica in San Jose or Heredia, so do not be too concerned if you are having difficulty finding one of these items.