Today we took a walk through what we call The Fruit Park. Behind the farm house, we turned the whole field which was used as pasture for cows into a field of exotic fruit trees. When we planted we didn’t know what we know now so not all survived but amazingly many did and it was great fun to see them all. Jim knows what all the trees are by sight and I am still learning.
A little routine has developed between me and the kids, who’s names are Anthony, Kimberly, Jasmine, and Julieta, so I will probably call them kids or children just to save my fingers. After the morning’s practice time and farm work which may change from day to day (Today was the fruit park walk), we eat and then some kind of nap. I usually give myself a Biodynamic session. For the past week I can count on the kids waking me up just when I’m finished and we all commence learning Spanish and English together.
Sometimes this is not so successful. I found out that when there is a person from one language trying to learn the others language and neither of us knows the other's language at all it is like the blind leading the blind. So I have been getting little short lessons from Jim and that gives me a head start on what to work on in the afternoon for the lessons. Today was very good and was inspired by the difficulty in the morning when Kimberly came by and spent five minutes asking me if she can have the milk pitcher to bring down to the corral. So today’s lesson was “Nosotros prestamos el pichel” May we borrow the pitcher. It turned into may they borrow Mileu (our horse) to go to town tomorrow. They always do on Sundays to go to church but it was fun to practice the question. It so cute to see them try to make sounds that are difficult like the le part of little was very difficult for them. I am learning just as much…I think.
Freddy came back today and we had lunch. Then we talked about what work would be done. He was clear that work would start tomorrow and we all went off to nap. I just love a carpenter who comes to work and first thing eats and sleeps. Muy tranquillo.
He brought back gifts for the kids too, some books for coloring that have English lessons with the pictures, plus four yoyo’s. That will be tomorrow’s surprise.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Keli Leaves the Farm!
We’re sitting Saturday morning, blogging over coffee and recovering from our day out yesterday, which was full of new sights, new people and learning.
First stop, the Israelis living in Agua Buena. First, it should be known that whenever we go somewhere for the first time it is mandatory to get lost, and so we did drive up a big mountain for no reason and boy was it cool up there, beautiful views of course.
Iris and Ofer are a couple with three children whose names I don’t remember now. They moved here from Israel four years ago. One of the things that sticks out most from the visit is Iris’s comment on how nice it is to be able to drink from the tap. Their water comes from three different springs in the surrounding area and is very good quality, it was obvious from her statement she is continuously grateful for the water. I know this feeling well and know that there are fewer and fewer places in the world where the water is good. The shame of this is unspeakable, so …enough of that topic.
We heard about a couple that makes goat cheese and good bread about a year ago and finally got around to meeting them. They go to the Uvita farmers market (four hours away, by the beach) once a week to sell things that they make and grow on their farm. When you see their kitchen you can’t believe that all the goodies they produce come from that little kitchen. Like us, they are fanatic about organic, saving containers, avoiding buying plastic as much as possible, and they go to extreme measures to avoid any manipulation or cruelty to animals. We bought bread, chocolate soufflé, Cheesecake ice cream, hummus, and a dozen eggs. We had to eat anything that had to be refrigerated because of our solar power limitations at the farm now. I haven’t eaten that much sugar in the last six months put together. ( Jim says that’s not quite true.)
The prices for things here are usually a third less than in the U.S. But their bread was about 6.00 USD. More expensive than Whole Foods. The bread comes in different flavors, some of the ingredients are brought to them by friends from overseas and have a very limited availability, The flour is from a company called Konig. Here in Costa Rica it is difficult to get good quality organic food, but with the increasing Gringo population more and more good quality and diverse food is becoming available. They take it to Uvita where there is a dense tourist population, usually looking for food that reminds them of home.
Back to farm situations; I have to say that when we mentioned that the piladora near us stopped taking coffee for dehusking and we were looking for a place to dehusk our coffee, they took us to their shed and showed us this huge waist high mortar and pestle and explained how they do all the de-husking themselves. By hand. Wow!
Imagine, the work involved in each aspect of their farm. It is just the two of them and one worker who comes for five hours a day. I didn’t see a hammock there. The amount of work they do there is heroic, but they are excited, and look very healthy and happy.
They came to Costa Rica for the first time on vacation and stayed four times as long as planned. They bought a piece of property in a sweet fishing village and when they came back a year later the whole village had turned into a tourist nightmare. So they sold and bought a farm in Agua Buena.
One thing though… they bought their new farm over the internet without seeing it. And so when they finally arrived they were really surprised. If it had been me in that position I would have been bummed to say the least. It was a single steep piece of land very hard work to climb all day long. But they had made it into a little paradise for themselves. They had several tiny raised beds with covers for veggies, a pineapple plantation, hundreds of bananas and plantains, goats, chickens and they found a blackberry plantation after chopping away the brush which they use to make some of their wonderful pies.
On Saturdays they leave for the Uvita market around 4am, and to my delight they pass on the main road above us. You know what that means!!! I plan on meeting them on occasion to buy some of their wonderful products, and of course I’m thinking of the guests we will be hosting here and what a boon for us and our company that this is available. It wasn’t so just a few years ago. This is how Costa Rica is changing.
Blogging the other adventures will have to wait.
The day is calling.
First stop, the Israelis living in Agua Buena. First, it should be known that whenever we go somewhere for the first time it is mandatory to get lost, and so we did drive up a big mountain for no reason and boy was it cool up there, beautiful views of course.
Iris and Ofer are a couple with three children whose names I don’t remember now. They moved here from Israel four years ago. One of the things that sticks out most from the visit is Iris’s comment on how nice it is to be able to drink from the tap. Their water comes from three different springs in the surrounding area and is very good quality, it was obvious from her statement she is continuously grateful for the water. I know this feeling well and know that there are fewer and fewer places in the world where the water is good. The shame of this is unspeakable, so …enough of that topic.
We heard about a couple that makes goat cheese and good bread about a year ago and finally got around to meeting them. They go to the Uvita farmers market (four hours away, by the beach) once a week to sell things that they make and grow on their farm. When you see their kitchen you can’t believe that all the goodies they produce come from that little kitchen. Like us, they are fanatic about organic, saving containers, avoiding buying plastic as much as possible, and they go to extreme measures to avoid any manipulation or cruelty to animals. We bought bread, chocolate soufflé, Cheesecake ice cream, hummus, and a dozen eggs. We had to eat anything that had to be refrigerated because of our solar power limitations at the farm now. I haven’t eaten that much sugar in the last six months put together. ( Jim says that’s not quite true.)
The prices for things here are usually a third less than in the U.S. But their bread was about 6.00 USD. More expensive than Whole Foods. The bread comes in different flavors, some of the ingredients are brought to them by friends from overseas and have a very limited availability, The flour is from a company called Konig. Here in Costa Rica it is difficult to get good quality organic food, but with the increasing Gringo population more and more good quality and diverse food is becoming available. They take it to Uvita where there is a dense tourist population, usually looking for food that reminds them of home.
Back to farm situations; I have to say that when we mentioned that the piladora near us stopped taking coffee for dehusking and we were looking for a place to dehusk our coffee, they took us to their shed and showed us this huge waist high mortar and pestle and explained how they do all the de-husking themselves. By hand. Wow!
Imagine, the work involved in each aspect of their farm. It is just the two of them and one worker who comes for five hours a day. I didn’t see a hammock there. The amount of work they do there is heroic, but they are excited, and look very healthy and happy.
They came to Costa Rica for the first time on vacation and stayed four times as long as planned. They bought a piece of property in a sweet fishing village and when they came back a year later the whole village had turned into a tourist nightmare. So they sold and bought a farm in Agua Buena.
One thing though… they bought their new farm over the internet without seeing it. And so when they finally arrived they were really surprised. If it had been me in that position I would have been bummed to say the least. It was a single steep piece of land very hard work to climb all day long. But they had made it into a little paradise for themselves. They had several tiny raised beds with covers for veggies, a pineapple plantation, hundreds of bananas and plantains, goats, chickens and they found a blackberry plantation after chopping away the brush which they use to make some of their wonderful pies.
On Saturdays they leave for the Uvita market around 4am, and to my delight they pass on the main road above us. You know what that means!!! I plan on meeting them on occasion to buy some of their wonderful products, and of course I’m thinking of the guests we will be hosting here and what a boon for us and our company that this is available. It wasn’t so just a few years ago. This is how Costa Rica is changing.
Blogging the other adventures will have to wait.
The day is calling.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Scorpions, spiders, ants, birds - and us
Poisonous Caterpillar
We awoke this morning to a family of pigs - mother, father, uncle and 8 little piglets - rooting around in our front yard, attracted by a bunch of ripe bananas and leftover coconut shells.
So much is going on every day and no different than home: time is limited. Blogging is getting squeezed in. The business is very different. Thanks to the early risers around here that have been cultivating the vibration for getting an early start for generations and the coolness of the morning air, and... the beauty that shouldn't be missed just before the sun comes up, is the inspiration to arise early. This is why though it is 8pm, it is also my bed time.
The solar power has not been working well and yesterday we had to light candles. This is very nice and romantic at night, if you don't need to do much of anything, but during the day I rely on it for the laundry and a few other things we have etched out as necessary for living comfortably.
Yesterday was my day to really get organized and finally unpack all our suitcases, and this was great timing because herds of large ants carrying eggs had been nesting under every article possible. So the whole day was spent taking everything out from top to bottom, we got everything in just before dark. Unfortunately I had to use the vacuum on the ants as sweeping them was absolutely useless. The vacuum uses power so I pushed ON as quickly as possible chased the necessary suspects and pushed OFF. Then organize, and move the next article. This was my day.
The mushroom spores are starting to grow and I can see the little round things growing, so qute.
There have been many animals that are trying to share our home. Today the two birds which obviously have a home very near by decided to come on in. I let them out through the opposite window, they didn't want to retrace their tracks.
In continuing to organize I decided that the cloths, work shirts and bags hanging by the back door should get a look through, just a hunch and I did find a big mama scorpion inside one of the shirts. There were at least twenty-five babies on it's back. I left it there till Jim got home from town, then we took a few pictures and shook it into a bucket. This is always a great source of entertainment around here. We noticed several babies had been thrown off in the raucous so we watched and helped them get back to mama and carried it down the road away, far away from the house to find a new home. When we got back there was a huge (palm size) fuzzy spider in the middle of the room. He had to go too.
I reflected on all this realizing it will sound gruesome and while I don't intend to deter people from coming it is part of life in the tropics and for all the scorpions I’ve seen, I’ve never been stung. But I do maintain more alertness then I do when I’m in Sonoma.
The floors of the house and Yoga Studio are getting finished by Freddy our new prize winning carpenter who says he's 60 years old. The floors are so beautiful, we are talking to him about fixing a few things in the farm house so guests will feel comfortable there. It's all still a bit rough but "poco a poco" we are inching our way toward at least a nice dwelling for friends.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Making a Composting Toilet and Chasing Pigs
Giant Ratons in the Papaya!
It was a shock going out for a shower last night and hearing a rustling in the papaya tree overhead. I yelled for Keli to come out and bring a camera - we were both amazed at the sight. Here they are called ratons - basically a big rat but I prefer to think of them as a not-so-cute racoon.
You just need some simple tools - a jigsaw, a drill, a measuring tape - and you can build your own.
This is my second - the first one has been filled. Very successful!
Anthony, our neighbor's son, really takes after his father. He is seven years old but swings a mean machete. He wanted to help me with the composting toilet. He was handing me tools, marking out lines and very interested in the tools I own. He had never seen a jigsaw before and immediately recognized it as some kind of saw. I let him go to it and he was sawing through the two inch PVC pipe with a steady hand, keeping to the line.
We had some real country excitement today. I was heading towards the farmhouse when I saw a pig sauntering across the road. I kept my distance because they can be ferocious if there are any baby pigs around. Then I saw 6 piglets and two other big pigs. It wasn't a welcome sight because they will dig up your landscaping and they leave large piles of faeces wherever they go.
Bambi is our neighbors dog. He doesn't like pigs but he respects them. I started egging him on, trying to get him to herd the pigs out of there. He looked at me like, "C'mon, give me a break, they're way bigger than me..."
But he finally started barking at them and mock charging them. As soon as they would look in his direction he would turn tail and run like lightening. But he always came back barking and soon they started heading the other way. A few times they really ran at Bambi and then he ran so fast he looked like he might disappear. They finally got tired of the game and ran back into the forest - with Bambi chasing but careful not to get too close. Everybody, the four neighbor kids, me and Keli were cheering, impressed with his courage.
Friday, January 22, 2010
First Lesson in Harvesting Beans
Today I awoke at 5:45am to the whistling choppers, Raul and his friend who have been coming to work everyday here on the farm. They do all the hard work that the Ticos (Costa Ricans) are used to but would kill us - literally. I just love that they whistle while they work. People whistle here and today i reflected on that... i am not used to that but it seems like a sign of contentment in the people here and I find it endearing.
I usually do some waking up routine then Jim wakes up and i do another stretching routine along with him so his back is getting better. Then we have coffee and attempt to make a plan for the day. The next hour is usually spent getting ready to leave which includes boiling the milk that Anna and the kids drop off in the morning. Somtimes i make cheese yogurt sometimes just have it ready for use as milk. Then laundry - today just taking it off the line and folding, but our washing machine is small and power is limited so we do a little everyday.
I carried mushrooms mycelium from the states and it's been a real pain to keep them cold all the while and the topper was making wood chips by hand. Since we got the delicate mushrooms in the ground yesterday, which was our main focus for the last several day,s we took a little time to walk and see the bamboo park. Some of it is doing well, some is getting smothered by cow grass (pasture). I returned a little disheartened about the pasture. It is such a big problem here if we don't have cows. We planted many things when we first got the farm when the pasture had been used by cows and was short. We had no idea of the immense problem we faced with the pasture taking over everything. So now we may have to replan the whole farm or at least a lot of it. Let some trees go and resrtucture our attack on the pasture and how to have more trees with out having to hire fulltime choppers. It is difficult to explain the power of how some things grow here because i have never seen anything like it in CA.
After lunch the children came over and each one got a turn playing our Casio piano. They had asked about that yesterday and it was fun to see them get introduced to music and something totally different than their normal experience, it's quite something to be so influential with these children in terms of exposure to different things. I wonder, as time goes on and they grow up, what they will do, how we will effect the community, certainly this area has not had any outside influence for a long time or at all.
Then i spent an hour with them pulling beans from the field. Anna, the kids and I would go out into the field, climb up the hill and pull bunches of drying beans back to a shady spot while Deanae (the father) would thrash them by swinging two sticks onto them to break open the pods. I noticed the torso follow through he used. Around here everyone has very good body mechanics because the whole life is spent doing these repititive jobs and the body finds the right way or else...
I was prepared to work with them untill they were done for the day but Deanae sent me home after just an hour. It took five minutes for his whole family to communicate that because of my lack of spanish, and it was quite funny, but finally i got the message i should go. I didn 't know why untill i got back and Jim told me how red i was. I showered and fell asleep.
It's two o clock.
I usually do some waking up routine then Jim wakes up and i do another stretching routine along with him so his back is getting better. Then we have coffee and attempt to make a plan for the day. The next hour is usually spent getting ready to leave which includes boiling the milk that Anna and the kids drop off in the morning. Somtimes i make cheese yogurt sometimes just have it ready for use as milk. Then laundry - today just taking it off the line and folding, but our washing machine is small and power is limited so we do a little everyday.
I carried mushrooms mycelium from the states and it's been a real pain to keep them cold all the while and the topper was making wood chips by hand. Since we got the delicate mushrooms in the ground yesterday, which was our main focus for the last several day,s we took a little time to walk and see the bamboo park. Some of it is doing well, some is getting smothered by cow grass (pasture). I returned a little disheartened about the pasture. It is such a big problem here if we don't have cows. We planted many things when we first got the farm when the pasture had been used by cows and was short. We had no idea of the immense problem we faced with the pasture taking over everything. So now we may have to replan the whole farm or at least a lot of it. Let some trees go and resrtucture our attack on the pasture and how to have more trees with out having to hire fulltime choppers. It is difficult to explain the power of how some things grow here because i have never seen anything like it in CA.
After lunch the children came over and each one got a turn playing our Casio piano. They had asked about that yesterday and it was fun to see them get introduced to music and something totally different than their normal experience, it's quite something to be so influential with these children in terms of exposure to different things. I wonder, as time goes on and they grow up, what they will do, how we will effect the community, certainly this area has not had any outside influence for a long time or at all.
Then i spent an hour with them pulling beans from the field. Anna, the kids and I would go out into the field, climb up the hill and pull bunches of drying beans back to a shady spot while Deanae (the father) would thrash them by swinging two sticks onto them to break open the pods. I noticed the torso follow through he used. Around here everyone has very good body mechanics because the whole life is spent doing these repititive jobs and the body finds the right way or else...
I was prepared to work with them untill they were done for the day but Deanae sent me home after just an hour. It took five minutes for his whole family to communicate that because of my lack of spanish, and it was quite funny, but finally i got the message i should go. I didn 't know why untill i got back and Jim told me how red i was. I showered and fell asleep.
It's two o clock.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Arrived in Costa Rica
We arrived safely and all went according to plan. It was a wonderful feeling to arrive here. We went to pick up the car which we keep with Pollo who is now a friend and has an auto shop. We store the car with him and when we get back he has also done all this wonderful and necessary work on it, so every time we come back to a great working car. Not an easy feat in Costa Rica.
In the taxi on the way from the airport I realized that i had a kind of relaxation in my body and mind. I feel it every time I come here but this time was more pronounced, I guess because we've been so busy moving. Jim also noticed as he was tying our suit cases onto the roof of the car that he felt more alive. When he was communicating with Pollo about the bill and all that had been done I could see or feel something different here. Maybe it's a bit more machismo but also very simple and we have been so lucky to meet and befriend so many truly kind, honest, and extremely helpful people here.
Even in the city where we are staying now I look up at the sky and see stars. Did i say it is nice to be here?
Tomorrow we're sleeping in.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Not the last song
The Champion is grinding, the Santha is humming, so it looks like our last couple of batches is underway. Thanks to Maya Resturant on the Square for lending us the grinder and much needed general support from Rachna along the way. But it feels a little crazy, like everything we do, to be making chocolate; such a big project in the middle of moving ( we leave on the 11th.) But i guess food processing was in the stars today because i spent the first half of the day crying and sniffling because of the fresh cayenne pepper i was powdering. I guess some "spicy hearts" are in order. And this time i'm going to try putting in the Vanilla beans and cinnamon at the end. Again there is no guarantee but if it comes out good i would like to offer a free bar to those of you who were regular customers. We are not going to sell any this time...
We do have some fresh cinnamon sticks and also some of the award winning vanilla beans from Villa Vanilla still available as well as some jars of vanilla extract made by the same farm. We had intended to offer all these amazing products but i never got around to organizing that. I'm taking donations for my cost, or just giving it away, I would love for it to be used.
Oh!!!!! I'm being called to the kitchen this very moment, there is a problem, something is going wrong with the chocolate, maybe the beans absorbed some moistsure while sitting out... and it is not looking normal, to be continued...
So, anyway, as we leave Sonoma, i look around and feel the hope in my heart that everyone here will take time to sit in silence, or sit and listen to music, not as a backround music but as an event, a rendering of the heart for the heart, the way we use to do in the old days, to participate in the calling of the planet for wasting less, using more natural products in day to day life, reading poetry, making slow food, befriending someone in need, contemplating nature and in general to prioratize our activities in our lives to reflect our truest desires.
more time passes...
Ok... a Yoga lesson and a short flute practice later, and the chocolate is back to life. Jim has been tinkering with with it and though we haven't added the sugar yet or the rest of the cacao it looks again full of promise.
In my last days here i reflect on all the relations I have had here, all the nourishment, soulfull education, the deep friendship, and, not to be one sided... all the trials, disapointments, and stupefying realazitions I've had. Each one stays in my heart, finished and unfinished. Unlike the feeling of escaping from a situation, this feels like a natural shift. A clear seeing that I've offered what I can, taken what has been offered and surrendered to a deep resolve that sets me free.
We'll be back to visit and when our paths cross again it will be a delightful occasion.
Please come by if any of the above products are calling you.
We plan on continuing the Blog about our experience in CR.
We do have some fresh cinnamon sticks and also some of the award winning vanilla beans from Villa Vanilla still available as well as some jars of vanilla extract made by the same farm. We had intended to offer all these amazing products but i never got around to organizing that. I'm taking donations for my cost, or just giving it away, I would love for it to be used.
Oh!!!!! I'm being called to the kitchen this very moment, there is a problem, something is going wrong with the chocolate, maybe the beans absorbed some moistsure while sitting out... and it is not looking normal, to be continued...
So, anyway, as we leave Sonoma, i look around and feel the hope in my heart that everyone here will take time to sit in silence, or sit and listen to music, not as a backround music but as an event, a rendering of the heart for the heart, the way we use to do in the old days, to participate in the calling of the planet for wasting less, using more natural products in day to day life, reading poetry, making slow food, befriending someone in need, contemplating nature and in general to prioratize our activities in our lives to reflect our truest desires.
more time passes...
Ok... a Yoga lesson and a short flute practice later, and the chocolate is back to life. Jim has been tinkering with with it and though we haven't added the sugar yet or the rest of the cacao it looks again full of promise.
In my last days here i reflect on all the relations I have had here, all the nourishment, soulfull education, the deep friendship, and, not to be one sided... all the trials, disapointments, and stupefying realazitions I've had. Each one stays in my heart, finished and unfinished. Unlike the feeling of escaping from a situation, this feels like a natural shift. A clear seeing that I've offered what I can, taken what has been offered and surrendered to a deep resolve that sets me free.
We'll be back to visit and when our paths cross again it will be a delightful occasion.
Please come by if any of the above products are calling you.
We plan on continuing the Blog about our experience in CR.
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