Costa Rica: ReCreating (in) Paradise

Old Coffee farm currently transforming into Abundant Forage Forest via ReGenerative PolyCulture

Cultivating Internal and External Paradise

10 years experience in tropical thrival and permaculture

excellent opportunity for adventurous and passionate types...

Welcome....

espanol tambien!!!

<3

Howdy Travis, welcome to permies! Do you have any pictures of your project that you could post?

i´ll get some posted soon.... thanks for the inquiry and idea (=

Hi Travis,

I find myself in Costa Rica right now after a workshop in Analog Forestry. Have done a bunch of volunteering and various courses. have a background in community "development" and traditional conservation, but have been trying to work in a more practical, real way with nature int the past few years and am trying to learn as much as I can, especially about holistic agro-forestry/reforestation/ecological restoration. My goal is to have a teeny piece of land of my own and a learning/meeting/liberation education/resource centre. Am a 45 year-old female from the UK. Are there options for coming and contributing there where you are and in what ways...how to start? Helen

Saludos and Great to hear from you Helen!!!

this is now my 3rd reply to your post, as the first 2 disappeared upon completion. HAHA

short response: yes come. today i buy 200 trees to plant and we have 2/3 materials ready to build our first structure!!

currently im living alone in an old tico house, where you are welcome to stay. 1 hour due east of San isidro (Perez Zeledon) in Bus + 30 min uphill hike or 4x4 taxi. San Rafael d San Pedro, Cajon. 1200M altitude.

we have close relations with the Costa Rican Center for Natural Living and their local worker who is having great success growing organically with his community.

lots happening socially as well, including indigenous celebrations and ceremony from the 22-25 of may.

sounds like we have LOTS to share and support one another in our mutual journeys. I was Peace Corps volunteer 3 years in Panama and 1 yr social Work in US with Migrant Families.

let me know any specific or concerns.

I propose you come for a 1 week visit and we go from there.... if you decide to move on, i can help you find the next destination, con mucho gusto

Blessings and Happy Travels
Travis

helen ps wrote:Hi Travis,

I find myself in Costa Rica right now after a workshop in Analog Forestry. Have done a bunch of volunteering and various courses. have a background in community "development" and traditional conservation, but have been trying to work in a more practical, real way with nature int the past few years and am trying to learn as much as I can, especially about holistic agro-forestry/reforestation/ecological restoration. My goal is to have a teeny piece of land of my own and a learning/meeting/liberation education/resource centre. Am a 45 year-old female from the UK. Are there options for coming and contributing there where you are and in what ways...how to start? Helen

If either of you want to pick my brain on this, let me know. We have had business here since 2002, and it has been forestry, often agro-forestry, with restoration. We have planted a few more than 200 trees.... lol

like 154,000+

In total we own 350 hectares, of which, 200 hectares is planted as plantation, mixed plantings.

Hi Travis, Sorry for the short delay in replying, thanks so much for yours. Ok...just after writing to you then a friend in Mexico wrote to me asking if I wanted to collaborate with him on a project with indigenous groups, food security, sustainable land use, food forests, etc. - which was pretty amazing and I'm really excited! The work initially is sporadic, I think , but it means I will gradually head back north to Mexico on buses to be there at the beginning of June for at least 3-4 weeks. Soooo....I would still love to come visit and thought if you're up for it I could perhaps just stop by for a few days and see what's going on and we can chat and see what might open up for the future too. Really, it would just be lovely to get to know what you're doing and learn a bit from each other's worlds. I am happy to contribute the best I can for the few days and if you are planting right now then I am happy to help with that too. And....now as things have happened suddenly I was actually wanting to travel tomorrow already...Monday...I am just outside Quepos, which is 4 hours on the bus from San Isidro. There is a bus which gets in to San Isidro at around 3.30pm I think. I could then get the bus to near where you are, maybe walk that bit, or catch a ride as my bags are kinda heavy and be there tomorrow evening...I'm not sure if you would be checking your messages on a Sunday at all, but I'll check in this evening and in the morning again. I'm not carrying a cell phone. Do you have a number to call? Can you give more precise directions from San Isidro. Oh...and is it convenient at all to come by so soon and at such short notice!!? Or later in the week??? I'm a bit wary to put my email so "publicly" but you can write to helenaperks@yahoo.com too. Let me now and we can work something out? Hope you're having a good Sunday and look forward to hearing back from you.
Helen

Hi Fred,
Thanks! Perhaps I could even stop by on my way heading north and I am sure too in the future it would be great to learn from all your experience. I'll be in touch?
Helen

Hi Travis,
I have no other way of contacting you and I think because other people posted responses after you you don't get an email alert for these responses. I would have to leave your place again the latest on Friday to head north in time so if I don't hear from you by the end of today I don't think I would make it to see you at this stage I wish I had seen your initial post sooner! I have a German friend here who has a cellphone and you can text to him to contact me too - Stefan 86725639
Many good wishes from the rain forest. Helen

helen perks wrote:Hi Fred,
Thanks! Perhaps I could even stop by on my way heading north and I am sure too in the future it would be great to learn from all your experience. I'll be in touch?
Helen

Just let me know ahead, I am usually around, but sometimes I am out.

OK so my question is this, how does one move to Costa Rica to begin with? My husband and I currently live in Canada. Also is english spoken much? What about health care? crime rate? is it safe? I have many questions if anyone is willing to take the time to answer. Thank you!, much appreciated!!

Misty Rayne wrote:OK so my question is this, how does one move to Costa Rica to begin with? My husband and I currently live in Canada. Also is english spoken much? What about health care? crime rate? is it safe? I have many questions if anyone is willing to take the time to answer. Thank you!, much appreciated!!

To live legally in Costa Rica, one must apply for residency. There are a few options for this, as long as one has a clean criminal record, and plenty of websites that detail the application process.

English is spoken in many places but Spanish would be necessary for long term.

Health Care has it's good points and bad but in all it is pretty good. We have three children, one born in Canada, one in Costa Rica and one in the USA. Costa Rica is on par with both Canada and the US, in this aspect.

Crime depends on who one may listen to. For the most part, I believe the country is safe. Of course, we hear bad stories but no more than anywhere else.

We lived in Costa Rica for quite awhile, but returned to the US then we will go on Canada for what we hope is short stint. Hopefully we will return to our farm in Southwest Costa Rica soon.