So much is happening at Finca Rio Perla it is hard to keep track at times.  But, we are staying on track (despite periodic diversions from our path).  The storage areas (bodegas) for the new horse stables are almost complete.  We decided to start with the storage areas for sawdust for bedding of the horse stalls, for saddles and other equipment, for feed, and for veternanry supplies. Then, we will start on the horse stalls, for 16 horses.  Jose and Roger are doing a great job with the construction, with some help from others.

The new greenhouse by Casa Communal is being planted by Vivian and Sandra, with seedlings prepared by our summer interns and volunteers, and they are staring new seedlings in the plant nursery.  Juan cleaned out all the area around the Casa Comunal and the greenhouse with a machete and weed-wacker (chapiadora) and this area is being planted with pineapple, yucca and assorted fruit trees.  Efrain, Miguel and Esteban also finished the new back-up irrigation system so that we can have an independent water supply (which also passes through the tilapia ponds and livestock areas). 

At the Pnina property along the Perla River at the entrance to La Perla (at the brdge), we are continuing the planting of Tropica La Perla, our inter-planted tropical garden of cacoa, plantain (platano), bananas, yucca, and assorted fruit trees.  We also bought, and are planting 200 palm trees for heart of palm.

In the macadamia orchard, about 2 kilometers higher than the Pnina property, a new horse trail was cleared to add a new dimension to the horseback ride up the mountain to the waterfalls.. It is really cool.  And, we have been busy cleaning up our organic macadamia orchard so that we can have another big harvest of fallen nuts.  In addition, at the highest part of the macadamia orchard, we are cleaning around the (500+) coffee trees we already planted, and preparing land for more coffee trees.  
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Yes, we are moving ahead ... but not in a linear, easy path ... everything, yes EVERYTHING is a challenge on a day-to-day basis, with the norm being a daily "emergency".  For example, a goat died, and one horse (Mimosa) kicked another horse (Le'Chaim) and that required attention.  I could go on and on ... but just wanted to make the point that life at Finca Rio Perla is often more of a cha-cha-cha than a tango.  But, for someone who loves to dance, that's the way it is ... as long as we get the "last dance" .... jajajajajaja ....   

We also hosted an interesting couple from California at the Posada Rustica, and they really enjoyed their experience at Finca Rio Perla.  Pura Vida. Dr. Paulo
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The vision and reality at Finca Rio Perla did not just materialize.  There have been many guiding lights in the lives of Paul and of Lauren to help guide us toward a desire to create a sustainable community based on the principles  of organic agriculture and permaculture and social justice.  Paul's experiences in Israel on kibbutz (communal farm) and moshav (cooperative farming community) were major beacons. 

But, let us also say thanks to our parents for the foresight to send us to Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville, North Carolina.   http://www.bluestarcamps.com/   Thanks for providing us with opportunities that you, as children could never have dreamed about for yourselves.  BUT ... you were driven to provide your children with all the opportunities to love and appreciate nature and to nurture the environment and to try to live in harmony with others and self.  And, you were driven to instill the next generation of Jewish survivors the survival skills in a rough and tumble world outside the ghetto walls.  Survival is not just about brains ... but about brawn too and sometimes about brawling mentally and/or physically. Yes, we all must wrestle with the angels (and devils) ... real and imagined.

Rereading the FRP blog posting for August 25, 2011 on "Nature's Way of Telling Us", it reminds me that that Spirit album was my 1st record album, that I won playing cards (hearts) for money (a penny a point) at Camp Blue Star.  That record album, along with the original Led Zeppelin and Cream albums and Super Session with Kooper-Bloomfeld were part of the stash won playing cards for a penny a point.  So, at a young age the potential gains from "calculated gambling" (jajajaja) really using the brain to overcome challenges with a combo of smarts and instincts and composure and not allowing others to call your bluff ... all these are survival characteristics.  Yes, the ability to recognize and assess risks and returns, and not let the fear of risks overcome the quest for positive returns ... risk management is about survival. You need to conquer your fears ... or at least not be guided by the negative things that "could happen". 

Anyway, thanks to my parents, Bernie and Irene who sent me to Camp Blue Star to experience nature in nature and in community.  Thanks to Lauren's parents, Harvey and Esther, for sending her to Camp Blue Star.  And, of course, one of the great adventures of the summer was driving to Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville, North Carolina to take Hannah for her 2nd 8-week summer experience at Camp Blue Star.  After 40+ years we drove over the small entry bridge that divides the worlds of of "on-the-bus" and "off-the-bus" ... with such pangs of deja vu.  And, then after parking and helping Hannah settle into her bunk among friends from the past summer, we took a walk together down memory lane.  And like a cloud of smoke I was directed and pulled to the softball field by the lake where I had been a bastion at 3rd base.  I was pulled to the spot ... despite Hannah saying: "There is no softball field by the lake."   Well, I was pulled to that field of dreams and found my "sweet spot."  And, ok ... as a sign that "times-are-a-changin" it is now a soccer (futbol) field.  But ... my place ...my peace ... is there ... and that was the goal of the walk.  .

Of course, the major highlight of the summer was the 1st visit by Bernie and Irene Siegel to Finca Rio Perla in June, for their 60th wedding anniversary in July.  Yes, Bernie a few months before his 90th birthday and Irene a mere 82 years old came to Costa Rica to experience the experience ... to see the fruits of their labors as parents.  The (macadamia) nut does not fall far from the tree (jajajaja)

Anyway, there are many "bottom-lines" of this somewhat babbling blog on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

As a day of reflection, as a day when we all can be in awe of the ugliest parts of history and mankind, let's also say thanks for all that has come from the ashes of the past, be in the camps of mass destruction in Europe during (and after) World War II ... or be it the ashes of the Twin Towers in NYC ... we are the survivors ... and we owe it to ourselves and others not just to say "Never Again", but to to follow the Nike lead and "Just Do It" ... walk the talk ... walk the talk ...

So, thanks to generations past ... for the present ... the good, the bad and the ugly.  You saw and felt the ashes of history and instead of letting the flame burn out and extinguish hope... you provided us with the awareness and courage to face our fears and embrace life and community ... and to follow the Blue Star to a green and just world. I realize that all of my childhood and adult life I have tried to make my reality the dream of being in perpetual summer camp ...
Pura Vida. Dr. Paulo 

Gates and fences are a critical part of a farm's infrastructure.  Gates and fences are important to keep animals within a designated area and to protect trees and plants from animals getting in.  Gates and fences also delineate property boundaries.   That is, gates and fences have a critical role for security and safety of humans, animals and plants on a farm.  At Finca Rio Perla we just completed some major repairs of our gates and fences to protect and secure our new investments for a new infrastructure for our goats and our greenhouse, and our planting of coffee trees and cacoa trees.  A major new fence was placed at the very highest parts of the farm, to protect our new coffee trees.  Thanks to our neighbor, Martin, for sharing the costs for building this new fence.

So, gates and fences keep in the good and keep out the bad, so to speak.  And, closing gates and closing gaps in fences is a major responsibility of all in a farm community.  Closing of gates and holes in fences does not mean, however, that we do not have an "open door policy".  Go figure ... jajajajaja ....

Anyway, Jose and Roger, with help from Miguel and Esteban and Juan and guidance from Efrain, have been busy fixing up our gates and fences in preparation for our next major building project ... the new horse stables next to the new horse arena.

Lauren's vision for Finca Rio Perla to become an equestrian center is becoming a reality.  The summer visit of Dr. Raul Jimenez, a veterinary doctor based in Miami, energized us and helped to provide technical and professional advice for constructing our new horse stables and improved pasture. 

With respect to Bill Gates, I have nothing to say.  Jajajajaja .... Pura Vida. Dr. Paulo
 

We purchased 300 cacao trees from our neighbor Rodolfo, and we started planting them at our lowest elevations.  Mostly at the Pnina (Hebrew for Perla or Pearl) property, next to the bridge over the Perla River (Rio Perla) at the entrance the village La Perla.  This is so so exciting that we will be able to produce our own cocoa and chocolate.  We also recently planted coffee trees above the macadamia trees.  So, we will have organic cocoa and organic coffee along with organic macadamia nuts.  Yum yum yum ....  Oh my gosh ... and we still need to build our trapiche (our traditional sugar mill that we have in storage)  ... yes, we plan on planting lots of sugar cane using our work oxen and the antique plow we bought.  We are also planning on renting a tractor to pull the large disc-plow that we bought.

To go along with the cacao trees, we are also buying a variety of fruit trees (such as papaya, rambutan (mamon chino), palms) and platano and banana to plant there as shade trees.  Juan, Vivian's father helped clear the area after we had some horses grazing down the grasses.  Efrain and Vivian are busy trying to find good fruit trees and other planting material.  Miguel and Esteban are doing most of the planting.  Vivian and Sandra are busy planting vegetables the new greenhouse. 

Thanks to our summer interns and volunteers and other visitors and guests for helping to prepare the planting material and working in our various gardens and greenhouses, and planting trees.   
===>  Muchas gracias a todan!!!!!    Pura Vida, Dr. Paulo

In the USA it is the official unofficial end of summer ... which really means back to school and/or back to work for most children, young adults, young-old adults, etc.  For eco-tourism and volunteer and intern programs in Costa Rica that usually means "down season".  But, at FRP it is "up season" because we are moving ahead with our many projects with our Tico staff and workers and hired labor.  

So, this is a good time to reflect on the past 3 months or so, and also to express our appreciation for all the friends, family, guests, visitors, volunteers and interns that have shared this time with us at FRP.  Muchas gracias!!!

In particular, we want to thank our good friend (nuestra amigo y haver tov) Ami Greener, of Caribbean Experience for helping us in the marketing of FRP (including the FRP website design and maintenance) and for providing a personal touch for guests and for volunteers and interns too.  We really appreciate Ami's dedication and enthusiasm and friendship.   

We also want to say thanks to our summer interns Rick and Mike who helped us with receiving guests and also helped us with the farm work at FRP.  Both Rick and Mike have left FRP for their respective "greener pastures" ... Their presence at FRP over the summer months was a key to our ability to open many gates of opportunity to guests and visitors, and volunteers. They also helped us with gardening and the greenhouse and the chickens.  Muchas gracias.

One of the things that we learned over the summer months is that Efrain and Vivian, and our other Tico staff and workers are becoming more and more empowered and taking ownership of our vision and path toward a self-sufficient sustainable community based on the principles of organic agriculture and permaculture.  This is really a great achievement for FRP ... that we can more and more look inward for our strengths, rather than assume that outside consultants and "experts" can lead the way.  The hiring of Roger (Vivian's bother) and increased contract work with Vivian's father Juan (including training our new work-oxen), and hiring (actually re-hiring) of Esteban who lives in La Perla has solidified the local Tico personality of Finca Rio Perla ... That is, more and more, Paul's guiding visions based on his international experiences are being filtered and applied to the Tico context.  We call it "Tico Fusion" ... jajajajaja

But, joking aside, Efrain and Vivian and the others are becoming more and more empowered to take the lead in decisions regarding production and marketing and are continually expanding and augmenting their skills and taking the initiative to make decisions ... based on what they think that Paul would decide to do in a certain situation.  See the video clip with the interview by Vayable on the home page of ths website for an example.

This is real "development", bottom-up sustainable human development ... POWER TO THE PEOPLE ... POWER TO THE PEOPLE RGHT ON ...      Pura Vida, Dr. Paulo
   

The goats are in their new houses, which makes them happy and us happy too.   Jose and Roger did a great job with the construction with Efrain leading the way with the plans and ordering the building materials.  During our recent purchases of goats from neighboring Tico farms, we also got ideas about how to construct a simple, yet efficient housing infrastructure along with a milking parlor area.  These upgrades will both increase milk production and decrease the amount of time needed to milk the goats. Win-Win.

To celebrate this joyous occasion, Paul and Lauren bought the DVD:  "The Men Who Stare at Goats"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Men_Who_Stare_at_Goats  which is based on a book of the same title.  The film/book describe a secret military project. The idea of the project was to explore "the apparent madness at the heart of
U.S. military intelligence."   This crazy comedy is quite ridiculous, except for one thing, and this is the warning at the beginning of the film: "More of this is true than you would believe."  We give the film a "thumbs up".

Yes, that is life ... the truth and reality is often crazier than you would want to believe, and vice versa. 
Pura Vida. Dr. Paulo 

So, after a few weeks of collecting cow shit liquids and letting it ferment in the NEW biodigestor ... we are finally cooking with gas in the Stablo kitchen.  Yes, that means that we are using homemade biodigestor gas from our milk cows to provide the energy to pasteurize our cow and goat milk.  Vivian is really excited to be using the biogas.

Also, next to the biodigestor, we are busy finishing up a worm compost (vermiculture) area that will use non-liquid cow shit (poo-poo solids) that is filtered/screened from entry into the biodigestor's large plastic fermentation bag.

It is really great that Efrain and Jose and Roger (along with Miguel and Esteban) are using a DVD produced by nearby Earth University as their guide for the building plans for the biodigestor, and a visit to Earth University's organic garden to get ideas for the worm compost (vermiculture) ... in a visit hosted by Heiner Castillo.  In addition, we are following the Earth University directions on producing our own fermented organic fertilizers. 

Of course this is all very exciting as we move ahead at FRP in our efforts to be more self-sufficient and sustainable in an organic agriculture and permaculture way of doing things. 

This is, as we say "good shit" happeing at FRP.  Pura Vida, Dr. Paulo