Permaculture, Sustainability and Pura Vida!

Costa Rica is known as a role model in nature conservation and for its rich biodiversity. For me a reason why I choose it as my destination for my 2,5 months travel. Through my professional background in environmental management and sustainability I’m interested in organizations which work in the field of sustainability, environmental conservation and creating awareness I wanted to help and exchange my knowledge and learn more about sustainability in Costa Rica.

During my stay in Santa Teresa I was happy to find Casa Pampa with its Permaculture Learning Lab for sustainability and environmental awareness. Casa Pampa is dedicated to spread environmental awareness, through volunteering programs, workshops and events around permaculture, composting and general environmental topics. 

Within my time there, I learned a lot about gardening in the tropical area and the principles of permaculture and composting. Daily activities included all kind of work which arise in a garden as watering, planting, covering the beds and so on. Beside that there is always time to have wonderful conversations about all the important world topics.

I enjoyed my weeks in that beautiful community garden with the choir of tropical birds and the monkey family which is living there a lot. For me it was a great enrichment working with nature having all these conversations learning and exchanging about diverse topics with like-minded people.

I can everyone recommend being part and contribute in the Casa Pampa Volunteer Program. It doesn’t matter if you have already experience in sustainability, gardening or permaculture you will find your place there make your positive impact, learn and grow. ☺

Gracias para todos!!

Pura Vida!!

Vanessa Riepl, Austria

Compost Club Workshop/Taller - Compost & Grow

Santa Teresa Compost Club Workshop

“Compost & Grow”  

April 11th 4pm Hotel Flor Blanca

Free activity!

The workshop involves learning techniques to recycle organic waste and transform it into a rich fertilizer.

We invite you to learn how to grow organic veggies and have a positive impact on the community at the same time. Gardening our way into change!

We will be visiting the Compost facilities, Greenhouse, and Greywater Management Systems at Hotel Flor Blanca.

Thanks to the crew of Proyecto Cam, we are happy to share Organic Basil seeds harvested at Santa Teresa Community Garden.

For more info: info@casapampa.com



Taller de Santa Teresa Compost Club

“Compost & Grow”

11 de abril a las 4pm Hotel Flor Blanca.

¡Actividad libre!

El taller consiste en aprender técnicas para reciclar desechos orgánicos y transformarlos en un fertilizante rico.

Lo invitamos a aprender cómo cultivar vegetales orgánicos y tener un impacto positivo en la comunidad al mismo tiempo. ¡Cultivando nuestro camino hacia el cambio!

Visitaremos las instalaciones de Compost,Huerta y Bio Jardinera en el Hotel Flor Blanca.

Gracias al equipo de Proyecto Cam, nos complace compartir las semillas de albahaca orgánica cosechadas en la Huerta-Jardín Comunitario de Santa Teresa.

Para más información: info@casapampa.com

CASA PAMPA & SAVE FOOD - ES

- Casa Pampa se une a la red global de miembros líderes para erradicar los desperdicios de alimentos mediante “SAVE FOOD” de la FAO -

¡CELEBREMOS ESTE LOGRO Y CONOZCAMOS UN POCO MÁS DE ESTA GRAN INICIATIVA!

La FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) es la agencia de las Naciones Unidas que
lidera el esfuerzo internacional para poner fin al hambre. Su objetivo es lograr la
seguridad alimentaria para todos, y al mismo tiempo garantizar el acceso regular a
alimentos suficientes y de buena calidad para llevar una vida activa y sana.

Con más de 194 Estados miembros, la FAO trabaja en más de 130 países y consolida el
proyecto “SAVE FOOD” con el objetivo de reducir la pérdida de alimentos y promover un
diálogo esperanzador entre la industria, la investigación, la política y la sociedad civil
sobre este tema. Con el plan de SAVE FOOD la FAO busca aumentar la sensibilización
pública sobre el impacto del desperdicio de alimentos, y desarrolla una plataforma para
intercambiar experiencias y construir un centro global de excelencia basado en el trabajo
y las prácticas de los profesionales que se concentran en la reducción de pérdidas
alimentarias.

En la primera presentación de la iniciativa “SAVE FOOD” en 2011, Werner M.
Dornscheidt (Presidente y Director Ejecutivo de Messe Düsseldorf GmbH) explicó:
"Nuestro objetivo es que se tiren menos alimentos en los países industrializados y que
los consumidores de estos países planifiquen sus compras con atención. Pero, todavía
más importante, queremos aumentar la sensibilización a nivel industrial sobre las
pérdidas de alimentos, un tema prioritario para el futuro."

Casa Pampa, conociendo la misión y objetivos de SAVE FOOD, se compromete y une a
la red de miembros a nivel mundial para ser más eficientes en nuestra lucha contra las
pérdidas de alimentos en todo el mundo. Es para Casa Pampa un honor poder compartir
estos pilares y trabajar con nuestro proyecto “WASTE FOR FOOD”, en la península de
Nicoya, Costa Rica, que concuerda con la visión e ideología de “SAVE FOOD”.
El proyecto local “Waste for Food” comenzó en 2014 como un proyecto personal de Casa
Pampa para ayudar a desarrollar la comunidad de Santa Teresa. Inicialmente, el
proyecto recolectaría desechos orgánicos de varios mercados y restaurantes cercanos
para el compostaje. El proyecto creció y nació el programa de voluntariado de Casa
Pampa. Después de una cuidadosa consideración, vimos el impacto positivo que este
proyecto podría tener en toda la comunidad y decidimos tomar medidas. Esto nos
permitió tomar la decisión de enfocarnos en difundir y llevar nuestro mensaje al gobierno
y a otros funcionarios. Actualmente, estamos trabajando en conjunto con grupos clave
como la Cámara de Turismo de Malpais-Santa Teresa, la Asociación Probienstar, así
como las ONG ambientales locales.

Como defensores y simpatizantes a los proyectos y planes de desarrollo ambiental,
basados en el concepto de asociación y colaboración, Casa Pampa reconoce que la
cooperación y esfuerzo de todos los miembros del proyecto, voluntarios y organizaciones
importantes es más que necesaria. Con la labor del emprendimiento social sostenible
en la comunidad de Santa Teresa, Casa Pampa se compromete a participar y ser
productores de un cambio ambiental para todos. Trabajamos como colaboradores para
el desarrollo de comunidades y sociedades consientes de la problemática de los
desechos y desperdicios de comida, compartiremos junto a “SAVE FOOD” nuestras
experiencias y métodos de trabajo para lograr un mayor progreso para todos.

Todos podemos desempeñar un papel importante en la erradicacióndel hambre.

PARA CONOCER MÁS INFORMACIÓN Y MANTENERTE ACTUALIZADO DE LOS PROYECTOS,
ACTIVIDADES Y NUEVOS MIEMBROS DE SAVE FOOD, VISITA LA PÁGINA:
http://www.fao.org/save-food/en/

CASA PAMPA & SAVE FOOD - EN

- Casa Pampa joins the global network of leading members to eradicate food waste through "SAVE FOOD" of FAO –

CELEBRATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT WITH US AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS GREAT INITIATIVE!

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) is the United Nations agency that leads the
international effort to end hunger. Its objective is to achieve food security for all, and at
the same time guarantee regular access to sufficient and good quality food to lead an
active and healthy life.

With more than 194-member states, FAO works around 130 countries and consolidates
the "SAVE FOOD" project with the objective of reducing the loss of food and promoting a
hopeful dialogue between industry, research, politics and civil society about these
important topics. The "SAVE FOOD" plan from FAO seeks to increase public
awareness of the impact of food waste, and develop a platform to exchange experiences
and build a global center of excellence based on the work and practices of professionals
who focus on the reduction of wasted food.

In the first presentation of the "SAVE FOOD" initiative in 2011, Werner M. Dornscheidt
(President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH) explained: "Our goal is that less food be
thrown away in industrialized countries and that consumers in these countries plan their
purchases carefully, but, even more importantly, we want to raise industrial awareness
of food losses, a priority issue for the future. "
Casa Pampa, studying the mission and objectives of SAVE FOOD, commits and joins the
network of members worldwide to be more efficient in our fight against food losses
throughout the world. Casa Pampa, now is honored to share these pillars and work with

our project "WASTE FOR FOOD", in the Nicoya peninsula, Costa Rica, which share the
vision and ideology of "SAVE FOOD".
Our local "Waste for Food" plan began in 2014 as a personal project to help develop the
Santa Teresa community. Initially, the project would collect organic waste from several
markets and nearby restaurants for composting. The project grew, and the Pampa Casa
Volunteer Program was born. After a structured analysis, we saw the positive impact that
this project could have on the entire community and decided to act. This gave us the
chance to focus on spreading and taking our message to the government and other
officials. Currently, we are working together with key groups such as the Malpais-Santa
Teresa Chamber of Tourism, the Probienstar Association, as well as local environmental
NGOs.
As supporters of projects and ecological development plans, based on the concept of
partnership and collaboration, Casa Pampa recognizes that the cooperation and effort
of all the coordinators, volunteers and important organizations is more than necessary.
With the work of sustainable social entrepreneurship in the community of Santa Teresa,
Casa Pampa, is committed to participate and be producers of an ecofriendly change for
all. We work as collaborators for the development of communities and societies aware
of the problem of waste and food waste, we will share with the SAVE FOOD project our
experiences and working methods to achieve greater progress for all.

Everyone can play an important role in the eradication of hunger!

TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND KEEP UPDATED ABOUT THE PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES AND NEW MEMBERS OF "SAVE FOOD", VISIT THE WEBSITE:
http://www.fao.org/save-food/en/

Volunteer Experience: Rodrigo from Brazil

Hi, my name is Rodrigo and I am from Brazil!

I am 25 years old and have been working with IT and Web Developing for around 6 years now, I have experience on game and web development.

The programming world is already challenging by itself and has so much to offer, but I reached a moment in my life that i needed something more, something for myself. I had a lot of ideas about travelling but nothing was like water clear in my mind, it’s pretty hard to take a decision like that when you were a first time traveler like me. After some research in the web and some friends advice I applied to a few places and got an answer from Casa Pampa.

I got a pretty fast response in the social media, and from there the care and attention just increased, it was really amazing the time it was put for answering my questions. Each time we talked I just felt more secure of the decision and to take the next step which was to finally travel.

Being a part of the Project has been pretty cool, I have worked with kids in the school and saw what they do by themselves to help the community which was really amazing, learned a bunch about permaculture and I still feel that it I can learn so much more, and for me to be able to bring my web development and projects experience to use in Casa Pampa has been a great opportunity and seeing it grow had a huge impact on a lot of things i was used to before sharing this much time with people involved on it.

After almost 5 months working with the project and experiencing the permaculture lifestyle, I can say that I have changed a lot of things about myself, each person that I worked with or either met in this city had a different the way I see certain things, but overall I had the time of my life and the positive energy I received from Casa Pampa made everything turn out as smooth and relaxing as it could be.

Volunteers Interview - Casa Pampa / Santa Teresa July/2017