Tree Planting in La Florida

Earlier this month, ROW teamed up with two local landowners to to reforest critical parts of our watershed. Though it has been a drier “green” season than normal, we took advantage of the still rainier season and planted along the headwaters of a Nandamojo tributary in the village of La Florida.

Native tree species, some of which are endangered due to heavy logging in decades past, have been planted in two sites where new forest growth will have the highest impact on the health of our river system. Species included Roble, Guanacaste, Caoba (Mahogany), and Nispero. The purchase of the saplings was made possible through generous donations and a new partnership with Costa Rica’s national park system.

One site targeted for this project was the source of a small creek, which has dried up in recent years. The other area is currently a bare zone between two seasonal creeks. Landowners and cousins Berman and Dider Zuñiga realize the importance of restoring the health of the river system on which their families, their cows, and the valley rely.

ROW’s director, Matt Rosensteele, helps Dider Zuniga unload reforestation saplings for his land.

New forest in both areas will improve the amount of groundwater that is infiltrated during the rainy season, filter out sediment and contaminants in surface runoff, and create habitat for myriad plant and animal species.

Berman Zuñiga poses with trees that will help protect and rejuvenate the springs on his land.

Several other sites have been identified for reforestation efforts, where landowners have volunteered to improve their farms through replanting.

Zipline Fundraiser with Hacienda La Norma

This past Sunday, the Blue Flag committee of our Nandamojo watershed raised over $700 for restoration projects with help from Hacienda La Norma in Las Delicias. La Norma donated three zipline canopy tours to the committee, a Restoring Our Watershed partner organization. By reducing the price of the tickets, committee members sold almost 100 spots on the tours, allowing watershed residents to experience a thrill that typically only tourists can afford. While waiting for their tour, participants talked to committee members who were present at the event, and received information about Blue Flag work in the watershed.

With these funds,  the Blue Flag committee plans to put up signage denoting entry into the Nandamojo watershed, as well as buy trees for reforestation projects in critical areas of the river valley.

Thanks so much to Hacienda La Norma who supports our efforts, to their wonderful guides who keep the tours safe and fun, and to the committee members who worked for weeks to make the day a great success.

To see more photos from the Canopy Day, check out the Blue Flag Program page on our website.

Geared up and ready to start their Pura Aventura Canopy tour!

Third Micro Loan Goal Realized!

May 25, 2012

Excellent news! Our third micro loan has been fully financed, thanks to four generous social investors and donors. We’ve raised a bit over $1,300 to help two Paraíso residents produce organic vegetables. The loan will create an important source of income for a Nandamojo family in need, will reduce the amount of pesticides in our rivers, and will provide an example for other farmers interested in making the switch to organic production.

Many thanks to all who contributed! Mi Tierra will be adding these new veggies to its growing line of fresh, local products. Stop by the Welcome Center in the Plaza Tierra Pacifica in Playa Junquillal to take a look!

Paraíso resident and third micro loan recipient, Venancio “Nancho” Espinoza, poses in his greenhouse with organic lettuce for the watershed.

Fools on the Hill

May 15, 2012
By Sean Cliver from “Fools on the Hill” – Random photo essays from a family that up and left the trivialities of life in the big city of Los Angeles for the realities of life on a remote mountaintop in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

The reasons were many on why we ultimately chose to relocate abroad in Costa Rica, but first and foremost on my list was the wildlife. Good thing, too, because our closest neighbors are the traveling troops of howler monkeys that range about our side of the “dry tropical forest” slope. By far they are indeed the loudest neighbors I’ve ever had the pleasure to live beside—they’re also the most raw and naked and definitely not for the prudish-at-heart sightseer what with the males’ prominent assets hanging and banging about the treetops. —Sean Cliver

This Howler Monkey knows how to relax – and catch your eye – at the same time.

Sean Cliver lives in the watershed village of Las Mesas and is a writer/photographer from Los Angeles, California.

The Rainy Season Arrives

A Rainstorm brewing over Finca La Norma in watershed town of Las Delicias

Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is known for its starkly contrasting seasons, alternating between six months of hot, dry weather and six months of consistent rain and humidity. This year, the first rains of the season were light sprinkles in early April. As we begin May, dark clouds are prevalent and late afternoon rain is becoming a regular occurrence.

There has been no measurable rainfall from January to April for longer than many Nandamojo residents have been here. Interestingly, this wasn’t always the case. Historic rainfall data from Santa Cruz show that there used to be measurable amounts of rain all twelve months of the year. In 1954, the first zero appears on rainfall charts, as there was no rain in February of that year. In 1959, the dry spell extended to a three-month period from January to March. April then became a dry month in 1974.

The correlation between forests and rainfall is very nuanced and not fully understood, as many factors affect how much rain falls in any one place. It is interesting to note, however, that the decrease in annual rainfall and the creation of our four-month dry season coincided to decades in which large swaths of Guanacaste’s dry tropical forest were cleared to create sugar plantations and cattle pastures.

Needless to say, measurable rainfall on April 2nd – reported by Ray Beise of Pura Jungla – was very welcome.

The rain’s arrival marks Restoring Our Watershed’s first planting season in partnership with the Blue Flag Committee. The group has been organizing communal meetings in watershed towns, during which residents discuss the need to protect and renew our ecosystem.

Already this year, ten landowners have agreed to reforest at least part of their land. The word is spreading through watershed communities about the work ROW is doing, and more forest means more habitat, better infiltration of rainwater, and a healthier watershed.

You can help by donating online to Restoring Our Watershed. Donations are needed to buy trees and plants for the 2012 reforestation season. For more information, contact ROW’s director, Matt Rosensteele at (506) 8718 3887 or by email at matt@ourwatershed.org.

Follow our progress in our monthly e-newsletter and on our website.

Celebration of the Sun

We recently received an invitation to attend a Celebration of the Sun on April 16th from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We’ll plan to attend and support this organization in their effort to create an environmentally-friendly, healthy fiesta in Guanacaste!

“In the beginning, the organization “Sol de Vida” (Sun of Life) began to build and promote solar ovens with women’s groups in Guanacaste. Each year, they focused on the “Fiesta del Sol” (Celebration of the Sun), in which they share solar ovens and the best foods available. The first Fiesta was in 1991.

“Since then, the group has expanded their focus to include non-GMO seeds as well as the relationship between peace and sovereignty with agriculture and food.

“On Monday, April 16th, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the group will host their annual Fiesta del Sol, in the park in Santa Cruz. That day should be excellent for their solar ovens, as Santa Cruz will be receiving direct, perpendicular sunlight that day.”

The First Mi Tierra Egg

Just days ago, Mi Tierra producers Orlando Rodríguez and his wife Ines found the first egg from their humane, sustainable egg micro loan. It is the product of their labor and dedication to Mi Tierra principals in the watershed town of Paraíso.  With this and future eggs, they will begin to repay the $2100 loan, which was given December 13th to buy 70 hens and materials for their enclosure. The hens have been living a happy, free-range lifestyle, feeding on bugs, greens, and locally-grown corn.

As all of the hens come of age and their production ramps up, their eggs will be distributed to local hotels and restaurants that support Restoring Our Watershed goals of sustainable land use coupled with economic viability through the Mi Tierra brand.  Orlando and Ines will have a source of income for their family while continuing to use their land for sustainable food production. Nandamojo Valley residents and visitors will enjoy non-battery eggs and support a growing local food system. Everybody wins. Except maybe industrial egg producers.

Orlando, Ines, and their granddaughter, Valerie, celebrate their first Mi Tierra egg.

For a list of places where you will find Mi Tierra eggs and other local food products, click here.