Life on the farm is coming to an end soon

Can't believe we only have a few more days left on the farm. Right now, I am sitting in the common eating area taking in the nice breeze, hot sun, numerous bird calls, swaying bamboo and tropical trees, the rattle of Bandana's collar (one of the 3 dogs on the farm), Cheryl, a fellow volunteer from California, mending her ant bites and mosquito bites, and Jules, a volunteer from France, anxiously pacing the grounds b/c the internet connection is down again, and the sound of children's voices from the nearby school. This place has been a wonderful taste of what life on an organic farm with a focus on the food, community, the workers, the Spanish language and educating the numerous travelers is like. I can't think of another place I would rather be at right now.

All of the workers here are so kind and welcoming. It has been a pleasure working with Vinicio, the Spanish teacher and rain forest and herbs connoisseur; Bridgett, the co-owner of the farm who transplanted from Germany many years ago to live a different life closer to the earth and the people; Eugenia, a warm and giving woman who has taken time to give us dance lessons on her free nights; MariaElena, a beautiful woman who can cook up some mean piononos; Elisa, the cutest little lady you have ever seen who comes to the farm every afternoon to make us dinner; Laura, a hard-working, friendly chica who is a great conversationalist for those trying to learn Spanish; Henry, a father of 4 who works at the farm Monday-Friday during the day and then at his own family farm after leaving the farm and by the way who loves Chinese food, Michael Jackson,Queen, and action movies; and Wilbur, about the hardest working guy I have ever met – he would get quite a kick out of seeing me dig holes for the natural fence posts or stomping on carrots in a barrel to help clean them off for the goats.

The volunteers at the farm bring such a unique and diverse element to the farm. In a small pueblo of only Ticos, it is fascinating to see a thriving organic farm dispersed with volunteers from around the world every day. We had up to 14 volunteers at one point during our stay. We were blessed with meeting people from Japan, all parts of Canada, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, Austria, and many places within the States ranging in ages from 19 to early 60s. Several volunteers returned for their second time to stay at the farm due to the warmth of the people, the delicious food, the beauty of the land, and the comfortable environment. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories, laughs, cultures, and for helping us work on our Spanish.

Being close to the bountiful, giving land and the hands-on experience with the animals, herb gardens, botanical garden, rain forest, vegetable gardens, and compost and natural fertilizer compounds will no doubt leave a lasting impression on our lives forever. We will miss this farm, and maybe one day in the future we will have the chance to return.