Learn about permaculture and natural building in Mastatal, Costa Rica

Details

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  Description

  Hi, I'm Ben. I left a 9-5 job in the US in 2022... And for the past two and a half years, I've been working exclusively on my 53-acre Costa Rican farm. I have four chickens for eggs, and a cat and dog for company.
  
  The farm was mostly pasture when I bought it. I'm working to reforest it with native, endangered tree species... along with LOTS of fruit trees. I get joy daily from planting seeds in my nursery, planting trees in the ground, caring for them, and watching them grow. I also make compost to help return life to the degraded soil.
  
  I'm also in the process of building a new home. The timber frame is finished. The roof is on. So the next big step is building the walls, which will be wattle and daub. I've never done it before. So I'm learning as I go. I have friends and neighbors who have a lot of natural building experience... And I lean on them a little when I can.
  
  The phenomenal permaculture and sustainability education center Rancho Mastatal is just a few minutes down the road. I love meeting the good people who pass through there... and playing ultimate frisbee and volleyball with them and locals on the town's soccer field almost every week, if the weather cooperates.
  
  I buy chicken, cheese, and salad greens from my neighbors who produce them. I get veggies from a local guy who brings them to town once a week. And I make trips to the small cities of Parrita (near the beach) and Puriscal once every couple of weeks.
  
  From Monday to Friday, my worker Luis comes from 6am to 12pm to help with all kinds of tasks. Just about everything, really. He's great. I also have a local woman, Valeria, come once a week to do food prep and sometimes a bit of cleaning. She's also wonderful! I have a friend who lives and works with me six months out of the year, too. She'll be back at the end of the year.
  
  Mastatal is a sweet little village of about 120 people. And it has more than its share of nature/permaculture enterprises. La Iguana Chocolate grows cacao, gives tours, and makes delicious organic chocolate. (I'm a steady customer.) Finca Siempre Verde hosts top-notch birding and nature/hiking tours. Refugio de Vida Silvestre Juco maintains a nature reserve and a trail down to spectacular waterfalls. KIS Botanicals offers courses and provides alternative healing modalities. And if you haven't heard of Rancho Mastatal, please look it up. The folks there inspired me in so many ways. I wouldn't be living this life if it weren't for them.
  
  Finally, the beautiful land I live on has access to two stunning river spots, each with multiple waterfalls and swimming holes. They're about a 15-minute hike away from the house... And as much as I love them, nobody has more fun in the water than my dog Manchas. I feel it's my responsibility (poor me) to get him down to the river at least a couple times a week.
  
  Truly, it's a good place to be.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house
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  Interests

  

  Self development

  

  Farming

  

  Pets

  

  Sustainability

  

  Plant care

  

  Books

  

  Gardening

  

  Languages

  

  Photography

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Hiking

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Mountain

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Dancing
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  In Mastatal, you'll have opportunities to practice your Spanish and interact with locals, including my workers. You're welcome to join for ultimate frisbee, volleyball, or occasional pick-up soccer games.
  
  I'm happy to reach out to folks in town if there's something specific you want to learn/get experience with. That could mean milking a cow, making cheese, or anything else that someone does. (I can't guarantee specifics. It will depend on what my neighbors are up to while you're here.) I can also help you set up paid experiences in and around town.
  
  I enjoy botany and regularly study/try to identify the plant life around my farm. If you're interested, I'm more than happy to share and teach some of what I know. I've lived in Costa Rica for more than 10 years now and speak fluent Spanish. So if you're ready to speak in Spanish, we can do that. Or I can help out here and there with your studies.
  
  I'm also forever a student... especially (but not only) if it relates to life on the farm or natural studies. If you have knowledge or experience to share, I'm all ears.

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  Help

  Mostly I'd like help with tree and garden care. This could involve making and caring for compost piles, mulching and pruning trees, watering the plants in the nursery and recently planted trees (if we have a dry spell), and yes, some weeding. You'll have boots on, pruners and a machete at your hip a lot of the time.
  
  Depending on your interest, experience, and timing, there may be opportunities to help with building, too. Soon I plan to harvest bamboo, treat it, and make A LOT of wattle (thin strips) to go inside my walls. I will definitely want some help with that.
  
  If you want, you can become Manchas' new best friend by taking him down to the river or throwing him a toy. He has loads of energy and playing with him sometimes would be a big help.
  
  I have someone come to do food prep, but I still cook and clean after meals. I expect you to share in the kitchen responsibilities. Sometimes I have an abundance of fruit, too. I always appreciate a hand with prepping it for the dehydrator. Or if you want to make anything else with it, that's great.
  
  For most tasks, we'll do them together initially. After, I may ask you to do them on your own.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Japanese: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I can't really call myself a beginner in Japanese yet. I've learned most of hiragana, I think. And I've learned some vocabulary and grammar. But I'm definitely not speaking at all. I spent a few weeks in Japan a bunch of years ago and would love to learn more. If you speak Japanese, helping me learn could definitely be part of your work.
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  Accommodation

  I have two sleep options here. One is a very small bedroom with a comfortable double bed in my house. It has its own entrance, but it shares a non-soundproof wall with my room. Our beds would be separated by this wall, but only a few feet apart. This could work if you go to sleep, or at least have the lights out and are quiet by 9pm. I wake up at sunrise, around or just after 5am.
  
  The other option is a tent and an air mattress, which could be set up nearby, including under the roof of my house-in-progress. That's just a minute's walk away from my current house... And it's very close to the compost toilet.
  
  I hope to share meals with you. If you have a specialized diet, you can cook separately. I often eat local chicken and Costa Rican, ethically raised ground beef. We may be able to get local fish from Parrita, too. Valeria comes once or twice a week week, so she can prep food for both of us, which obviously cuts down on cooking time. I normally have coffee at 6:30am and three meals a day - one around 8:30am, one around 6pm, and one in between. You can join in for free for all of them. If you eat a lot of meat, I may ask you to pitch in.

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  What else ...

  * Please be respectful to me, my workers, the animals, and all life (including plants) on the farm.
  
  * I expect you to clean up after yourself in shared spaces and in your space, before you go.
  
  * Do not use any of my tools or personal items without first asking me.
  
  * No cigarettes are allowed near the house or shared spaces. No drugs.
  
  * If you drink alcohol, it must be in moderation and must not affect your responsibilities or my peace.
  
  * If you want to go around town, walking is usually an option everything is relatively close (20-30 minutes). I may be able to give you a ride if I'm free.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  

  Pecas, Blue, and the Anonymisses

  They're good girls... and are VERY free range. They go all over the place, but come back to eat and roost at night.

  

  Azulon (10 months)

  He's a cutie, wild, hunter, scaredy cat, early riser

  

  Manchas (3 years)

  Super sweet, loves to play, especially in the water

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