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Crocodile Bay Lodge Meets Opposition for Marina Project from Osa Locals

Published by tao May 3rd, 2007 in General. 0 Comments

MEETING WITH CBL & TOWN OF PUERTO JIMENEZ

The 4 hour meeting between Crocodile Bay Lodge representatives and Comite de Desarrollo and the town of Puerto Jimenez opened up a bag of carnada, after a PowerPoint presentation by Crocodile Bay Lodge, and a counter presentation by members of a coalition of environmental organizations, biologists, and concerned citizens. It was a hot debate in point, counter point fashion. The Hotel, which is currently the largest installation in the Osa Peninsula, proposes to build a marina and commercial center in front of their beachfront concession, which would include a floating slip system to accommodate up to 257 boats between 5 and 30 meters. 50 of these slips would be occupied by the sportfishing fleet of the hotel, with 25-30 slips for the community private boats, and the rest open to water-based tourists. The plan proposes a land fill area which would house the commercial area open to the public, including restaurants and souvenir shops, as well as the marine mechanic, fuel station, aduana and immigration offices, and a public park. As the General Manager of the Hotel, Cory Williams, stated in his introduction, the meeting was held to present the idea to the community, as is protocol in the order of things that will greatly affect the community, for better or worse. As yet, no permits have been issued, and no development has begun, other than the preliminary requirements of a plan reglador and concessions granting the use and development of this area of Maritime Zone, and a marine concession granting an area that reaches into the Golfo Dulce in front of the maritime zone concession. This area sits directly in front of the river mouth of the Platanares river, which connects to an estuary system of mangroves that run through the town of Puerto Jimenez. Environmentalists say that this is a highly sensitive eco-system. Environmentalists are also concerned that this proposed project is situated very close to the Platanares Marine and Wildlife Refuge. They are concerned when they saw the summary of the project’s impact study not mentioning the two species of dolphins and the whale sharks, or the turtles who nest on nearby beaches. Community members were concerned with such issues as the 400 new jobs that the project would offer. Would these jobs be filled by local, native Puerto Jimenenians (sp), or would the job skills necessary to fill these jobs require that extranjeros, not only from abroad, but also from other areas of Costa Rica, bringing their expectations and needs with them, creating a need for more housing, and adequate infrastructure to support the growth of the town? And what about the tourists who arrive? Will their tourism dollars be spent in the hotel and marina compound, or will any of that money be seen in town shops and restaurants and other services? What about their solid waste? What about water and sewage? These issues and more were tossed back in forth; the answers from Crocodile Bay engineers and attorneys were inadequate to satisfy the outraged public. Some members of the community opposition came armed with facts and figures denoting the implications of the increase in petroleum and toxic chemicals being trafficked on the waters of the gulf and the Pacific. The figures on chlorine and detergent used by boat crew in the cleaning of the vessels, leaching into the local waters was astounding, The impact of sportfishing increase upon the subsistence fishing of local fishermen was another issue barely touched upon. While CBL’s team tried to remain open and friendly towards the opposition, they were bombarded with statements, opinions, and questions regarding access to the 50 meter public zone, restrictions to kayaks and local fishermen and bathers who venture into the marine concession area around and beyond the existing private dock that the hotel now uses to access their launches. Nothing was decided, nothing approved, and CBL did not walk away with the desired support of the community. A new commission was formed by the town council to further investigate and study the issues that were raised, and to give an account to the Associacion de Desarrollo regarding a recommendation, pros and cons, of benefits and dangers that a marina project in the Puerto Jimenez area would bring. Meanwhile, CBL will continue their process, point by point, of seeking not only approvals from the various government institutions, but also a way to appease the community and make the project acceptable to a community that is extremely sensitive to the issues of over population, and exploitation of the environment. A petition has been written proposing a plea to the Costa Rican government to provide protection against environmentally disastrous development of any kind, by granting “Protected-Area” status to the entire Golfo Dulce area. This may be the best way to end discussions in the future regarding whether a project would be bad for the environment, but good for the economy, as one of the members of the CBL team suggested when he tossed out the tico dicha, which translate to ” If you hadn’t killed the pig, you wouldn’t have the chicharrones, ” which was answered by the local dentist, with a dicha from his grandmother, which loosely translated means, ” Better leave the pig alone and dig up the vegetables in the garden!” The general feeling from the Puerto Jimenez population is that they would rather be vegetarians than slaughter the pig and the environment and local lifestyle for the sake of some of the “treats” being offered by promises of economic growth and all the goodies of the “gringo” lifestyle.

Published by tao March 13th, 2007 in General, Lifestyle, Eco-Initiatives and Real Estate. 0 Comments
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Protecting the Osa from Mega Projects and Mega Development  
SECURING THE OSA PENINSULA, (Against Mega Development and Mega Projects), FINDING PEACE WITH NATURE by Tao Watts

Horror recently spread throughout the community when emails circulated with a link to www.osapointe.com , a website inviting investors and pre-sales for a Luxury Planned Community on one of the largest farms in the Osa Peninsula. Although, according to sources, the sale has not yet gone through, the plan shows 3 golf courses, designed by Internationally known Golf Landscape Designer, Gil Martinez, 3 five star luxury hotels, Resort Spa, Vineyards and Winery, a housing development that has 123 sites in Phase I, and a 600 slip Marina and Yacht Club, Equestrian Center, and adjacent Rainforest Reserve. 

The website shows photos of luxurious lifestyle and gigantic cliffside homes with infinity pools, which in no way resemble the terrain of the Osa Peninsula. It states that “Costa Rica, with its emphasis on tourism, maintains a modern and extensive road network. Tourists and residents have easy access to the countries many points of interest, allowing day trips to all the regional attractions.” Anyone who lives in Osa or has ever visited Osa would recognize that statement as an out and out lie! There were no actual photos of the property or the Osa. It was slick packaging that could have been selling a mega development anywhere in the world Anywhere, except the Osa Peninsula!

Even though this particular property site is a large farm, certainly large enough to accommodate all that is planned in the Osa Pointe Master Concept Plan, I wonder if the designers of this plan really know anything about the Osa Peninsula. If they did, would they really want to impose such a gross scar upon the area known around the world as one of the most biodiverse areas on the Planet Earth. Being so, it is also one of the most environmentally sensitive areas on Earth.

There has always been a search for a tender balance between man and his environment. No such balance has ever been achieved, but many land owners, Environmental and Ecological organizations, and visitors to the Osa Peninsula see it as the proving ground for such attempts. Costa Rican laws have been an attempt to “create Peace with Nature”, in the words of our President, Oscar Arias. The objective of all the local and International foundations based in the Osa is to protect this area. Corcovado National Park does so with over 100,000 hectares. The Golfo Dulce Reserve has laws which protect twice that area with forest reserve laws. The Maritime Zone law has elements of it which protects the beachfront first 50 meters, and coastal forests, but are there laws in effect which would control the density or the use of titled land in the Osa Peninsula that is outside of the Golfo Dulce Reserve? It is up to the owners of these properties to be aware of how their deeds will affect the natural balance, and how it will affect the social balances as well.

At this time, it is not uncommon to see several pairs of Scarlet Maccaw parrots taking flight or chattering in the trees anywhere on the peninsula. Not long ago, the count in Costa Rica for these birds was 300, now some 800 or more are reported as thriving in the Osa Peninsula. Jaguars and mountain lions are still spotted. Four species of monkeys flourish only in the Osa Peninsula. Whale sharks, dolphins and whales use the Golfo Dulce waters to birth their offspring. But what will happen to the sweetness of the Golfo Dulce when golf courses and lawns are using ground water reserves and polluting creeks and rivers with pesticides and fertilizers? And how is possible to have 600 cruise ships, yachts, sport fishing boats, and up to 250 foot vessels emitting their petroleum residues into the water? I try to imagine 600 boats of varying size, plus the 300 from the Marina in Bahia Escondida in Golfito all cruising the tiny tropical fiord all at once. How would the dolphins and whales come up for air with out hitting their heads on fiberglass?

Not long ago, it was unusual to see any boat off the coastal waters of the gulf and the Pacific. I remember the first time I saw a small cruise ship heading towards Golfito on the other side of the stretch of blue. There was a moment of sadness when I realized that it may be the first, but from now on, it will be a more and more frequent and common sight. We have grown accustomed to the fleet of sport fishing boats who head out and back in on a regular daily schedule. Nothing will ever be “like it used to be”, so that is not worth fretting over, but imagining the possibilities now, is quite frightening to those of us who enjoy the scenery, relatively free of man-made intrusions.

Imagine also, the tiny port town of Puerto Jimenez, now bursting at the seams with some 6000+ people, and serving the whole peninsula of some 9000 people. Imagine occupants of 123 new houses, and 4 5 star hotels, all cruising the streets of Puerto Jimenez or waiting in line at the bank! And if the new luxury planned community has services of its own, then a rift will begin to form in the social patterns, and the integration and peace and security of this small town where people feel safe and valued, and where “la Naturaleza” is the reason for being here. The social atmosphere or “the vibe” will shift when the gap widens between haves and have nots, and when casinos and yacht clubs and golf courses become the battlefields of the silent war between classes. Crime, which has always been extremely minimal in this area, will eat at that “good vibe” and turn heaven into hell.

And what about the garbage they make? For the past year or more, the town dump has been closed by the Ministry of Health. The Comite de Desarrollo is desperately charging the Garbage Commission to find a new location suitable for hosting the refuse of 9000 + people. While Recycling helps some, there is still a lot of non reusable, non recyclable trash that will accumulate in the new landfill. Is there a property that exists on this peninsula that isn’t environmentally sensitive? Is there a place where we can dump our waste that will not seep into creeks and rivers and into the gulf and ultimately into the Pacific? And is the Garbage Commission aware of the potential growth if several of the large farms in the area are sold to megadevelopers, where each head of cattle will be replaced with at least 2 humans?

The question arises if it is not possible to create an environmentally conscious and socially responsible development in an ecologically sensitive area. Yes, of course it is possible! Several hotels in the area have achieved this: Lapa Rios, Bosque del Cabo, Luna Lodge, La Leona Lodge, Ojo del Mar, Tierra de Milagros, and many more small, boutique, lodge style hotels and retreat centers have carved their unique spaces out of this biosphere, and done so with little endangerment to the wildlife, the marine life, and the prolific fauna surrounding them. Some have even taken cattle pasture and recreated it as lush jungle gardens, hidden from view.

It is not the same thing to level a property, sculpt it’s contours, bulldoze it’s beaches and bring in new white sand, clear it’s trees and wetlands, and start from scratch, then landscape pretty little gardens and water features, as it is to carve out a modest dwelling or an eco-village or conscious tourism facility.

From looking at similar megalomania projects to the ones proposed in Osa, in other areas of Costa Rica, and other travel destinations, I have to ask: How can it be Feasible? How can Mega Development be good for Osa? How can it possibly be compatible with Conservation? How can you conserve one beach, and have a mega development 2 coves down? Marine life does not recognize invisible barriers between them. How can mega development be compatible with conservation? I just can’t see it! I don’t think that 2000 + people a day on our beaches or walking through forest reserves, or boating in our waters is protecting the Osa.

There is always the tendency for any man to want to protect a jewel he has found. Those of us who have settled in the Last Best Frontier, have a tendency to want to close the gate, and be the last one into Paradise. Because if the gate is left open, and the road is paved right through it, the jewel that it is will be tarnished and scratched, and lose it’s luster. We are constantly reminded by our biologist friends how delicate a process it is to find a balance with the countless species who have more right to inhabit this land than we do. And how we all are foreign to this land, and that the biodiversity that exists only in Osa Peninsula, barely includes us humans.

Quoting Don Oscar’s words to the Osa Campaign supporters in Washington DC: “We have come together…not simply because we love one mystical peninsula, but because we know saving it is part of a broader challenge, a first step to making peace with nature on a wider scale.” Please let Osa Peninsula stand as an example to the world of man’s best attempt to live in harmony with the earth, and make Peace with Nature. Let us be the model for how to build, plant, live, with positive impact on the environment, rather than a constant threat to it. Let us secure the Osa Peninsula, from over development, from mega projects, and from over population by humans.

Let us be at peace with the idea that Osa will always be as it has always been, a secret hideaway for the very few to commune with Nature and to have deep dialogue with ecology, to study the what, why and how of a dung beetle on the floor of the forest, or to study the thriving population of the Scarlet Macaw, which though they are a common factor in the daily sights and sounds in the Osa, are still very much endangered in the rest of the world. That life on the Osa can be as it has been, with enthusiastic small local businesses serving a modest population and a moderate tourist trade. With Osa being “off the beaten track” and out of mainstream marketing and development. ,

Has anyone questioned SETENA or MINAE to see if these permits are in fact, these approvals are in place? If so, it is certain that there was corruption in the process. Has anyone questioned the developers themselves to see what their vision is? Do they know that it is possible to create a community that can enjoy the treasure that the land in Osa is without mega projects which are incompatible with what Osa represents? Osa represents that “100% Natural” idea that the marketing campaigns sell to the world about Costa Rica. It is the best of Costa Rica. It is the secret, and now that the secret is out, it is as endangered as all the species who live here. We need to protect it.

Has anyone got a better idea for 900+ hects that doesn’t involve mega developments? If so, I sure would like to hear from you! If the Osa Campaign is to be “at the forefront of a new Presidential Initiative, Peace with Nature”, can we depend on them to fight not only for conservation of the corridor between Corcovado and Piedras Blancas, but for the entire Golfo Dulce and Osa Peninsula region, and to fight as well, contamination, mega projects, and misapropriation, and to keep Osa always green, healthy and happy? I hope so! Our future generations are counting on it.

A Fish Tale

Published by tao November 24th, 2006 in General, Lifestyle, Activities and Wildlife. 0 Comments

jacobocasa-248.jpgMonday wasn’t just another day at the office.  It was my fishing client
Emmet’s Bday and his wife Monica wanted to treat him to his dream of
catching a marlin.  It was a day to remember.  The marlin wasn’t quite a
grander, but well over 800lbs and more than 14ft. long from bill to tail. 
This is how it happened.

Live baiting one of my marlin reefs, we had the standard 2 small yellow fin
tunas in the outriggers and 1 skipjack long out the center.  All rods had 2
speed shimano 50’s with 50lb test packed to the top.

2 rogue Dorado’s came tearing in and ate one of the yellow fins, and killed
the other one too.  We took our time to switch the crazed Dorado over to eat
a strip of tuna and ended up catching the 40lb female on a Shimano 20, good
fun.  The big male Dorado wouldn’t eat after feeling the steal of the marlin
hook in the live tuna it tried to eat.  When marlin fishing Dorado’s seam to
show up like maggots and eat all your hard to catch marlin baits.

We then only had the long Skippy out the center, and needed to catch 2 more
tunas for live bait.  Luckily live bait was easy to catch and within a few
minutes Monica was reeling in a 3 lb tuna.  As she was lifting it over the
rail into the hands of my crew Luis, I saw an immense shadow come up from
under the boat within about 6ft of the transom.

At first I couldn’t focus my eyes on the beast, it was so long and black,
when all of a sudden it lit up like a Christmas tree turned its dorsal and
pectoral fins phlourescent blue.

I yelled to Luis, “big marlin.. get your %^*$%^*$ tuna back in the water
quick^*$%&^*$!!!!!!!

She then turned and swam away from the boat through the prop wash not more
than 2 ft. under the surface.   I then cranked in the long center bait as
Luis was frantically trying to bridle the small yellowfin.   Before he got
the bait in the water, the marlin got a glimpse of my skipjack floppin
towards her.  She missed it on the first strike and got the leader stuck on
her bill, luckily it didn’t spook her. She just through the tuna up in the
air, and circled back again.

At this point we are all freaking out, there is electricity in the air and
time stops as we watch her come back for the next pass and opens her giant
mouth and swallows the tuna, like its an appetizer.

I free spooled for about a count to 5 then through the reel into gear and
the boat into full throttle at the same time.  The rod doubled over and she
came up half way out of the water to look at us then took off at 50mph
towards the horizon.  The 11/0 owner circle hook was lodged perfectly in the
corner of her jaw, no blood was coming out of her mouth on the first jump so
we new it was going to be a great and fair fight, and eventually we hoped a
successful healthy release.

Emmet fought the monster black marlin for 4 hrs with Monica wiping the sweat
off his now sun burnt forehead, and pouring cold water on his head and back.
  His arms and legs where starting to shake.  I had to keep telling him to
breath, and pace himself.

She jumped in 4 different sets but never enough jumps to actually make her
tired, which is what you dream for on big marlin. They build up lactic acid
in their muscles and get tired quicker.  Unfortunately this wasn’t the case
with this ^&*#^*% marlin.  She stayed in a thermo cline at 130ft, which was
obvious on the fish finder what she was up to.  Her direction stayed due
west for 3 hrs, and none of my boat maneuvering tricks would help change her
mind.

Then at the third hour she changed direction and started shaking her head
and swimming erratically.  1 hr more of heavy drag and the 50lb test line on
the verge of snapping the double line come to the surface followed by the
leader.

Luis pulled as hard as he could on the leader with 2 pairs of gloves on,
only to lose her into the depths again, with just 2 kicks of her tail.  On
the second leader attempt he managed to hold on with the boat in full
reverse and waves coming over the back of the boat…   Monica managed to
snap off a few photos and a final jump, before the leader snapped, for a
perfect release.

All was quiet for a minute as we all looked at each other in amazement of
how big the fish was and how you gotta be careful what you wish for on your
birthday, This present Emmet said, he never wants to see again the rest of
his life, in fact for 100 lifetimes.

We then opened a round of beers and headed for home in a state of adrenaline
euphoria.  I doubt Emmet well ever fish again.

hope to see ya all this coming year.

if your coming to fish get on it the dates are fillin in quick

 

Mike Hennessy, Matapalo Sport Fishing

Scarlet Macaws / Lapa Rojas

Published by tao November 15th, 2006 in General and Wildlife. 0 Comments

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Have you ever seen a scarlet macaw in the wild?  Even though they are considered an endangered species, and their numbers are limited, and the sale of wild birds or their eggs or chicks is illegal, you would never know it when you are in the Osa Peninsula.  Scarlet Macaws, or Lapas, as they are known here, are plentiful.  I have counted over 50 of them roosting in one tree in Carate or Matapalo.  At times, groups of them will take flight over the plaza in Puerto Jimenez, or over my house, and I will count 14 of 16 flying and squawking loudly as they go. 
It is said that Macaws mate for life, and tend to live very long lives.  We almost always see them flying in pairs, or groups of pairs.  Once or twice a year, you will see them in groups of 3 or 6, which we call the “Courting season”…when the parents and the young fly together in a sort of chaperoned mating ritual.  Then, soon after, they will be in couples once again. 
The Lapas like to eat the seeds of the Almendra trees, and the seed pods on teak trees as well.  The coastlines and gardens of the Osa are lined with the trees to attract and feed these colorful birds.  And they have just a bit of orneriness to them, because if you sit under an Almendra tree at the beach, the Lapas will intentionally throw the seeds on your head. 
Once I had the pleasure of flying in an ultra light, and flying just above them, with an incredible morning light that shown on their red, blue and yellow feathers.  To fly above the birds and look down on them was an incredible experience! 
It is true that Lapas make good pets, and can even learn to talk, but to talk to them in the wild, and listen to their chatter is one of the unique experiences Osa has to offer. 

What’s Wrong with Hunting?

Published by tao November 12th, 2006 in General, Eco-Initiatives and Wildlife. 0 Comments

JAGUAR
                                               In the Peninsula de Osa, we still have many wild animals that are indigenous only to tropical rainforests.  The Jaguar, the Pecori, and Tapir, also the tepesquintle, four kinds of monkeys, Scarlet Macaws, and several breeds of toucans live in the lowland forests and the forested hills.  But they are in danger.  One of the greatest threats still existing for these animals is the tradition of hunting that still exists among the mountain campesinos, who hunt, as they always have, for free meat for their families.  When these mountaineers hunt the chancho de monte or the dantas, and even the tepesquintles, they interrupt the food chain for the jaguar, and mountain lions.  It is said that less than 20 years ago, the chancho de monte was seen in packs of 500 or more, and now studies show packs of no more than 100.  This is due primarily to hunting.  The diminishing number of jaguars and mountain lions and other felines is due not only to the killing of these animals by hunters, but also because the food chain, i.e. the killing of their primary food source, the chancho de monte, cabritos, and the danta.
 

     Hunting is illegal in Corcovado National Park, and in protected areas such as the Golfo Dulce Reserve, and private and public wildlife refuges. However, outside of the park, there is little vigilance towards protection of these animals, other than the random report of hunting that MINAE receives.  Private lands are uncontrolled.      Large animals, as savvy as they may be, do not read signs or respect fences.  When they wander in their search for food, be it fruit and seeds, or smaller animals, they are subject to the hunters’ weapons.

     Education of the people regarding the importance of protecting these animals is key to their survival.  Young people are learning in school, through programs set forth by MINAE and the Osa Campaign, and take the lessons home with them to teach their families. 

Every Meal a Feast

Published by tao November 9th, 2006 in Lifestyle and Food. 0 Comments

We have a motto here in the Osa Peninsula: “Everyday an adventure, and every meal a feast! Food in Osa is rarely just a meal, it is a celebration of color and texture and flavour.Many of the hotels have extraordinary chefs who have a knack for tweaking the already flavorful ingredients, with just the right pinch of fun, flavor, love and local rhythm to wow any visitor.
Osa chefs depend on innovation and imagination to take a step away from the traditional rice and beans of the local culture and blend the traditional ingredients with other international recipes, and have created a fusion that is purely Osa Style. We take the basic ingredients available and add spices and combinations that are generic to various tropical cultures and come up with a fusion of Indian, Thai, Japanese, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and other Latina foods. Fresh ingredients, whole foods, rather than industrial sized packaged foods are always the best recipe for flavour!
Basic ingredients such as rice, onions, chili dulce, chilis, cilantro, platanoes, mangos, coconut, yucca, cabbage, chayote and garlic are plentiful in the local markets, but it is what you do with them that really makes an impression. Fish is local, often freshly caught, and some meats, eggs, chickens are locally farmed. Local herbs and spices dress up the normally rather bland “comida typical” and cross over to flavours from far away lands. Many of the hotels, lodges, and guest houses in the Osa Peninsula have abundant gardens in which exotic fruits and spices and herbs are growing.
Presentation is almost always “festive”. Buffets are served on wooden platters covered in banana leaves decorated with amapola and other flowers and herbs fresh out of the garden. Nearly always a plate is dressed with garnishes indigenous to the area.

      An organic market arrives once a week on Fridays in Matapalo to supply fresh products that come from organic farms in the San Isidro and Chirripo areas. CHIRRIPO HOMEGROWN brings fresh tender lettuces and greens, herbs, and fruits and nuts which do not fair well growing in this climate zone. On Saturdays, in Puerto Jimenez, the local farmers bring their crops and products to sell. You will find whatever is in season, as well as yucca, platanoes, pineapples, melons, coconuts and chilis, as well as homemade chileros, pipa juice, local cheeses, eggs, and baked goods. There is also provision to sample some of the local fare in a makeshift soda where they serve boiled yucca, fried platanoes, sopas and chuletas, pinto and casados throughout the morning.

     In restaurants and local sodas, in Puerto Jimenez, you will find the traditional home-style cooking, as well as Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and Fine Dining. There are not a lot of choices, but anywhere you go, your meal will be part of the adventure!



 

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The Road Less Traveled

Published by tao November 7th, 2006 in General and Lifestyle. 0 Comments

the road less traveled

“Yet knowing how way leads to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

     This poem by Robert Frost, though written long ago, about a place far away, is one of the best ways to express the “Why” of living in the Osa Peninsula for me.  There are other roads to explore, but for some other time…I chose this one, and being the one less traveled by, I think has made a huge difference to me.  My life in general has been that way…traveling by the road less traveled, making choices which were different from the rest of my family and most of my friends and peers…to live in a remote, rural area of a foreign country, to learn a new culture, a new language, a new climate, a new frontier.  I feel at times like the pioneers to the midlands and the western frontiers of the North America must have felt a century and a half ago.

     When I came here, it was still very much “the wild west”.  There were more horses than automobiles.  There were only basics available at best, and often not available at all.  The jungle was for the adventurous and the self sufficient, and not for the faint of heart.  Now there are cell phones and internet and gourmet meals and suspension bridges over jungle ravines.  Now there are comfortable four wheel drive taxis with air conditioning, where once it was only the back of a pick up truck, standing up with the wind or rain in your face over rutted roads.  (Ok, we still have the rutted roads, but now you can sit inside out of the rain). 

      Why did I choose this lifestyle in this place?  You have only to stand on a lonely beach, listening to the howlers, dodging the falling almendras from the Lapas in the trees above, and watch the rolling of the waves across a cove, where jungle meets the sea, to know why.  You have only to share a meal prepared out of the garden, and discuss intelligently with your peers the adventures of the day, and the news from “the other world” to understand why. 

 

OSA GOLD

Published by tao November 7th, 2006 in General. 0 Comments

 

Dust between puddles 

Fencepost Vultures line the road 

Something always blooming 

Something always burning 

What good may come 

Will go just as quickly 

Slipping back into the sea with the tide 

Gold town, with nothing golden 

glowing but the morning sun 

over the Golfo Dulce. 

 

 

tao

Living the Rural Lifestyle

Published by tao November 7th, 2006 in General and Lifestyle. 0 Comments

kiteflying at La CienegaTaking the big leap of faith to simplify your life and move to a rural area or small town, or somewhere deep in the jungle, is a huge decision.  Some people are not ready for the reality of being self sufficient and not picking up the phone and calling a professional for whatever you need fixed, or delivered.  Be prepared to trudge upriver in a rainstorm to check the water system which may have washed out in a storm.  Be prepared to figure out how to change a tire on a dark deserted road, or to drive long distances to shop or have a meal out.  Be content to stay at home for days at a time, possibly not even seeing another soul but your own family or workers.  Be content to sit and be quiet for long periods of time, to enjoy the pleasures of a soft breeze or marvel at sudden winds and torrential rains that come quickly and pass just as quickly.  Be aware of the moon cycles and the planting cycles and the local holidays, so you don’t arrive in town after a two hour drive to find the bank closed.  Below are some simple suggestions on how to live efficiently whether you are living in the farthest reaches, beyond the end of the road, or living in the middle of a city:

Simplify your needs, lower your spending, and improve the quality of your life with these simple steps.
1)      Take Inventory
2)    Stock up
3)    Shop once a week or less.  Make a list  of all the things you need to restock you inventory.
4)    Make daily chores around the house and outdoor space
5)    Get up early and go to bed early
6)    Walk longer distances
7)    Work at home or in your neighborhood
8)    Join and host community gatherings
9)    Get to know your neighbors
10)  Relax and remember why you chose this lifestyle

MORE FROM “Living in the Jungle”

Published by tao November 7th, 2006 in General, Lifestyle, Eco-Initiatives, Education and Real Estate. 0 Comments

Welcome to the neighborhood!
Some helpful information for our new neighbors, from your neighbors in the Osa PenninsulaTo own property in the Osa Penninsula is to own a piece of nature’s paradise.  Waking up to the bellow of the howlers, and orchestral singing of the birds and insects against the background rhythm of the ocean…there is really nothing quite like it!  Morpho butterflies simply define the word flutter.  Lapas  are everywhere, almost as abundant as the roosters.  Even the ants in the Osa are fascinating.
    From the tiniest insect to the most magnificent tree, living or dead, they all play a vital role in the magnificent rainforest ecosystem.  This is what makes this area so magical.  This is why we all love it here.  This is why we’re here.
     While we don’t know all of the secrets behind the magic of the rainforest, we have learned a few of the secrets!  Most of our neighbors have taken the responsibility  upon themselves to determine their every action based upon the affect it will have on our environment and ecosystem. 
     Help us keep the magic!  Here are some of the guidelines that we’ve incorporated into life  in the Osa.

1.Pesticides:  We do no use them.
     Pesticides pollute our water & air, and cause cancer.  Additionally, they kill the lowest members of the food chain, thus creating a harmful domino effect that reaches birds and wildlife.  The Osa has some of the most fascinating insects in the world.  Check them out, you’ll probably see that they’re not so bad.
     Additionally, if you’d like to take it one step further and buy organic food (Organic: food grown without pesticides, insecticides and fungicides), we have a fabulous lady named Trish who sells organic goods weekly in our area.  On Fridays around 4:30, she is at Martina’s Buena Esperanza restaurant.

2. Garbage:  Rule #1 (and we know that you know this one!)…Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.   In the Osa, we also add… “Re-think”!
     Before you buy something, ask yourself if you really need it. keeping in mind that sooner than later it will end up in our town dump (about 5 minutes outside Jimenez.  Check it out sometime…it is gross!).  There it will sit , rotting for hundreds of years. Once it decomposes, the dust will leach into our precious Gulfo Dulce. And if you really need something, ask yourself if you could borrow it, or use something else, or find it second hand.
     Garbage Disposal in the Osa:  Until the later part of the last century, nearly all waste was biodegradable.  All one had to do was toss it out the window and Nature would take care of it.  Now we have a disposable culture, but the things we through out don’t necessarily decompose rapidly. Sort your garbage.  Recycle what you can.  Compost or feed the animals with the vegetable wastes.  And try to find a use for things like plastic bags, or milk and juice cartons. 
Compost all yard, veggie and fruit scraps.  Composting is a simple technique that turns your edible waste into rich gardening soil, or “brown gold”.  To compost you’ll need…

Pack it in, Pack it out:  As of very recently,  we  have a recycling program in our area.  We can now recycle plastic drink bottles, aluminum cans, and 3 types of glass at the Recycle Center at the Puerto Jimenez Colegio Tecnico.  Soon we will be able to bring newspapers and plain paper to recycle as well.

We also have occasional garbage drives where people can bring their batteries, old appliances, scrap metal and wire, tires, etc. to be hauled out of the Osa so as to reduce the amount of waste going into the local landfill.

Plastic Bags:  The easiest way to dispose of plastic bags is to dispose of the habit of using them!  Many of us bring our own net or canvas bags to the store.  Or ask the store if they have used cardboard boxes(they often do).  If you must use a plastic bag, please re-use it as many times as you can.  Cardboard can be used to keep the soil in place and damp and will eventually breakdown in the garden.

Beer cans  and plastic soda and water bottles:  It is so easy to avoid buying these products because there is a refundable deposit  on glass beer and soda bottles.  Many of us have installed water filters in our kitchens so that we don’t have to buy water in the plastic bottle.    
    
     If you still have garbage, WE DO NOT BURN IT!  Burning garbage reduces it to toxic ash that leaches into our water system and our Gulfo Dulce.  Also, the smoke from burning plastic is toxic!
     Instead, Marcos Mesen (Pto.Jimenez) picks up trash weekly in Matapalo for about $10-$20 a month. In town, it is collected on Mondays and Fridays.

Construction:  Most of us have learned through trial and error that when building in the Osa there are two basic guideline that  apply:
1. KEEP IT SIMPLE
 2.KEEP IT SIMPLE
So, we suggest keeping it simple! 
     And some of us like to add  3rd and 4th guidelines:
3.Don’t make your dream house someone else’s nightmare. Respect your neighbors peace and quiet, and respect nature.  Generators are a bummer! Trees are awesome!
4.Adopt the Seventh Generation Philosophy:  In your every deliberation,  consider the impact of your decisions on the next seven generations.

5.If the adjoining property is for sale, buy it and do not “develop” it.

     The Osa Penninsula is an extreme environment.  The humidity and salty air is very harsh to all materials.  Therefore, almost  everything needs constant maintenance. (Maintenance means treating the wood and varnishing,  replacement of metal parts, and cleaning the mold and mildew off surfaces) Cement needs the least amount of maintenance but cement is forever. The negative impact to the environment is in direct proportion to the size of the construction.  So please, if we ask that you build with this in mind.  Before you begin construction, think several times about what you really need.  It’s probably less than you think!

Power Sources:    Most of us use Solar Energy.  Some of us use hydro-electric power.  And some of us use only candles & batteries (but remember, we are still working on a battery recycling program).  Generators are another power source option, however they are frowned upon because of the noise and air pollution they create, and with fossil fuel prices on the rise…
     The one power source that we do not want is electricity and power lines supplied by ICE (the Costa Rican electric company). For the perceived convenience this electricity would seem to bring, we would be sacrificing and harming so much that we love about this area.
     Many animals depend on the darkness for hunting and conventional electricity will drive the animals away. Powerlines  cut the tree line canopy, thus  cutting the monkey bridge. Electricity will attract more late night businesses, people, surfers, campers (with no santitation system), more noise and more activity.  Crime will rise and so will the alcoholism rate. Seemingly overnight, the magic in our area will be gone.  This prediction is based upon the actual effect electicity has had on other towns, like Pavones and Mal Pais. 
     With a single community voice saying “NO” to ICE we have and can continue to live off the grid.

Gardening: Please share this information with your gardener &/or cuidador.
 Landscaping is easy in Costa Rica because nature will do most of the work for you, if you’ll let it!  We live in the jungle, not at a golf course.  Therefore, we find that minimizing our lawns encourages animals to be here. 
Lawns & the sad truths:

1.Lawns deplete nutrients from the soil
                                    

 2. In the dry season they dry up & look ugly
                                      

 

3. Lawns need A LOT of water
                                      

 4. A lawnmower creates air and noise pollution.
                                      

5. Lawns are a “dead space” for animals.
    

6.  Making winding pathways in your garden will create spaces that allow you to walk safely, and simultaneously create thickets and clusters of plants for birds to nest and  habitat for animals.

Please do not kill the crabs or snakes as they play critical roles in the ecosystem.
Warning!…in Costa Rica you can still buy some of the most toxic chemicals and pesticides that are banned in the U.S for being so dangerous to you and to the planet. Please do not use pesticides!.

Be “Auto-Free”.  Walk, or use a bike.  Use motorized vehicles only when necessary.

The WOO publication “Living in the Jungle” will be available in it’s second edition printing in Dec 2006.  For information or to order your copy, email osablog@gmail.com

       

 

 

 

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