Agricultural Ecological Farm

  Costa Rica

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Flexible.

Description: Volunteers for this program will be working on an ecologically equipped farm three hours south of San Jose. Nestled in between Costa Rica's tallest mountains, cascading waterfalls and glorious beaches, the setting is perfect for this advanced agricultural project. Participants will work in a variety of capacities to help progress one of Costa Rica's first environmentally friendly facilities.

Due to soil erosion, farms located in tropical areas often struggle to sustain fertility from year to year, forcing farmers to continue clearing adjacent acres of forest to continue growing their crops. The resulting ecological hazards not only affects the forests that are cut down, but the sand from the now fallow soil flows down river into the ocean and upsets the environmental balance there as well. This project is a mission to prove that farms in tropical areas can be successful without harming the areas that they inhabit.

Volunteers will generally work five days a week from 7 AM to 4 PM, with two breaks during the day. Projects and goals that volunteers will be working on include reinvigorating the soil, planting medicinal herbs, constructing terraces and maintaining biogas production. Participants will stay with host families. Living with a host family is a wonderful way to learn about a new culture and share a piece of you at the same time.

Volunteer Activities May Include:
- Soil remediation
- Medicinal herb plot
- Terrace construction and maintenance
- Vegetable plot
- Biogas production
- Termite proofing
- Cabins for volunteers and visitors
- Other tasks such as chopping wood, making natural shampoo and insect repellent from herbs

Cost in US$: $1875 for 4 weeks

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: All volunteers must be 18 years old or older. Volunteers need to have a desire to learn about another culture and teach about theirs. All interested participants must complete a GeoVisions application.

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

GeoVisions's Mission Statement: GeoVisions is committed to help individuals develop global skills to succeed in the twenty-first century. These skills will ultimately lead to greater cooperation and understanding among nations and peoples of the world. We are committed to treating every person on a GeoVisions program with respect, and devoting our energies to helping participants meet their individual and collective goals.

Year Founded: 2001