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Welcome to Volume 2 of my Season 1 recap series. In this episode, we’re going to review some of the advice we’ve been given about hosting guests, volunteers, and students.     Hosting is a hot topic for many new landowners as welcoming in volunteers is an enticing way to get much-needed help building foundational infrastructure. For many new landowners, it also fulfills a desire for social connection and a sense of community. When done well, hosting guests as volunteers, apprentices, students, tourists, farm-stay guests, or curious neighbors can bring an enriching element of cultural interaction, personal growth, and prosperity to your project.   Learn from Guest Hosting Veterans Suzanna Leff, from Finca Amrta, has been hosting volunteers for over 30 years. At first, she was reluctant to host but opened up to it with some experimentation. Suzanna’s personality and love of new experiences have brought her to treasure the interactions that her program has to offer both her...

Hello, world!    Jason Thomas from Regeneration Nation Costa Rica here. I’ve been on one heck of a journey.    Over the last 9 months, I’ve dived into permaculture, exploring different ways we can develop sustainable homesteads and communities for a better way of life. We’ve interviewed a whole host of amazing people, all with their own unique experiences and insights to share with the permaculture community.  Last month I decided to assemble a recap episode to look back over the show’s highlights and discuss what I’d learned along the way. When I began, I had one goal in mind: To tell the story of my adventure doing these interviews and my personal takeaways from them. As I started putting it all together, I quickly realized that this approach didn’t capture the essence of what I had intended for this episode. Initially, I wanted to do a bit of studying to see if I could compile a list of best practices and use them to create a guide for new and veteran landowners alike....

“Ask yourself who you want to serve, figure out what they need, and find a way to get it to them.” That was the advice that I first received when I first began my adventures into starting an online business.   Throughout the contemplations that followed, I looked deeply into my life and considered; if all my responsibilities were stripped away, where would I go, and what would I do? The answer that came was that; I’d find some land project in the tropics and find a way to do my part, in benefit of the whole. What kind of part would I play?   One archetype that I’ve always related with is the stay-at-home wizard.  In one dream scenario, I’d be one of the local wellness practitioners.  I’d offer Thai massage and other wellness services and advice.   At the same time, I might find myself at the community round table with other members considering what our next moves might be toward realizing our collective vision.  I’d likely take on some additional organizational responsibilities, as...

Welcome to the second part of my 3-part series, recounting what I’ve learned about Permaculture after a dozen interviews and half a year of podcasting.   In part one, we visited my first 3 guests and the humility of beginning my learning curve.   In this installment, we’re going to visit our trip to the Caribbean coast and some of the players that we met along the way. We picked up tips on: Holistic horse care Pivoting toward our passions Food forest maintenance Establishing cottage industries The ancient roots of cacao and the fine art of chocolate alchemy and more! Before we dive in, though …   A Big Thanks to My Sweetheart for Joining Me on this Journey! At this point, I’d like to express a word of gratitude to my partner, Chela Rie, who accompanied me on the adventure.   In many of the interviews, you might hear me talking with my guests, making references to “we” and “us.” Chela was at my side through that first round of interviews for a show that didn’t exist.   She was my...

This third part of “What I’ve Learned About Permaculture After a Dozen Interviews and Half a Year of Podcasting” recalls a whirlwind of back-to-back interviews along the northern span of the country.   Along this stretch of the journey we learned what our guests had to say about:  Empowering entrepreneurship amidst your neighbors Using human waste as a fuel and fertilizer Growing green manure  Setting up a farm-to-table hospitality business Natural building Community outreach and collaboration And running a worker-owned beach-side homestead   If you haven’t already read the first two parts of this story you can find them at: What I’ve Learned... Part 1 What I’ve Learned… Part 2   A Charming Family Inspiring an Entrepreneurial Spirit The next stop on the tour was the Chilamate Rainforest EcoRetreat, in Sarapiqui. Meghan Casey, her husband Davis, and their two daughters were a charming family to be greeted by.   Davis was born in Sarapiqui and has a lot of family in the...