“Agua de sapo” (Toad Water)

• Ingredients
• 4 liters of water
• 1 “tapa de dulce” (unrefined whole cane sugar)
• 250 grams of ginger
• 1 cup “limones” (local lemons/limes) juice

Preparation:
Boil 1 liter of water with the “tapa de dulce” broken into pieces, mis in the ginger that has
been cut into pieces and mashed. Let it cook until the “tapa de dulce” is completely
dissolved. Allow moisture to cool and pass through a strainer. Add the lemon and the
rest of the water. Serve over ice.

Limonada Hierba Buena Casera (Homemade Lemonade)

• Ingredients
• 500 mL of water
• 2-3 “limones” (local lemons/limes) juice
• A few slices of grated ginger
• Natural sweetener (simple syrup, sugar or honey) to taste
• Handful of mint leaves (or local variety of mint called “hierba buena”)
• 5-6 Ice cubes

Preparation:
Squeeze juice from “limones” into the blender. Add the grated ginger, natural sweetener
and the handful of mint leaves with the water. Blend. Add a few ice cubes and blend
some more. Pour into a nice tall glass.

Another Nationwide favourite is mixing chan seeds into the juice of seasonal fruit such as
tamarind or cas. Another healthy, widely available “batido” (smoothie) would be one that is
particularly good for your eyes and includes blended carrots, ginger and orange juice. Typically, any drink mixture would be made with natural fruit and mixed with water or milk. You may also add a bit of a sweetener (sugar or honey) and even some lime for taste. Whatever the taste, go with your buds!

The post Quench Your Thirst – Costa Rican Cuisine appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.

In this new lifestyle, we are at liberty to choose how we spend the majority of our time. Long
work commutes are gone. In most cases, we have achieved financial freedom – so now what? What will you choose to do with this one, beautifully wild and crazy life that you have in front of you?

“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.”

Bob Kerrey

Since written stories have been passed down and Socrates first explored the question “what is the good life”, it has been noted that a fundamental part of our human experience is to connect with others, to help them. What’s great about a small community is you can start by helping those closest to you and affect real change, helping real people and real families. Small organizations have been known to have big impacts on the lives of those they help. And what is great about a small community is that you can choose to pursue what is close to your heart. As you slow down life’s pace you begin to notice the little things that bother your soul. It’s seeing that dog tied everyday you walk by or seeing dilapidated houses that push you to create affordable apartments, such as my mission.

Incredible healing can be met for those who listen to these nudges and take action to improve the situation. They say a teacher learns by teaching, and so if we help, we are helped in return. And the truth is, human nature is to want to help, it soothes the soul of injustice. And not all projects need be non-profit to help, if they are to be sustainable and ever lasting, new models exist where financial independence is part of the project plan from the get go – it’s time to get creative! The Universe loves a good story that has come full circle with beautiful details. What will your legacy be?

Here are a few of our favorite Costa Rica non-profits:

Community Carbon Trees Costa Rica
A non-profit association that works to reforest old cattle farms owned by Costa Ricans and provide jobs to those who reforest.

Costa Ballena Lifeguards
A non-profit association in Playa Hermosa designed to ensure the well-being of people who come to enjoy the beach.

Chicas Con Proposito
Their mission is to use surfing to get young girls involved and interested in the unofficial national sport.

Family Support Center of Ojochal
Provides home and community-based support, such as food and clothing to parents, caregivers and children in Ojochal and Coronado.

DAWG
Domestic Animal Welfare Group, is a non-profit organization focused on animal advocacy in the Costa Ballena region of Costa Rica.

El Refugio
Animal rescue organization dedicated to the rescue of abandoned dogs and cats, spay
and neuter, and animal welfare education in the area.

The post Small Communities Lead to Great Change appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.

But what about that other community? You know, the local community. What steps are
you taking to integrate yourself into it? Because those steps, more so than your bank
account or the age on your driver’s license, could very well determine how your time in
Costa Rica ends up being remembered.

Learning Costa Rica Culture

Let’s get one myth out of the way: Studies now suggest that learning a new language
does not become more difficult as you grow older. In general, any advantage children
have in learning a language is offset by the tools an adult can access to learn the same
language. So if you haven’t already, you can give substantial effort to learn Spanish,
and you can make slow-and-steady progress in this endeavor. These efforts will not go
unnoticed by your Tico friends and neighbors, and in many cases they’ll jump at a
chance to correct your errors and help you improve your Spanish skills.

One of the most beautiful things about the southern zone is its people and their
mindsets – they are FREE! People practice different religions, they dress all over the
board and they talk in various dialects. You can still have a bonfire or cold beer on the
beach without getting cited by an officer of the law. You can drive your licensed ATV on
the coastal highway or buy ceviche from a family-run stand right off the road. And yet,
with all this freedom, it’s of utmost importance to respect the local customs, laws and
ways of life. Virtues like dressing appropriate for your surroundings, not driving while
intoxicated and showing respect for others are valued just as much here as they are
across the world.

More than 75 percent of Costa Ricans identify as Catholic, and there are several
religious holidays and festivals throughout the year, the biggest of which are Semana
Santa (the week preceding Easter) and Virgin of Los Angeles Day (August 2). These
times are to be both respected and celebrated. While the week before Christmas really
heats up with tourists, it’s important to keep in mind that Christmas Eve, for example, is
an important time for Ticos to spend with their families. If you’re relying on local labor,
it’s best to plan way ahead for the biggest holidays so that your employees maintain a
proper work-life balance that is essential to the Pura Vida lifestyle.

These are just two of the things any expat can do to become more rooted within our
local community. There are many other ways to go about it, from helping kids or families
in need, hiring locals to work for you, starting up volunteer programs and even teaching
English in around your neighborhood — that one is especially well-received! What is
important is to make the effort and put yourself out there because even in a small
community like ours, there is still a ton to discover!

The Costa Rica Expat Community

The expatriate community of southern Pacific Costa Rica is an eclectic mix.
People from all over the globe congregate in this jungle oasis, some for the short term
and others for much longer, to plant their flags in Central America’s finest tropical clay.
Many life plans are exceeded while others go up in smoke. Budgets are balanced and
budgets are broken. It’s a constant cycle producing a steady stream of many different
types — quiet types, entrepreneur types, volunteer types, outdoorsy types, dreamers,
drifters and, of course, retirees.

All of this movement makes it pretty easy to find other expats nearby that enjoy some of
the same things you enjoy. They speak your language, so to speak, and that sure can
be comforting when trying to adjust not only to a new home, but an entirely new country.
But what about that other community? You know, the local community. What steps are
you taking to integrate yourself into that community? Because those steps, more so
than your bank account or the age on your driver’s license, could very well determine
how your time in Costa Rica ends up being remembered.

It’s possible to come all the way down to southern Costa Rica and surround yourself
with the same people you’ve been around for much of your life. But what’s the fun in
that? Why leave in the first place? Let the ego go, make some speaking mistakes in
public, get better at Spanish, meet some amazing new people and expand those
horizons. Because even in a small community like ours, there is still a ton to discover.

Written by Steve Dorman

The post Being Part of Community appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.

I feel there’s a case to be made for designing a home around the simple act of making coffee (or breakfast) in the morning. For many of us, that’s a ritual. It starts our day, wakes us up, gives us mental and physical energy. Consider what that requires: utility, convenience, resources, space, materials. If we do it daily, why not make it special?

When discussing design with a client, I start with the personal stuff. I’m not nosey, I want to understand their routine. How do they live in the little activities, the simple pleasures? It’s my mindful design philosophy of comfort, texture, quality and craft, in harmony with the things we touch every day and we need to love.

Can you love a drawer pull? A counter top? The faucet and your sink? Each of these small things can feel cheap or luxurious, can be store-bought or hand-made. Are you a chef or a re-heater? Is it dinner for two or twenty? How about a kitchen garden, inside or outside? Vegetables, fruits, herbs, growing alongside natural jungle plants. A little table and chairs, the morning sun on your face, that’s a ritual! Later pick some Cranberry Hibiscus for your salad – thanks Erica (my niece).

A lot of money need not be spent if you’re innovative and creative. In Costa Rica, we have many talented, local craftspeople and artisans who know materials and understand this unique climate. Choose joy, not price.

When we make these things count, we imbue them with meaning, with memory, we honour our rituals and the materials and spaces that support them. Then every day, whether you stumble into the kitchen, or dance in, we can be mindful, connected, and yes, grateful for what makes up our living space, our home.

The post Mindful Design: It’s in the Details appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.

With policies stemming from this mindset, Envision Festival has implemented maximum efficiency waste separation as well as massive on-site recycling efforts and the use of composting toilets, all designed to minimize trash going into landfills. In addition to trash and recycling reduction, Envision encourages guests to stay on-site and also organizes shuttles to and from the festival so as to reduce every single traveler’s impact on emissions from vehicles. Beyond waste initiatives, Envision strives to reforest the area by planting trees to build up the land instead of taking away from it. Over the past decade, Envision has planted over 45,000 native trees on the Pacific Coast. “It’s all about restoring the local ecosystem,” says Federico Gutiérrez, a board member and the founder of Costa Verdes, the organization responsible for the tree planting initiatives. “The goal is to bring the animals back to their natural habitats since all the monkeys, turtles and macaws have returned to the beach lines.” As noted by Stephen Brooks, Envision co-founder and owner of a permaculture farm on the Caribbean coast, Punta Mona, “True permaculture is all about mimicking nature. Whoever did it, did a great job.” Really, we only need to look towards nature to find a blueprint.

Currently, seven beaches are under reforestation, and over 6,000 volunteers and 25 local schools are involved to help bring awareness and motivate others to take action. In 2017, Envision Festival implemented a program where people can donate their time cleaning up the beach in exchange for a ticket to the festival. Andres Vargas, a Uvita local who heads the Beach Clean-Up program noted, “At first there were only 18 people who came to help, but last year there were 100.” The movement is gaining momentum. Last year, three and a half tons of garbage between six cleanups were amassed reaching from Isla Garza (Boca Coronado) to Dominical (Río Baru). This year, the goal is to expand the operation all over Costa Rica and collect 10 tones of waste!

Reflecting on Envision Sustainability

If we look at all that has been done, from reforesting coastlines with native trees, to cleaning up the beaches, it’s clear that the next step is to share knowledge. Skilled laborers from around the world come to Envision Festival every year to share all of their wisdom and knowledge around sustainability and permaculture. When you see the same faces and break bread with those you work with, learning goes deeper and becomes a fun family affair. Trading tips and picking up new skills is commonplace for the people who work at the festival.

“Come with an open heart, come with no expectation, come loaded with love and wanting to grow and share.”

Federico Gutiérrez, Envision Festival Board Member

Envision Festival hosts an informal apprenticeship where skilled workers are paired with locals and knowledge sharing becomes a natural course of action. Additionally, Envision provides the perfect grounds for locals to interact and cross-pollinate with culturally-different thought leaders in permaculture and sustainable building practices. Locally, the festival generates around 300 jobs for the community, which has a hugely positive impact on the community. For those who have yet to come and experience Envision Festival for themselves, this is the year to visit. This year’s 10-Year Anniversary is a celebration of how much the festival and Costa Rica community has grown. It’s time to come together and celebrate!

If you want to learn about environmental symbiosis, biodiversity, low impact living, organic
food, and other healthy lifestyle choices, Envision Festival is a world-class place to start.

Here’s to the 10 years! See you there!.

The post Envision Festival’s Grass Roots appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.

Step 1: Dig the hole

It is important to dig a hole suitable for the size of the root ball. You want to dig a hole
that is wide and shallow. Ideally, the hole will be three times as wide as the diameter of
the root ball and only as deep as its height, so that when it is planted, none of the trunk
is below the soil line. If the hole is too narrow, the roots will not be able to spread and
expand enough to develop a secure anchor for a mature tree.

PRO TIP
If you are in a clay environment scarify the edges of the hole with a pickaxe and you can even mix in the use of sand as drainage.

Step 2: Place the tree and add soil

If the tree has come with its root ball wrapped in a burlap sack, remove the material and
any remnants of twine. If the tree is being transplanted from a container, check that the
roots have not become compressed. If they seem tightly bound to one another, carefully
tease the roots away from one another so that they will spread out in different directions
when they grow (if the tree is planted and the roots are too tightly wrapped up in one
another, they can girdle the tree and effectively strangle it).

Always lift the tree by the root ball and not the trunk. Orientate the tree as you wish,
being aware of where the branches of the mature tree will go. Backfill the hole with good
quality topsoil. Use the soil you removed to dig the hole in the first instance (unless it is
clay), but ensure that it is loosely structured to allow penetration by roots. You can add
well-composted organic material to the soil to help improve its structure, as well as add
nutrients to the soil.

Step 3: Add mulch and water

Mulch is great for soil moisture but BE very sure not to cover the root crown or you will
kill the plant and too much mulch will cause the roots to rot. A newly planted tree should
be well watered. Preferably using harvested rainwater, you should water the tree every
day for two to three weeks to promote it’s growth.

Step 4: Stake if needed

if your tree is fragile, has a thin trunk or may experience strong winds, tie it to a stake to
ensure it grows straight and to provide support. Drive a stake a couple of inches from
the trunk and lash the trunk to it loosely.

The post Tree Planting appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.

Yoga is not to be practiced just as physical exercise but when practicing all components it has many positive effects on the brain and the body. Relaxing the body through the use of the breath directly affects the nervous system. The brain responds with the release of hormones and chemicals affecting our state of mind and our physical body. In the parasympathetic state (relaxed) our organs function smoothly, lowering our blood pressure and our heart rate. Equally, reducing anxiety and muscle tension, allowing for the continuous function of our digestive tract.

Then the movements/asana engage the body with the breathe, so we develop connection, awareness, concentration, to our physical being and the state it is in at that moment. With that awareness we learn that no state is permanent that all thing continually shift and change. If we can stay present to that we will lessen our anxiety from rumination and develop self-compassion and acceptance for whatever is in this moment, be it emotional or physical.

Over time the stressors become less, we gain resilience and can move deeper into a pose, as we do in life where we accept or recover from upheavals more readily. As we become more flexible in body through the continuous practice of yoga, the mind follows suit. Anyone can do yoga, no matter your flexibility, strength, size, age or ability to focus. Yoga is practiced to gain these last attributes, not because we already have them.

Yoga has been practiced for 5000 years, but only with recent scientific technology do we
understand how it works with the body to create well being.

The post Yoga & Stress Reduction appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.

Reason 1: Electricity Prices

Living in paradise comes at a hefty price. Powering an entire country on 90% pure renewable energy is funded straight out of your pocket. They have an ascending usage bracket system where you get charged more to burn their clean, nationwide non-fossil fuel-based energy. It’s not fair that keeping your 3,000 square foot villa air-conditioned to a moderate 70°F (21°C) in a tropical jungle climate and running an infinity pool pump day and night should cost more per kWh than your eco-conscious neighbors down the street, or is it?

Reason 2: Humidity and Heat

Get ready to sweat if you live in Costa Rica. A lot. And not just when you’re power
walking on the treadmill at the gym while catching up on Netflix. It’s hot and humid all
year-round, especially near the beaches. Gone are the days when you can
enthusiastically layer on flannel shirts, long johns, wool socks, waterproof fleece-lined
boots, snow pants, a down jacket, sock cap, heavy gloves and a scarf so that you can
scrape the ice off of your snow shell of a vehicle, all for a 5-minute drive to the grocery
store. The only thing we locals put on when it gets cold are socks, so you can kiss your
trendy winter fashion collection goodbye.

Reason 3: Food Choices

Prepare to pay twice as much for a simple brie cheese wheel or organic vegan bacon-
flavored breakfast meat substitute strips, IF you can even find them at a nearby super
mercado. Instead, you’ll be left to choose from a selection of Costa Rican grown in-
season vegetables and fruits, or farm-fresh dairy and meat products. And you can say
sayonara to your favorite convenient ready-made foods like individually wrapped
microwavable “all-natural” frozen omelets for breakfast; there’s only actual hand-
cracked eggs mixed with local veggies and cooked in a pan on the spot for your
foreseeable Pura Vida future. Be forewarned: making a burrito will never be the same,
either. You will always want “gallo pinto” in it from here on out.

Reason 4: Tons of Scary Insects

You’ll never see a crazier or scarier assortment of bugs until you move to Costa Rica.
There are 6-inch flying grasshoppers (aptly called “langostas” or lobsters locally) that
kamikaze towards your head out of nowhere, spiders bigger than your hand and beetles
with tong-like pinchers that will snarkily give you the middle tarsus when you pull out
bug spray. Who would’ve thought of being in a country with 6% of the world’s biodiversity
would include so many insects and such a diverse food chain? Truly, seeing a few of
these creepy crawlies a year doesn’t make it worth the daily experience of watching
scarlet macaws, amusing monkeys, colorful toucans, nimble jungle cats, pizotes or
shiny blue morpho butterflies pass by your patio on any given afternoon.

Conclusion

If you’ve managed to look at all of these daily hurdles to life in Costa Rica and can still
embrace the positive aspects, then you might be able to endure it in the long-term.
Getting the most out of living here means appreciating the good, along with the not-so-
bad, and keeping things in perspective, especially on the surprise scorpion in your
shorts days.

The post 4 Reasons Costa Rica Isn’t Greener – Have a laugh! appeared first on Costa Pacifica LIVING.