Volunteering at the Sunlight School (SLP)

Private School VS Public School
The Sunlight School is a small private school that offers preschool through 12th grade classes. In Costa Rica, much like any other country in the world, there are both private and public schools.
There are significant advantages associated with private schools that public schools cannot support. The largest differences between them is the size of the classes and, in turn, the attention given to individual children. At the Sunlight School, classes have no more than 12 students. At public schools, classes have 30 students or more. The size of the classes directly coincides with the attention given from teachers to students on an individual basis. The Sunlight school, as well as many other private schools, pride themselves on being able to give each student individualized attention. Each student is able to receive assistance in a way that is unique and personal for them. Not every student understands and learns at the same speed so by receiving one-on-one attention with the teacher, the student is able to better understand and grasp the material at hand. In public schools, individualized attention is unfortunately not offered.

This is due to the larger amount of students which makes it virtually impossible for the teacher to address each student's doubts and questions. When a child is able to receive individualized attention with their academics, it leads them to be more confident in their work and communicating. On the other hand, if a student rarely has their questions answered or doubts taken away, they are left feeling frustrated and will be more prone to giving up.  Another key component and difference between public and private schools is that at the Sunlight School, children are learning to pronounce their syllables and form words as early as 4 years old. In the public school system, children are learning to pronounce their syllables and form words as late as the 4th grade. During my time volunteering at the Sunlight School I worked with the 7th and 5th grade English classes.

7th Grade Worksheet

The 7th Grade English Class
The 7th grade English class touches on many different aspects of English and how to approach the language, with a primary focus on writing and speaking. In the past few weeks, the students have been studying occupations and professions as well as personal information and spelling. When approaching the idea of occupations and professions, the children completed worksheets in their English book and
would come up with sentences for each workbook scenario. Once the sentences were completed, they were shared with the class in order to improve the students speaking at the same time as working on writing. When it came to personal information, the students wrote and presented on their daily routines, members of their families, and other general information using primarily simple present-tense. Having the children present their work encourages them to do their best. Additionally, when they speak the language, the children are learning the connection between what they write and speak, and not only focus on book work. This allows the children to learn the language more rapidly and understand it better at the same time, assuming there is ample time for questions.

As a volunteer in the 7th grade English class I helped out in many different ways and was able to sit back and observe the way the children were learning English and how they reacted to troubles and successes. The class had 6 students and I was able to work with each one on one. Each student had different level of understanding English and I was able to cater to each one's needs. I was put to work helping the children with pronunciation, spelling, and usage of present and past tense. Once the children worked on a subject for a certain amount of time, they would present their work to the other students, the teacher, and me. I would then help them with sentence placements and how to speak properly. The children who were not as advanced spent extra time with me going over their work, and I was able to challenge the higher-leveled students by giving them a few extra exercises to do. The only girl in the English class had traveled to the United States so she was able to speak and understand English very well. I helped her by giving her English words to spell for an upcoming spelling bee.

Being able to sit back and observe the students was very interesting. The most surprising thing I saw and thought was fantastic was the way that the students who were more advanced in the English language would offer their assistance to the students who were less advanced without even being asked. There was a great sense of community within the classroom, even with only 6 students. I also noticed that the teacher would explain everything to the students in English and would do so unless they really did not understand. At that point she would proceed by telling them some of it in Spanish to help, but still let them figure it out on their own for the most part. I thought that this was a great way to teach because it encourages the students to be attentive to what is going on without taking the easy way out of lessons or activities. Lastly, I noticed that the 7th grade was less confident and willing to take a risk when speaking English and asking questions than the 5th graders were.                        
                                         

5th Grade Worksheet 

The 5th Grade English Class
Much like the 7th grade class, the 5th grade English class touches on many different aspects of English and how to approach it, with a primary focus on learning different tenses and doing bookwork, with occasional games involved in the lesson plan. In the past few weeks, the students have been focusing on the past and future tenses, as well as singular and plural nouns. The students were able to practice these lessons through bookwork, handouts, and board work. One of the children’s favorite activities was playing Hot Potato with a fake bomb. When the ticker went off, the student with the bomb would be given a past tense word that they would have to use in a sentence. Unlike the 7th grade, the 5th grade did not present their work to the class; rather they would go over things individually with the teacher.

As a volunteer in the 5th grade English class I helped out in specific ways and was able to observe them just as I had with the 7th grade class. In the class there were 12 students and they were assigned seats with two to a desk. I was put to work helping the children with pronunciation, spelling, sentence formations, and writing. During the class I would walk around to each child and help them one-on-one. Before a lesson I would explain things in English. When helping the children, I found that occasionally, because of the language barrier, the teacher would have to explain directions or use certain words in Spanish to allow the student to better understand what I was saying. This process was very similar to my interaction with the class and teacher in the 7th grade classroom. I was also in charge of checking all of the children’s work once they were finished.

When observing the 5th grade English class I noticed how different they were from the 7th grade English class. While the 7th grade class was more hesitant to ask for my help or to really engage in the language, the 5th graders were eager and very excited to ask for my help. The 5th graders were eager to speak to me in English as much as possible to get feedback and just have fun connecting. Just like the 7th grade, the 5th grade was a community when it came to helping one another. Although they did not focus as much on speaking English as a way to reinforce their skills, doing book work, worksheets, and playing games was an easier way for these students to learn and pick up the language. The experience allowed me to realize how different children learn at different ages and the way they react to what is presented to them. I had such a wonderful time working with both classes, and knowing I contributed to them learning English means a great deal to me. They ended up teaching me a lot as a result of me connecting with them. I felt like I was a part of the school rather than just  a visitor.

Written by Sierra DiMartino

San Lorenzo Hydro Plant: Aspects of Energy and the Environment (TSP Case Study)

Impacts on Native Species: 

The hydro plant clearly affects multiple different species in its vicinity. The first and most apparent impact is had on the aquatic life in the San Lorenzo River. The dam creates a blockade so that the fish found in the San Lorenzo are not able to continue their migration. This profoundly impacts fish populations in many different ways. Some aquatic life gets stuck in the dam’s machinery, some predators prey on fish species in the reservoir, and sediment from the river gets trapped in different areas of the plant, which causes a shortage of nutrients for some species resulting in multiple negative impacts. Fish are not the only aquatic species affected by the plant, there is a variety of snakes, frogs, and other water life impacted by this project. 

This hydro plant has a very specific impact on one of its native inhabitants that is not directly related to the project. In the past, monkeys have been able to cross the river at a certain point just before the dam, by using two trees that virtually connected the opposite banks. The trees created a natural land bridge that was crucial to the monkey’s migration. One of the trees that make up this land bridge recently fell into the river causing geographic isolation for this certain species of monkey. The staff responsible for running the hydro plant realized the importance of the trees for the monkeys and made plans to construct a bridge so that they may continue their natural migration. This is an example of a positive impact had on the environment because of hydro-plants presents. 

Issues with Sediment: 

One of the main tasks the employees are constantly dealing with at the hydro-plant is in regards to sediment in the river. Sedimentation is probably the most technical problem dams face today. When a dam is constructed sediment from the river becomes trapped at the bottom of the reservoir. The reason this creates such a large problem is because the sediment takes away from overall water storage space and poses a threat to the turbines and other machinery necessary to operate the hydro plant. At this particular site there is a door located at the bottom of the reservoir, in the rainy season the door opens and filters out the sediment. Even with the sediment door there is still a large amount of labor put forth to take sediment out of the reservoir. 

One special feature about this project is its second reservoir, located past the main dam. This reservoir does not have the sediment door feature and it is required to be cleaned once every year. This process requires multiple workers, tractors, and other machinery. The sediment from the bottom of the reservoir is then taken to a large pile located about 100 meters from where it was taken. The hydro plant has no use for the sediment so it goes unused. One worker told us that it would be extremely profitable to design a business that specializes in the removal of sediment from hydro sites. The nutrients found in the sediment could be highly beneficial to a variety of different agricultural projects. 

Problems with Turbines:

When the plant is not producing electricity at its peak hours, aquatic life has to deal with the river fluctuating between 10-100 percent of its flow based on the amount of water needed to power the turbines. The turbines are responsible for a large amount of the environmental alteration that results from the plant. As the water from the San Lorenzo makes its way through the turbines, it is drastically heated. The fluctuating temperature can take a toll on aquatic life and other species that use the river as their source of water. Many species of fish become stressed and even harmed in fluctuating water temperatures. 

Another environmental threat posed by the turbines is the maintenance that they require. In order to keep things running smoothly the employees of the plant need to pump lubricants into the turbines. These lubricants make their way through the machinery and end up flowing through the turbines. The water then makes its way out into the river exposing the lubricants to all sorts of life. The only positive about the lubricants at this particular site is that they use biodegradable lubricants, which have a much lesser impact. Even though the impact is lesser, unnatural substances are still being put in contact with the river water.

San Lorenzo Design:
          One major aspect to a hydroelectric plant is the plant’s design.  The design of a hydroelectric plant must achieve maximum efficiency and abide by environmental laws at the same time.  The first aspect to a hydroelectric plant’s design is the location.  The San Lorenzo hydro-electric plant was built just down stream from where two major rivers converge, the main source being the Jamaical river.  The whole facility is constructed along a distance of about a mile.  Every component of this mile long facility has a specific purpose for increasing efficiency.  The dam starts with a large reservoir to increase water pressure and slow the flow of the river.  The reservoir is an average of 60m wide and 18m deep.  The large reservoir is then channeled into a canal 4 meters deep, and 4 meters wide.  The purpose of this long canal is to increase what is known as the head.  The head is the elevation change between the main reservoir and the turbine.  The head of San Lorenzo is a total of 91m.  After the canal the water goes into the main reservoir at San Lorenzo.  In the main reservoir water settles and sediment that is detrimental to the turbines is collected.  If too much of this sediment is detected in the turbines two doors at the upper reservoir will shut off the water supply.  After the main reservoir the water gains speed by using the elevation change in the head.  The water enters an intake pipe.  The closer the water gets to the turbine the smaller the diameter of the pipe gets which increases the speed of the water.  The water then passes through the turbine and turns the generator.  The design of the San Lorenzo hydro-electric plant is a display of great design with great efficiency as the result.  San Lorenzo does not have a large inflow of water to use to produce energy. Therefore they needed to use smart engineering to get whatever energy they could.

Energy Output:

            The San Lorenzo hydro-electric plant produces enough energy to power about 29 thousand middle class homes, which translates to an output of power for a minimum of  145,000 people.  The facility relies on two turbines constructed and shipped from France.  The turbines are known as Francis turbines.  The turbines combined produce 8.5 megawatts.  Due to the design described above they are able to achieve this amount of energy.  If the facility only had one reservoir the energy output would be much lower.  To calculate how much energy is being produced at any hydro-electric plant the following equation is used: P = p x q x g x h.  The following factors signify: P = power(watts), p = density(kg/meters cubed), q = water flow(meters cubed/second), g = acceleration of gravity(9.81 m/s), h = falling height, head (m).  The last aspect to the energy output of the San Lorenzo hydro-electric plant is of course the amount of water present in the Jamaical river.  The maximum capacity of the facility is 19 cubic meters a second, which is what the plant runs at for the duration of the dry season.  During this period the plant never stops producing energy because they do not need to wait for the main reservoir to fill up.  During the dry season the plant uses around 4 or 5 cubic meters a second.  

Graph drawn by the head business-man at San Lorenzo.  Graph shows the
peak times of energy use.

Economics:

           Economics is one of the main aspects to hydro-electricity.  Other than the search for other sources of energy, economics is a large reason for hydro-electricity in Costa Rica.  The economic goal of hydro-electricity or any other renewable energy source for that matter is the elimination of expensive fuel.  Each hydro-electric facility has certain factors in which need to be catered to in order to maximize economic output.  The San Lorenzo hydro-electric plant has to plan accordingly to maximize their energy sales.  In the dry season the workers at the facility fill up the top reservoir and the main reservoir in order to produce more energy during the time periods which energy is most desired, therefore they receive more money.  The windows of time in which energy is most desired is 10:30am to 12:30pm and 5:30pm to 8:00pm.  One window in which businesses are all open and people come home for lunch, and one window when people begin to start using more lights.  In the dry season this is when San Lorenzo sells their energy to the power grid through ESA.  All energy sold goes through ESA and straight into the grid.  During the rainy season San Lorenzo is constantly producing energy because the plant is always running at full capacity.  The plant always gains money for their energy but that amount varies depending on the time of day.  

AUTHORS: Matt Richards, Blake Lecroy 

Rainforest Conservation & Sustainability (NCSU Alternate Spring Break)

 
 















Hikes in the Rain Forest: The group enjoying various hikes through the rainforest at Alberto Brenes Biological Reserve near
San Ramón.

Aquatic Insect Activity: Studying the relationship between aquatic insects and water quality.  Collection in the river (left), and species identification in the lab (right).

Volunteer Work: Service-learning during the trip consisted of assisting in roping off a parcel of forest 100x100 meters, divided into 10 meter segments.  The parcel is to be used for various research projects in the future (e.g., tree growth over time and species diversity).  Here Ian and Annette are helping Victor measure the distance between marker poles.

Rainforest Fauna: Some of the fauna we encountered in the reserve: A strange gathering of three lizards identified during a night exploration activity (above), and a hummingbird at the field station (right). 

Biological Field Station: The group having an impromptu discussion at the field station.

Maymester 2012 Semester at Sea: Agoecological Farm Field Trip

Visiting a monoculture banana plantation (right) to compare with the organic agro-ecological banana plantation at the farm (above)

Receiving an Introductory talk upon arrival at the farm about the challenges and

accomplishments of the farm.

Miguel translating Doña Rosa's talk

Touring the various projects of the farm

Visiting the Carbon 1 river and having a local lunch prepared on-site

The medicinal plant garden (above), meeting area, and library (right) at the farm. 

'Deep Ecology' at Sea

Results of a 'deep ecology' student activity describing how the view at sea made the group FEEL.

Our feeling is free, but scared
Connected with the vastness and solitude of Nature
Exposed, small & insignificant, going where it takes us
Alone in another world full of life
Nourished

Courtesy of the 'Foundations of Sustainability' class, Maymester 2011 Semester at Sea

Biodigester at El Yue

THE BIODIGESTER
At El Yue agro-ecological farm, nothing was wasted. Any item bought wasn’t put into the trash; it was either reused or recycled. Most of the food was eaten from the garden and anything left over was composted. The medicinal plants grown on the farm were used to heal injuries. Even the animals waste was used as energy source and a fertilizer. The methane produced from the manure was collected as an alternative energy source with the help of a biodigester. In the photograph, Rosa Amalia is feeding the pigs with banana leaves and other plants that she grows on the farm. Any leftover pieces that aren’t eaten are cleaned up and put into the compost. The compost decomposes the waste material and the resulting material is used as a fertilizer for all the plants. Once the waste has been produced by the pigs, the hose that you can see on the far right of the picture is turned on to flush out the manure with water in the form of a sludge mixture. She assured us that no mixing was needed, that all the solids are washed down the tube and will eventually breakdown naturally with the help of bacteria.


INPUT
The first step of the energy generating process would be the feeding of the two pigs shown in the image so they produce manure. Other animal waste can also be used, such as cows. However, because their manure is more fibrous due to the grass they eat, cows require a greater amount of water in order to be used as part of the biodigester. Cows require 5 gallons of water to 1 gallon of manure while, with pigs, the ratio is 1:1. Also, the more animals that produce waste, the greater amount of gas produced. The two pigs’ manure produced enough methane to power the kitchen on the farm. They also were almost done constructing a sauna that will be run entirely from the biogas. At Rosa Amalia’s home, she has 20 pigs and they have more than enough energy needed for two households. There is a wide tube in the far back corner of the pigsty where the manure is washed into the pipe that enters the plastic tank. The manure is naturally water-soluble so the buildup of solid material doesn’t occur. Once the manure sludge is run into the plastic tank, it takes about a month for the anaerobic digestion by the bacteria to produce enough methane gas for use.






THE GAS COLLECTER
The photograph shows the biodigester not fully inflated with the methane gas. This is because only 2 days before a tree fell on the pipe for the exiting gas and released all of the methane gas. In normal cases, the sack would be blown up like balloon. The methane gas that is collected in the tank is around 20 times more potent of a greenhouse gas then carbon dioxide. Therefore, this process allows for this gas that would normally be released into the atmosphere and causing global warming to be used directly as cooking fuel or for electrical energy in a home. This simple farm-scale energy produced is a cheap alternative for more traditional countries to provide cooking fuel and lighting to their home in a sustainable way. A negative of using to using a biodigester is that the bacteria responsible for the digestion require warmer temperatures to survive making it is not as feasible in colder climates. However, the gas produced can be used to warm the tank in order to keep the bacteria alive. Another issue with this energy source is that it requires daily maintenance. Each day, manure and water need to be added to the tank and the resulting effluent needs to be emptied.

PRESSURE RELEASE
In this image, Rosa Amalia is showing the pressure release safety system of the biodigester. If too much methane gas is produced and the pressure in the tubes is enough to force the gas upward through the water in the jar, then excess gas will be released into the air to reduce the pressure. This ensures that the bag won’t explode under pressure when the methane being produced is at a higher rate than it is being used. Just slightly to the left of the pressure release system is where the pipe had to be fixed due to the tree that fell on it. The tube to right in the picture connects to the top of the tank of the biodigester and the tube to the left is the beginning of a long tube that allows the methane to reach all the way to the house. It is also connected to the future sauna they are creating. The burned biogas still produces carbon dioxide, but it is essentially a carbon neutral system if the plants that are used to feed the animals are continuously grown. The methane gas being directly produced on site is both cheaper for the resident and simultaneously reduces the amount of energy needed for the transportation of other energy sources.

ORGANIC FERTILZER
The two effluents produced in the biodigester tank are the biogas used for energy and a nutrient rich liquid that can be used as a fertilizer. This picture shows this liquid that is produced at the end of the bag opposite where the manure sludge comes in. Rosa Amalia says she collects it with a ladle and pours on her plants. The bacteria in the biodigester break down and sterilize the waste put in, resulting in a remaining liquid that is a safe and highly effective fertilizer. When there is a lot of methane being generated, the liquid needs to be collected every day. Instead of using the chemical, toxic fertilizers produced in an industrial plant, this organic digester liquor can be used instead. With both this biodigester waste liquid and compost pile, enormous amounts of energy and money can be saved by not consuming the industrial fertilizers which use large amounts of energy and resources to produce and transport. Also, using untreated manure as a fertilizer is bad for the environment because of the diseases it can produce. This process is regenerative and environmentally sustainable. The plants used to feed the pigs are fertilized by the effluent and compost, the food waste that the pigs don’t eat is composted and the manure eventually turns in the fertilizer.

DIAGRAM OF PROCESS
This diagram illustrates the entire process of a biodigester. The manure and water comes in on the left, the bacteria breakdowns the solid material into methane gas which rises to the top where the biogas outlet is. The biogas meter is the same as the pressure release container filled with water. The effluent outlet is the liquid organic fertilizer. The entire process is free of any external energy source; it is just taking advantage of a natural occurring process. While many rural biodigesters use animal waste as an input, in reality any organic material can be used to produce biogas, such as food waste, grass, paper, and sewage. In fact, Chiquita Fruit Company has created biodigester in Costa Rica using their solid food waste and water as the input. Their hope is that the methane produced will eventually yield enough energy to operate the plant where it is located. The benefits of using a biodigester are the replacement of depletable fossil fuels as an energy source, reducing the amount of waste and the energy used to treat the waste, drastically lowering the methane released into the atmosphere, eliminating the need for industrial fertilizers, and also reducing the runoff into water systems from animal’s pens. These are significant benefits that can help the environment with such a simple process. For farms or households that can manage the daily care of the biodigester and utilize large amount of fertilizer, a biodigester is a feasible sustainable energy solution.
Diagram Source: http://www.profitablegreensolutions.com/z/greentravelpartners/faq5.html

AUTHOR: Jessica Hekl

El Yue Agro-Ecological Farm

Recycling Program
El Yue Agro-ecological farm does not simply have an agricultural basis. Rather, it is an organization committed to sustainable practices in all aspects of life. One of their projects is a recycling program that has been influential within their entire community. In the photo, one of my classmates is looking at some of the products made out of recycled goods, including one of the bags made out of plastic. They have spread awareness about the need to recycle. However, the farm itself has gone above and beyond simply recycling and having their goods shipped off. Rosa, one of the founders of the organization, believes in living simply with minimal waste. Consequently, this lifestyle choice was applied to El Yue. Each product is not seen as an end in itself, but rather something that can be molded. It becomes a means to a new end. With creativity, Rosa, and the other seven families involved in the organization (a total of twenty two people), transform some products into table mats, plastic bags into elaborate purses, bottle tops into clasps on bags, and so forth. The ideas and range of products seem endless and there is demand for the products within the community, as well as from tourists and the local pulperia (convenience store). The original goal of this project was not economic though. Instead, the founding women wanted to decrease the waste the organization produced. They wanted to decrease their ecological impact and have managed to truly achieve this goal by using the excess goods that would have been buried or burned. Thus, El Yue has been reducing their carbon footprint through this wonderful and sustainable waste management program. This alternative of reusing the goods has further contributed to the increased well-being of those members of the group. Many of the women involved in the organization are single with children. So, this recycling program helps the women to earn enough money to support themselves, their families, and even send their kids to school. It has helped the development of the community as a whole, while also addressing gender inequity. The program gives the women in the community the opportunity to break free from the feeling of reliance on the men in the community and make a living for themselves adequately.

Reforestation Projects
Deforestation is a significant issue with effects that are felt globally. However, for the women and families at El Yue reforestation efforts are extremely important. The farm itself is located in a biological corridor. A biological corridor is an area that needs to be preserved because it is recognized as important to protect certain species. The concept is to provide more habitats for the species, yet it is not completely protected. Rather, there are regulations put in place, such as banning hunting in the corridor and so forth. This particular Costa Rican biological corridor starts along the coast and spreads to the mountains. El Yue is one of several places that is a bridge between completely protected areas. For this reason, the members of the organization decided to pay special attention to the issue of deforestation. Ecological preservation and conservation is very important to the organization. In conjunction with preserving their property as part of the biological corridor, they also have a nursery on the property where they participate in reforestation efforts. While our Semester at Sea class visited, we got the opportunity to assist in planting these native species to help provide food and habitat for the animals living within the corridor. The trees also offset emissions, and thus decrease pollution. So, while this farm in particular does not emit many pollutants, they are offsetting the pollution of the community as a whole, benefiting and preserving the natural capital of the land surrounding the farm.

Medicinal Plant Garden Project
Dedicated to organic farming and sustainability, El Yue Agro-ecological farm began a new project of a medicinal plant garden in 2001. In the photo, one of the organization's founders is telling my class about the farm. El Yue was originally dedicated solely to organic agriculture, focusing mainly on growing fruits, herbs, and vegetables at the local farmers markets. However, they also used many of the products themselves. For example, the products they gathered from their on-site organic banana plantation and vegetable gardens were fed to the animals and were used for their own consumption. In an attempt to increase the farm’s plant diversity and their production of advantageous goods, they spearheaded a new project, a medicinal plant garden. At the beginning, this garden was solely for the members’ own consumption. From the plants, they made numerous teas. That same year, 2001, a volunteer at the farm gave them the idea of trying to bring ecotourism to the farm. Originally, the farm had only focused on the organic agriculture because most of the products the community had access to were all loaded with chemicals from traditional agriculture and shipped in from other places. For health reasons, they wanted to become independent of corporations and big business by growing locally. By adding to their harvests and growing medicinal plants, they not only increased their production of beneficial and healthy products for their consumption, but also created a draw for tourists. So, not only had the farm become a sustainable business economically, but they also increased the diversity of plants. They found yet another way to use their land effectively, as well as create a draw for sustainable tourism.

Restaurant
While sustainable tourism was not the main source of profits originally, it became a major source of income in recent years. The restaurant was built when the women at El Yue realized the numbers of tourists and locals interested in what they were doing was increasing each year. The restaurant was built to increase the organizations economic prosperity. Along with giving El Yue additional income, the restaurant was another way to utilize all of the organization’s left over resources. The additional food that was not sold or consumed by families within the group could be sold and fed to tourists and volunteers, for example. Furthermore, it became a sustainable business. The foods were grown organically, as well as locally. Subsequently, the organization does not contribute to degradation of the environment in the sense that it does not use traditional, environmentally damaging farming practices for growth and production of its foods. The restaurant is sustainable within itself and increases incentive to travel to the farm as it slowly becomes all inclusive. Right from the start, the ladies who founded El Yue wanted to develop the organization and farm so that their resources and necessities could be obtained from local sources. Many of the products they consumed were from outside sources, so the difficulty of accessing them increased along with the cost, including hidden, indirect costs. Much of the cooking at the restaurant was done using the methane gas from the bio-digester. The pig manure was fed into the bio-digester and the methane byproduct increased the business’ ability to be sustainable. The restaurant at El Yue was not only sustainable within itself as a business that was advantageous economically, but it also had its ecological benefits reducing the farm’s waste and carbon footprint.

Cabins
When the organization was founded, they never planned on turning their farm into a sustainable business that even tourists were drawn to. They operated on borrowed land for three years. However, then the owner wanted the land back. It created disincentive for the women in the organization. Combined with social pressure from their husbands to stay home and be housewives, they dropped out. The organization switched locations after a friend from Spain won money from a music contest and donated it to the organization. With the donation, they bought half of their current land. They grew sustainable, organic foods and with their profits bought the rest of the property. From the success of their sustainable agriculture practices their organization and business grew. In 2003, four cabins were built on-site, funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Small Donations Project. Although the cabins were originally built for the volunteers and members that needed to stay at the farm, they soon became the housing for tourists who wanted to see the sustainable business that had grown out of this woman-initiated organization. Currently, tourist groups and volunteers come from all over the world, throughout the year, to work with the community, reforestation projects, watershed protection, and other projects of El Yue. Each year there are approximately three hundred visitors per year not including volunteers.

Library
The library was also not in the original plan for El Yue. Rather, it was built when a volunteer decided to donate and give back to El Yue upon completion of their volunteer work. After departure from the farm, the volunteer took part in a marathon. However, it was not solely a marathon; rather, the reason it was held was particularly to fund the building of the library. The farm is not just a location to gather in or a place to go for information. It is somewhere that exemplifies the community as a whole and their priorities, as well as aspirations. When we visited, we learned the history of El Yue and the challenges it faced. Not only was it a small, organic farm in the midst of numerous traditional, industrial farms, but also a women founded and run organization with limited funds and resources. However, the group was able to overcome the gender inequality despite social pressure. Also, they were able to become sustainable and independent, helping improve the environmental health and conditions, increase diversity, and even improve social conditions and education. Much of what the library represents is the education to raise awareness about sustainability and ecological issues society faces. Inside the library numerous posters are hanging, many of which have been drawn by children. These posters are both pictures and diagrams representative of issues we need to keep in mind, such as watersheds, recycling, and so forth. Education of current generations along with future generations is extremely important to improving society as a whole. Therefore, this library has implications of the impact El Yue has had on lives of people such as the volunteer whose generous donations made its construction possible and furthermore, the various children and tourists who go within its doors and have been impacted by the knowledge they acquire from within. The library has both social and ecological significance within and outside of the community.

Author: Madeleine Fahnley

Reforestation at El Yüe

During the inaugural short-term “Maymester” 2011 voyage of the Semester at Sea study abroad program, the Foundations of Sustainability class, led by Dr. Miguel Karian, visited El Yüe. We, the students, learned about the farm community and the sustainable practices of the community members. The community also had a Peace Corps volunteer there to assist in cultivating a sustainable Eco-agricultural community.
El Yüe is a farm and forest where farmed and wild plants and animals grow in harmony. The women owners work and live in the Carbón 1 community growing crops and medicinal plants in an organically in order to conserve natural resources. They also help the environment by guarding the forest from deforestation and illegal hunting, through environmental education, and by reforesting. Many of the trees are endangered and the property borders the Carbón River.

Students and the professor lined up to pick up saplings to plant from a tree nursery. The nursery is a box of soil where tree seeds are planted temporarily to help them grow into saplings. We were assisted by Rosa, who works in the community and was one of the founding members. Then we made our way deeper into the forest, seeing a variety of native flora and fauna. We stopped walking at an embankment beside a river as a light drizzle began to fall. This is where we would plant our saplings. We chose this area because, hopefully, as the trees grow, their roots will hold firm in the soil to prevent erosion of the land into the river. Trees are an integral part of the ecosystem for many reasons. Like other plants, their roots hold the soil together to prevent erosion. Erosion can be problematic when land breaks and gets into the water, and whatever was in the soil can end up effecting water quality. Pesticides from crop fields (such as the nearby Chiquita banana plantation) can end up poisoning the water for plants, animals, and humans dependent on the Rio Carbón (Carbon River). Fertilizers can also get in the water, causing a process called eutrophication to occur. Eutrophication is a process where chemicals from the fertilizer get in the water, causing an algael bloom. When there is too much algae, it can drown out other life. The coral reefs for which Costa Rica is known have been suffering because of this.

Additionally, trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. So, as more trees are cut down, less carbon dioxide is absorbed, contributing to climate change. As the climate changes, weather becomes more unpredictable, harming the ecosystem, and the cycle continues. This is problematic for both the environment and people. In this area of Costa Rica, for example, it used to rain during the entire month of May, as our host explained. The weather used to be much more predictable and rain more prevalent, helping the plant and wildlife grow. Because of the lack of rain, the ground dries, and when it finally does rain the community can experience landslides and flooding. They believe that this weather issue is caused by climate change, as many areas across the globe are suffering from unpredictable and extreme weather. This area has also historically suffered from a lot of deforestation, which contributes to erosion and negatively effects water quality.

The students had arrived via a ship, on which their Semester at Sea program was located. The ship is LEED certified and goes to many lengths to conserve water, fuel, and other resources. However, it still has a significant carbon footprint (wake?) and each student had impacted the environment by coming on the ship, as the floating campus goes around to many countries in Central America. Dr. Karian had worked out an equation using averages to determine how long it would take for the trees to off-set our carbon impact from traveling. If the trees are to absorb the same amount of carbon over the next several years that is the average for a tree over its lifetime, it will take 3-4 years for the trees to off-set our impact from the trip. The professor gave each student a piece of 100% post-consumer recycled paper to write on. Each of us was to write our hopes for a sustainable future, and to plant it with the saplings. As the trees grow, our hopes will grow up with them. The group shoveled out holes evenly spaced along the side of a river for the saplings that they had selected earlier.

For many students this was their first time in Costa Rica, and only a handful of us spoke the Spanish language that is commonly spoke by the rural community members. Still, we were able to start to understand both the positive and negative effects of differing agricultural practices in Costa Rica. We learned about the struggles and history of the rural agro-ecological community and their relationship to their economy, environment, equity and education. We fought off surprisingly fierce ants that came up out of the ground like zombies. We had the rare opportunity to get first-hand experience, and to give a little service back. It might seem like planting a sapling that will take years to offset our carbon impact for this brief trip is a drop in the bucket. In its own way, this appearance makes it even better suited to represent the movement towards sustainability. The road towards a greener world is constantly daunting because of human capacity for destruction. For example, globally more trees were cut down in the time it takes to read this post than the 19 or so trees that we planted. El Yüe is tiny by comparison to other farms, but the property is an important sustainable alternative for the local community. If we are to get anywhere to move towards a more sustainable future, we must continue to take whatever steps we can. Even if the first one is just to plant a single tree.

AUTHOR: Kristin Hugo

Achiote: Community Coffee & Environment Association

Introduction
The coffee processing facility shown in this picture belongs to the members of the Asociacion Comunidad Cafe y Ambiente (Community Coffee & Environment Association). This blog will discuss the ways in which this coffee processing plant and the group of people who operate it form a system that is economically feasible and socially desirable. This association is an example of a sustainable business that demonstrates sustainable agriculture and land use, and contributes to community development. The group has lost many of its members because people have decided to work independently, but the remaining members continue to benefit themselves and help their community by working cooperatively.


The Foundations of a Sustainable Business

The founding of this program was economically feasible because the group worked as a team to build the facility. As shown in the pictures, adults and children worked along with a member of the Peace Corps to construct the building we visited. Because they worked together as a community, the group saved money on constructing that facility. Also, the building is lit through windows on all sides so there is no need for electrical lighting. The open windows allow ventilation so air conditioning is not needed, either. These sustainable building techniques save money for the organization.

Economic Development as a Team
Working together as a group makes for a more economically viable and sustainable business for the members of the association. All of the coffee farmers need access to a pilandora (processing machine) to separate the coffee beans from the shells. By sharing this pilandora, each member of the group can use it for much cheaper than it would cost to use the private one down the road. Also, by selling as a group, the members can get a higher price for their coffee than they would if they sold individually. The members share knowledge on farming sustainability which helps them better their own farming and harvesting techniques and gain more from their work. The entire coffee farming process becomes more efficient thanks to the partnership these people have formed.

Community Development

Education is the means of furthering sustainable development, because it is necessary for the implementation of sustainable methods. This group works together to gain knowledge. Aside from educating themselves and each other, the members of the group contribute to the development of the outside community by providing education and support. Children can visit the site in order to learn about the group's sustainable methods of coffee bean production. This provides a base of knowledge in the community for sustainable development. The members also explained that they can provide support for adults in the community who need work by getting them started as coffee farmers. If the town was in trouble economically, the group could help provide resources for the creation of jobs. By spreading knowledge, the group is contributing to the sustainable development of their community.


Sustainable Agriculture and Land Use
The Asociacion Comunida Cafe y Ambiente practices sustainable agriculture and land use so that they will be able to continue making profits off the land for years to come. One way in which they act sustainably is by using an improved coffee plant that produces bigger beans and is more resistant to pests and disease. They plant in the shade, where coffee grows best, instead of in open fields. Another way in which the group preserves and works in harmony with the land is that they reuse the coffee seed shells. This picture shows the area behind the building where the shells from the piladora are deposited. The peels fall on the ground where they serve as both chicken food and fertilizer. This technique saves money for the group in addition to being environmentally sustainable. The group is working towards earning an organic certification, but it is expensive and difficult to obtain.


 
Furthering Community and Economic Development
The Asociacion Comunida Cafe y Ambiente is working to further their economic sustainability as a business. This photo shows a bag of ground coffee, a step that the organization does not yet have the capability to do themselves. In the future, the group is hoping to gain the facilities and equipment necessary for grinding the coffee. Right now they sell the whole coffee beans after removing the peels and the coffee is ground by their buyers. If the group is able to complete one more step of the coffee making process before selling their product, they will be able to absorb more of the profit from the coffee sales into the group.  This is the concept of 'value-added' products.  In addition, the group could benefit from obtaining fair trade certification, which would allow them to sell their coffee at a higher price.  However, it is difficult and expensive to get. In the future, I think the Asociacion Comunida Cafe y Ambiente will continue to develop economically and within their community.

Author: Kendra Williamson