Costa Rica: Organic Agriculture

Project Summary

The project is run by a grassroots organization of small organic coffee producers and their families. The first goal of the project is improving the quality of life of the farmers, and it is focused on organic production and ecological and community tourism.  The project is focused on promoting measures to protect, preserve and recovered the natural sources in the area through environmental education and of the use of renewable resources for the benefit of the environment.

Volunteer work:

You will learn about coffee plantations, treating the coffee shells with earthworm compost to produce fertilizer for the farms, taking care of the cattle including cutting grass and placing it in the troughs, collecting dung to produce fertilizer and packing up the fertilizer. Also work in trails, gardening, painting walls with ceramic tiles and recycled pieces of glass, collecting samples from the trails for the database of the organic farm. The volunteers will help with English lessons or another language.

Location:

The project is located in a rural village near the town of Buenos Aires in the Puntarenas province in the south of Costa Rica. Travel time is 8 hours by bus from San Jose.

Accommodation and Food

You will live with a local family or lodge. All the accommodation is clean and has running water. Typical Costa Rican dishes should be expected (rice, beans, vegetables, fruit).

Travel Arrangements and Transportation

Booking air travel to your destination is your responsibility, but we are more than happy to help you as needed. For domestic traveling and specific logistics RJI will provide the respective information at the time.

Dates, Duration and Application Deadline

• This project is offered throughout the year.
• Individual or group volunteering (minimum 6)
• Duration 1 to 4 weeks.
• Age 18+

General Requirements

Spanish is desired but not mandatory. The most important requirement is to bring a positive attitude, be willing to get involved in our Central America culture. You must love the outdoors and not mind working in any weather, be easy going and be able to work alongside the local community. Much of your time will be spent with the local families.  Be ready to enjoy this experience... Welcome!

Program Costs