Diamante Valley
Regenerative Economy Map
Click on any marker to learn more about local projects and how to get involved.
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Regenerative Actions Happening Now in Diamante Valley
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Created basemap for the Baru River • Created DEM for the Baru River • Created major river network for the Baru River • Created Google Earth satellite imagery layer for the Baru River • Created multiple layers of data from government & municipal data sets for the Baru River • 4 local community events were held • 40 participants attended the events • Participants responded well & were very grateful & thankful for this initiative & understood the need for such a project within the community • Participants were educated on the various rivers, connections & flows of water within the Baru River catchment • Deforested areas, cattle farms, erosion zones, impacts & other historical changes within the Baru River catchment were shown via satellite imagery, photos & 3D maps • Local examples of rewilding, reforestation, agroforestry, silvipastoral & regenerative projects were highlighted, showcasing the real-world local examples that already exist in the Baru River catchment • Negative impacts to the marine ecosystems at & around Dominical due to the sediments & chemicals flowing down from the Baru River catchment were shown & explained • Various solutions, actions & implementation options were presented to the community & discussed after each event • Questions & concerns from community members were address & answered, specifically around next steps, funding & volunteering opportunities to assist with the project • The context of how this project will help improve both the local ecosystem health & that of the community, how this contributes to the local economic situation was clarified, as well as how this local project contributes to the larger bioregional improvement intiative • We had local elders to play music and share the stories of their village • 30+ people shared a potluck in the center of the village • We are gathering to connect Locals and Foreigners, to come a bit closer to understanding and unity. • Improved the center of our village, making it look more organized • Improved the efficiency of any future community event that will need firewood • Created a functional and practical storage to stack up a lot of firewood in 3 sections • Held 6 biweekly governance, food, and cultural gatherings over three months, maintaining continuity for a rural commons during a quieter participation period. • Maintained consistent participation from a core group of stewards across all gatherings, enabling sustained governance and land stewardship without paid staff. • Produced and finalized new organizational bylaws defining membership criteria and staged rights paired with responsibilities. • Created clear written proposals for future commons development, including a community nursery plan and a partnership framework with UCI. • Prepared and shared community meals at every gathering, with donations collected to support a local community food fund. • Integrated music and karaoke into governance gatherings, increasing participation from local Costa Rican neighbors and strengthening cross-cultural relationships. • Strengthened stewardship capacity of core contributors, who are now actively caring for shared land, buildings, and community events across multiple sites. • Sustained organizational hygiene and decision-making through regular in-person meetings, preventing drift or burnout during a low-growth season. • Expanded bioregional collaboration by alternating gatherings between Diamante Luz and an upper-valley partner site, increasing relational connectivity across the valley. • Demonstrated a replicable, low-cost method for maintaining governance, food sharing, and cultural life in a rural commons without reliance on constant growth or formal infrastructure. • A suitable space for the morning classes for the children 5 days a week, afternoon activities 2 times a week, and variable adult meetings is provided • Cost efficiency for the Coliazul project through shared use of the house in which we live. • Flexibility in the use of space, for example, for cooking activities in the kitchen or moving other activities here in case of inclement weather • Almost always, one of us is at home and can provide support if additional materials or help are needed. Even in emergencies, it has proven useful to have one of us on site. • The building is centrally located in the village and the children can walk to Coliazul. • Building bridges: promoting acceptance and integration into the local village community • Community strengthening: We had a beautiful cultural event for the people of the community and guests. • Education of children/adults and fun activities: learned something about Costa Rican history, traditional dancing, archery... • The Coliazul project got known to more people • pruned 100+ fruit trees • 20+ people benefited from food qand medicine provided by the lands • over 500 trees were cared for and fed with chop & drop as well as organic fertilizers, microorganisms, and amendments • 5 people received tours and their first experience in a food forest and holistic homestead • 5 paid workers were able to generate income to support livelihoods while contributing to ecological and social wellness in the short and long term • Trees planted • Slowing down the water • Preserving natural springs and watershed • Communities and projects finding alignment • We built the last part of the roof for our future Community Center, for our village and for the Diamante Valley • We fundraised 675 $ to pay for materials and man work. • - This roof allow us to design a long lasting and creative Playground, and a welcoming gathering space with tables and benches, favorizing social connections in our village. • 5 volunteers were able to learn skills to prepare the foundation of such metal structure • By working in service for the village and the Bio region we are inspiring more people to do the same : making improvements that will benefit everyone coming to this area • We finally finished a 4 year old project : Fencing all the soccer field in Las Tumbas • Dogs and Cows aren't able to come in the soccer field, making it a safe space for anyone using it. • We invited many people to volunteer and donate to this project over the years, all these efforts are counting, making the village a better place for everyone • Completing this project was the necessary foundation for what is to come : The community Center and Playground • Installed creek-side fence section, completing one of the most challenging perimeter segments • Cemented and repaired broken posts, restoring structural integrity across the fence line • Cemented the final 4 posts, marking near-completion of a multi-year fence project • Created additional seating using repurposed tires, adding functionality while demonstrating resourcefulness • Fed all 17 participants with locally-sourced vegetarian casado • Strengthened monthly gathering tradition now three months strong and growing • Demonstrated multiple pathways for contribution, making participation accessible to people with different capacities • Moved closer to playground design phase as fence completion frees focus for next infrastructure layer • Honored years of committee and supporter effort with quality finishing work • Painted 6 fence gates with proper sanding preparation • Protected metal infrastructure by raising cement levels on multiple fence posts • Installed further posts for future dog-barrier fence around soccer field • Cleared erosion-prone areas beneath fence sections • Secured 361,000 colones in community fundraising for roof extension • Created detailed work plan for roof extension with clear volunteer and paid labor components • Established partnership with skilled local builder for technical guidance at community-friendly rates • United 21 community members in diverse roles from construction to cooking to coordination • Strengthened monthly gathering tradition, establishing last Saturday as consistent community action day • Built collective confidence in our ability to plan and execute complex multi-phase construction projects • Completed installation of 6 custom fence doors • Created open air communal furniture • Raised $500 in community donations for ongoing plaza improvements • Fed 25 participants with community-prepared meals • Created fundraising video documentation to inspire other communities and attract future support • United 25 community members across generations in shared work and celebration • Strengthened social bonds through shared meals, games, music, and collaborative work • Established sustainable infrastructure built to last for generations using quality materials • Proved the viability of volunteer-based community infrastructure development • An appropriate space for the Coliazul children classes and adult meetings is provided • It saved at least $250 per months costs for the Coliazul project • The teacher gets support with materials e.g. tools or from the kitchen or in emergency cases from the hosts • library for the village community, continuous service 1 day per week • - Offering high quality books by Rudolf Steiner among other spiritual books • - Children books • - Books in English, German and Spanish • regular opening hours already for 5 months • community building by sharing books • 65 people participated in the Agricultural Forum and shared ideas and strategies for cultivating a better life • On our 20 hour roundtrip, 12 representatives from the Brunca Bioregion shared in story and strategizing for the missions of Vida Sagrada • The Raices Libres Spanish chat receives on average between 10-20 posts per day of information or sharing regarding our journey into the Buen Vivir • 555 trees planted • 17 people got to escape from the city and reconnect with nature and simplicity • Elders sharing their stories, perspective and wisdom help refine and focus the passion of the youth and activists • 500+ fruit trees planted • 1000+ support species planted • 100+ fruit trees pruned for better productivity and ease of harvest • 300 reforestation trees planted • 16 people got to share the joy and wisdom of planting and caring for trees, while sharing stories purpose • classes • community • yoga • pilate • HIIT • cocreate • We are open twice a month on Fridays, offering this recycling service voluntarily for the local community • We offer practical alternatives to stop send trash to landfills. We are regularly communicating about this on groups an social media. • - We upgrade the structures at the recycling center in order to keep doing our Recycling work in comfortable environment • Increased ecosystem services & functions by ~50% (protection, production, generation, decomposition, filtration, stabilization, support, regulation, provision) • ~ Increased biodiversity by ~80% fungi, plant & insect species; ~30% bird species & ~10% mammal species • Increased soil generation by ~80% (first year increase in potential soil generation from trapping leaves, decaying vegetation & other material, as well as creating conditions for water penetration, microbes, fungi & plant roots to start activating the dirt & creating soil) • Created over 20 hectares of rewilded habitats • Showcased & explained the project to the entire Home Farm team (10 people) & over 100+ people, both within the community of the Baru & visitors to the farm from all over the world • Tracked & documented changes via photos, video, wildlife camera traps & detailed GIS maps • Most people were very respondant, felt more connected to nature, saw plants, birds, insects & mammals they had never seen before & felt called to support rewilding & restoration projects on their own lands or in the own parts of Costa Rica or the world • The project helped reduce erosion from the property • The project helped reduce some of the sedimentation of the Barucito River & downstream Baru River, as well as the coastal zone in Dominical • Created awareness of what rewilding is, the benefits of it to ecosystem & human health, biodiversity & habitat • Educated 2 people • Having natural stones in the form you want, when you have none • - We are planting the roadside with dwarf coconuts, small fruit trees, berries and flowers to make it beautiful and welcoming • - We removed + 20 kg of trash from this part of the garden, ready to be recycled • We harvested the first FreeTheFood Champedak from the Soccerfield in Las Tumbas, 8 Locals loved it and would like more fruit trees to be planted around the soccer field • We are maintaining a very important part of our village : The soccer field • This regular community service bring us together to work in service for the bigger vision : an alive and harmonious village • By doing community service we are giving back to the local community, it is part of the integration. • - provide with the Coliazul children a climbing structure for the vines • - Creating an open tent around a tree • - building an protected outdoor area • - Meeting and orientation wall at the entrance of Diamante Luz community and the Coliazul Cultural Centre • - Experimental wall, Testing the ecological methods for the Coliazul campus • - strengthening the rammed earth wall and receiving a beautiful clay surface • - using local clay • A library for the village community is a heart of connection, learning, and inspiration for the village. • - Offering high quality books by Rudolf Steiner among other spiritual books, inviting reflection, dialogue, and personal growth, supporting those on a path of self-development and holistic understanding of the world. • - Thoughtfully chosen children books, encouraging our children to develop a love for reading • - Books in English, German and Spanish allowing both Costa Rican and international residents to find meaningful reading material in their native languages, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding. • we prevent the soaps and grey water from 3 houses to fall into a spring • - we are bringing awareness in our local community that its possible to do something to protect water • we are looking to make this creek a pilot project for more creeks an rivers to be protected • Community strengthening: We had a beautiful cultural event for the people of the community and guests. • Education of children: The children presented their newest songs and experienced an amazing talented storyteller for children • The Coliazul project got known to more people • We collected $510 donations that help to run the Waldorf-inspired children program • +70 people came to the celebration of the new roof • Many children were running around, playing with adults also • we are opening a new chapter of community in our area, we have a centered and public roof where we can gather and shelter at any moment. • Creating a Community Center / Playground Center is becoming a reality and brings this awareness to more people • We have had very good feedbacks from from the local community with this project. • We built 6 gates out of recycle materials • we cleaned up the salon communal completely and sorted the trash • we fixed the sinks that were leaking for years • we bought new lockers to improve our system when the salon need to be used • We made a flyer for the coming soccer games that will bring funds to make more improvement in the salon • gathering • community • education • connection • technology • community • classes • yoga • gathering • practice • teaching and practicing Spanish with the Community • offering more Spanish speaking opprtunities through digital interfaces • Support local businesses • connecting to the wisdom of the heart through meditation and yoga • taught participants and practiced meditation in action (also called karma yoga) • spending time in silence listening to the land and nature • connecting and developing the spiritual foundation for the community at eartHeart • Introduced over 60 people to indigenous language ceremonial songs • created a consistent weekly community gathering for stabilizing local relationships • seeded 3 additional locations for other offshoot song circles in the greater bioregion • Improving the commons • Gathered information & first hand experience of the river • Talked with local neighbors in the community • Documented various impacts • Mapped the river, headwaters & sources • Reconnected with the land & water along the watershed • Community Connection • Education on Herablist • learned how the finca impacts its neighboring community • Bringing people together creating networks, building relations, prayers foe the Water the Earth and our collective Future • We fundraised a total of 4000$, the necessary amount to purchase the materials to build the roof of the community center. • +80 people donated during events, at the market, by direct donations. • 15 people came to build the roof, part of them workers team of Merlin, part volunteers • It took us 2 full weeks to build the structure, our goal was to make it happen before the rainy season, we did it ! • This new community space is an upgrade for the village of las tumbas and for the area locals are already enjoying it. • Community strengthening: We had a beautiful summer party for the people of the community and guests. • Education of children: The children presented a scene of a theatre play • The Coliazul project got known to more people • We collected $1150 donations that help to run the Waldorf-inspired children program • Nurture multicultural exchange through theater • Multigenerational collaboration kids and adults • Support bilingual development Spanish and English for kids and adults • Involved 7 children and 11 adults in the play • Presented first advance of the play to audience of about 40 people at local cultural event • 120 hours in playwriting • empowered local artists to create video art, • Edited, filmed, and co-directed one music video! • Supported childhood dreams and inspired what is possible for community • finalized and recorded 1 original song made by kids • We bring awareness to our area : How can a Community Center benefit to making the village evolve ? • By creating a welcoming and open gathering space, we help everyone connect in the Bio-Region • A Community Center helps Information to become more accessible to everyone in the Bio-Region. • By creating a roof and a playground, we invite all ages to enjoy, adults can meet, children can play.. • On January 18th we gathered 60+ people in Las Tumbas around games, sports, music and food... We shared the vision of Roof and Play. • increased outreach of fundraiser, improved donation portals for the fundraiser • Supported my teams missions and provided a way for us to proudly share our story with the greater community • We informed our bio region (3 villages) of our re-Opening • We shredded + 60kg of non recyclable Hard plastic • We made +10 Ecobales of accumulated soft plastics with the Ubuntu machine • We are regularly recirculating glass jars and bottles in the local community • We are educating individuals twice a month, offering a diversity of alternative to “trash” • platform education • community building • shared resources • Christmas Presents For 32 Kids From low income families • x • Green house system improved with homemade compost teas, soil amendments, and lactobacilius microbes. • Drip irrigation systems have been researched, compared, and purchased. • Seeds and genetic material have been researched and purchased • Access trails have been strategically designed and created to manage water and improve maintenance. • Airpruning seed beds have been researched, designed, and built to improve ease and efficiencies in tree propagation. • Educated new land buyers in the area on Bioregionalism, local networking, and asset mapping • Provided tools, maps, and connection to allies for land project development • Developed regenerative project leads to match those with resources to local service providers • children of the valley are given alternatives to learning and living • development of curriculum of child rearing practices • 1-8 children are in the care of a support system of mothers • converted degraded cow pasture into future food forest • trained local youth in regenerative planting theory and techniques • 6 students learned syntropic gardening skills • 10 square meters of syntropic garden were planted • Strengthened organizing cohesion across 10+ land nodes in the bioregion • Introduced 20+ neighbor node leaders to each other through facilitated activities • Conducted intergenerational activities for children, parents, elders and neighbors to connect in the same space simultaneously • Educated 30+ people on bioregionalism with a detailed presentation that engaged greater participation in the movement • Identified levels of understanding in our extended bioregional village network to tailor future education events • Provided a deep and felt experience of interdependent relationships between families, cultures and communities, inspiring collaboration • weekly, create and distribute 2 large wheelbarrows of chicken compost to our food forest • independence from outside sources of plant fertilizers • strengthening the cycle of nutrients within the farm • created a productive chicken compost area • 2 sacos of chicken compost per week • - Community strengthening: We had a beautiful cultural fiesta for the people of the community and guests. • - Education of children: The children presented a theatre play inspired by an indigineous story, as well as a puppet show, • - Connecting with indigineous people: We invited a couple from the Boruca tribe of indigineous people, to tell about their culture • - Building bridges to local people: We had musical presentations from a Costa Rican traditional local band • - The Coliazul project got known to more people • - We collected $500 donations • educational activities, relationship skills, singing, swimming, reading, gardening • child care 1-8 children • Community strengthening • Bringing life to the Coliazul building site • We learnt to feel the strong earth energy of an ancient fire place by teaching of Reinhard Coppenrath • held the first silent immersion at Diamante Luz • cultivated a container of listening for 5 days at the land • provided refuge for 1 wandering soul • contributed 3 hours of karma yoga per day amongst 4 people into the land and kitchen • cultivated 5 days of silence • dedicated merit of ~ 125 hours of cultivated purity for the benifit of all beings • weeded the garden beds surrounding the commons of eartHeart • cultivated 17 meals with love and communion • accumulated 3 hours per day of karma yoga over 5 days with 5 people. Totaling 75 hours of karma yoga • prayed for 5 consecutive days over the land and all of its beings • created and updated 3 foundational documents • held 3 review meetings • 6 students and 1 teacher synchronized and jammed for 2 hours while shifting our perspective about junk. We strengthened our connections by • by balancing our cerebral hemispheres, synching our mind/heart/breath connection into group coherence. • We built connections by exploring cultural expectations and diversity. • We brought adults and children from multiple countries and culturesw together • we practiced english and spanish, overcoming fears and language barriers • Coordinated the implementation of a booking system that records and credits event organizers • Produced an event connecting Bliss Burn organizers for a mid-year ceremony (delayed Solstice) • Connected musicians, artists and volunteers to each other for collaborative ritual practice • We've begun the designing and organizing with the local munincipality to build an extension to the existing public building in los tumbas • received offers of bamboo to be donated to project • planned our next building phase on december 6th • Become more involved in the local munincipality and the soccer organization • property is maintained by hand so as to eliminate usage of pesticides or agrochemicals • land is happy in its state of being attended and loved • land produces food and the extra is shared with the neighbors • Sharing local study globally to distribute impact report results • Successfully designed 9 buildings in 30 days, for educational purposes and more . • Strengthened community bonds through collection of the needs involving various community members and neighboring projects in the process of • Involving the children in the classroom design (see pictures) • The biggest impact still lies in the future, but already now we feel that the characteristic design grown on the land in the holistic proces • The holistic way is rooting in the energy of the place + thus the buildings are inspiring for connecting with the land in return • We could inspire the famous Bamboo builder Rodo to host his workshop at the Coliazul site in Feb.2024, One of the Coliazul stories to come • After months of planning and preparation we could start running the kids program for initially one day per week, for a group of 6 children • We managed to have an experienced Waldorf teacher from UK visiting us to educate and advise our teacher for 2 months. • We had found a social worker willing to start as our first teacher. • We rented an appropriate building for the initial time of the program • 24 service hours to the Syntropic Food Forest where 7 people where Empowered with general and species specific pruning practice • 16 people shared plant knowledge and harvested and cocreated a community meal from the land as well as spreading plant seed and babies • Marketing for Coliazul children's program • Marketing for the next benefit event, fiesta de las culturas • Successfully harvested, treated and transported 40 pieces of bamboo for the shelter construction. • Strengthened community bonds through collaboration and teamwork, involving various community members and neighboring projects in the process • Laid the groundwork for the Coliazul Cultural Commons, using our collective power and resources from alied projects. • Presented the DBC / Giveth / Bloom to Rancho Margot leaders and mastermind participants • Facilitated cross collaboration between North and South ecovillage leadership on land trusts • Built relationships of value exchange with regenerative development leaders in Costa Rica • Received direct cultural experience from Indigenous people in their village • Strengthened relationship of respect, appreciation and camaraderie between our peoples • Studied educational presentations and displays of the Boruca history in their village museums • Represented our communities as cultural exchange ambassadors, storytellers, and friends • Integrated the profound wisdom, humility, courage, pride and resilience shared with us, to share with our people • We are creating a grey water system to protect a creek from soaps, oils and detergent dropping into the spring. • We moved a cow fence further away from the spring so we can stop the cow dung going into the water. • Instagram of Rios Limpios : rioslimpioscostarica • We have been sharing information on how to build grey water filters on social media and local groups, to raise awareness about Grey Water. • We have turned a giant grass field into a Community Fruit Forest, we use it as a demonstration to share about Syntropic farming. • We are maintaining the garden twice a month, we welcome volunteers and hire a local worker to help us chop and drop ! • We have reforested this land along the river, helping to hold the river's edges from eroding while strong rains. • We have shared many videos on Social media, spreading knowledge, tips and inspiring people to plant Free Food. • We store glass bottles and jars by size and shape, for anyone in our local community to build or create with them. • Glass is precious, it can be integrated as "bricks" into adobe or cement walls, and also turned into drinking glasses... and more ! • We believe that a Glass "micro industry" can be a part of an intelligent village. • We collected donations and built a Precious Plastic Shredder in order to process hard plastic items, usually considered "Non Recyclables". • We have educated 70+ people on how to sort their plastic at home, and how to prepare it to be shredded at our Recycling Center. • We have reached 1500+ people on social media and local groups. We hope to inspire other communities to do the same. • We have transformed so far +40kg of plastic that usually would have ended in a landfill, and it is just the very beginning. • We designed and built our first Recycling Stations, to provide a proper system that completely replace the common trash bins. • We have educated 50+ people on how to use a Recycling station, and this system idea reached 1000+ people on Social media. • By creating recycling stations, we raise the awareness about trash in our local community, once there is a system, recycling becomes easy. • Recycling stations are also designed to care for the so called "non Recyclables" : Soft and hard plastics, that usually end up in landfills. • We are improving the Communal Salon of Las Tumbas in order to create a welcoming Place, an Information and Community center • We built a fence around the soccer field to avoid that cows to come in and create holes, for the safety of adults and children when playing. • To build an intelligent village, we need Centers where Adults, Parents and Children have their space. • The Community Center is like the Heart of the body, that connects all the members and organs.(us People and Farms). This Center connects us. • Free The Food : We are freeing the food, by planting roadsides with fruit trees, and sharing them on "Fruit-Stops" • "Fruits Stops" : Like Bus Stops, but for fruits, anyone can bring their harvest, and take what they want home. • We are bringing the "Giving Mentality" to this world, anyone passing by a "Fruit Stop" will remember that it's possible ! • We place the "Fruit Stops" on specific central location so many people can see them, many cars pass by, the idea travels ! • In our recycling center we educate people how to turn their trash into building blocks called Ubuntu Bloxs • We have educated +100 people on how they can avoid sending their plastic to Landfills • With Social media we are reaching +15 000 view on how to make Ubuntu Blocks (Facebook - Instagram) • community building: strengthening bonds for our big project • Energetic work: clearing obstacles, calling in supportive energies • Education of children • We invited and informed 4 other families about the Coliazul children program • Also other community members came to learn about Coliazul • Games and activites for the children were offered by community members. • Community building • Community members Experienced in fixing greenhouse tarpaulins for roof structures showed us the most efficient and durable fixing techniques • dry classroom for the children's classes • constructed the shelter that Jeffree would inhabit for his stay at dluz • affords housing to several people that have offered their time on the land • Cooperation with local experienced workers • Using local resources • Setting up new relationships for future cooperation • Getting the bamboo building material that is needed for the first Coliazul buildings • provided the sanitary service for the now existing Coliazul school • created a more modern, expansive, user friendly community kitchen space. • resolution • allowed the group to receive and acknowledge one of our members in a difficult process of their life • much soul searching • group therapy • team building excercises • personal responsibility • 6 people learned about building simple bamboo structures • all participants learned how a simple but versatile bamboo building can be designed • 3 volunteers learned about simple bamboo building and making joints for a solid bamboo construction • everyone in the group experienced what you need to think about when building in a tropical climate • the participants experienced how seasons and daytime affect construction work • we all learned how to create a minimum of beauty in a functional temporary building • We had a beautiful cultural fiesta for the people of the community and also some guests. - celebration of connection • The children had their first presentation as a choir in public after weeks of practice with their teacher. - Big educational value • The project got known to more people. - Marketing • We collected $750 donations. - Needed for bamboo building activities and running of children's program • Redirected scrap bamboo harvest. • Demonstrates the value being provided through regenerative initiatives on the ground. • Highlights local leaders' expertise to attract wider recognition and to attract support. • Documented practices for stewarding common resources like water, soil, and process documentation. • Showcases the power of local communities using online media and coordination tools. • Celebrates the beauty and magic of community, showcasing how much is possible when we do it together. Created basemap for the Baru River • Created DEM for the Baru River • Created major river network for the Baru River • Created Google Earth satellite imagery layer for the Baru River • Created multiple layers of data from government & municipal data sets for the Baru River • 4 local community events were held • 40 participants attended the events • Participants responded well & were very grateful & thankful for this initiative & understood the need for such a project within the community • Participants were educated on the various rivers, connections & flows of water within the Baru River catchment • Deforested areas, cattle farms, erosion zones, impacts & other historical changes within the Baru River catchment were shown via satellite imagery, photos & 3D maps • Local examples of rewilding, reforestation, agroforestry, silvipastoral & regenerative projects were highlighted, showcasing the real-world local examples that already exist in the Baru River catchment • Negative impacts to the marine ecosystems at & around Dominical due to the sediments & chemicals flowing down from the Baru River catchment were shown & explained • Various solutions, actions & implementation options were presented to the community & discussed after each event • Questions & concerns from community members were address & answered, specifically around next steps, funding & volunteering opportunities to assist with the project • The context of how this project will help improve both the local ecosystem health & that of the community, how this contributes to the local economic situation was clarified, as well as how this local project contributes to the larger bioregional improvement intiative • We had local elders to play music and share the stories of their village • 30+ people shared a potluck in the center of the village • We are gathering to connect Locals and Foreigners, to come a bit closer to understanding and unity. • Improved the center of our village, making it look more organized • Improved the efficiency of any future community event that will need firewood • Created a functional and practical storage to stack up a lot of firewood in 3 sections • Held 6 biweekly governance, food, and cultural gatherings over three months, maintaining continuity for a rural commons during a quieter participation period. • Maintained consistent participation from a core group of stewards across all gatherings, enabling sustained governance and land stewardship without paid staff. • Produced and finalized new organizational bylaws defining membership criteria and staged rights paired with responsibilities. • Created clear written proposals for future commons development, including a community nursery plan and a partnership framework with UCI. • Prepared and shared community meals at every gathering, with donations collected to support a local community food fund. • Integrated music and karaoke into governance gatherings, increasing participation from local Costa Rican neighbors and strengthening cross-cultural relationships. • Strengthened stewardship capacity of core contributors, who are now actively caring for shared land, buildings, and community events across multiple sites. • Sustained organizational hygiene and decision-making through regular in-person meetings, preventing drift or burnout during a low-growth season. • Expanded bioregional collaboration by alternating gatherings between Diamante Luz and an upper-valley partner site, increasing relational connectivity across the valley. • Demonstrated a replicable, low-cost method for maintaining governance, food sharing, and cultural life in a rural commons without reliance on constant growth or formal infrastructure. • A suitable space for the morning classes for the children 5 days a week, afternoon activities 2 times a week, and variable adult meetings is provided • Cost efficiency for the Coliazul project through shared use of the house in which we live. • Flexibility in the use of space, for example, for cooking activities in the kitchen or moving other activities here in case of inclement weather • Almost always, one of us is at home and can provide support if additional materials or help are needed. Even in emergencies, it has proven useful to have one of us on site. • The building is centrally located in the village and the children can walk to Coliazul. • Building bridges: promoting acceptance and integration into the local village community • Community strengthening: We had a beautiful cultural event for the people of the community and guests. • Education of children/adults and fun activities: learned something about Costa Rican history, traditional dancing, archery... • The Coliazul project got known to more people • pruned 100+ fruit trees • 20+ people benefited from food qand medicine provided by the lands • over 500 trees were cared for and fed with chop & drop as well as organic fertilizers, microorganisms, and amendments • 5 people received tours and their first experience in a food forest and holistic homestead • 5 paid workers were able to generate income to support livelihoods while contributing to ecological and social wellness in the short and long term • Trees planted • Slowing down the water • Preserving natural springs and watershed • Communities and projects finding alignment • We built the last part of the roof for our future Community Center, for our village and for the Diamante Valley • We fundraised 675 $ to pay for materials and man work. • - This roof allow us to design a long lasting and creative Playground, and a welcoming gathering space with tables and benches, favorizing social connections in our village. • 5 volunteers were able to learn skills to prepare the foundation of such metal structure • By working in service for the village and the Bio region we are inspiring more people to do the same : making improvements that will benefit everyone coming to this area • We finally finished a 4 year old project : Fencing all the soccer field in Las Tumbas • Dogs and Cows aren't able to come in the soccer field, making it a safe space for anyone using it. • We invited many people to volunteer and donate to this project over the years, all these efforts are counting, making the village a better place for everyone • Completing this project was the necessary foundation for what is to come : The community Center and Playground • Installed creek-side fence section, completing one of the most challenging perimeter segments • Cemented and repaired broken posts, restoring structural integrity across the fence line • Cemented the final 4 posts, marking near-completion of a multi-year fence project • Created additional seating using repurposed tires, adding functionality while demonstrating resourcefulness • Fed all 17 participants with locally-sourced vegetarian casado • Strengthened monthly gathering tradition now three months strong and growing • Demonstrated multiple pathways for contribution, making participation accessible to people with different capacities • Moved closer to playground design phase as fence completion frees focus for next infrastructure layer • Honored years of committee and supporter effort with quality finishing work • Painted 6 fence gates with proper sanding preparation • Protected metal infrastructure by raising cement levels on multiple fence posts • Installed further posts for future dog-barrier fence around soccer field • Cleared erosion-prone areas beneath fence sections • Secured 361,000 colones in community fundraising for roof extension • Created detailed work plan for roof extension with clear volunteer and paid labor components • Established partnership with skilled local builder for technical guidance at community-friendly rates • United 21 community members in diverse roles from construction to cooking to coordination • Strengthened monthly gathering tradition, establishing last Saturday as consistent community action day • Built collective confidence in our ability to plan and execute complex multi-phase construction projects • Completed installation of 6 custom fence doors • Created open air communal furniture • Raised $500 in community donations for ongoing plaza improvements • Fed 25 participants with community-prepared meals • Created fundraising video documentation to inspire other communities and attract future support • United 25 community members across generations in shared work and celebration • Strengthened social bonds through shared meals, games, music, and collaborative work • Established sustainable infrastructure built to last for generations using quality materials • Proved the viability of volunteer-based community infrastructure development • An appropriate space for the Coliazul children classes and adult meetings is provided • It saved at least $250 per months costs for the Coliazul project • The teacher gets support with materials e.g. tools or from the kitchen or in emergency cases from the hosts • library for the village community, continuous service 1 day per week • - Offering high quality books by Rudolf Steiner among other spiritual books • - Children books • - Books in English, German and Spanish • regular opening hours already for 5 months • community building by sharing books • 65 people participated in the Agricultural Forum and shared ideas and strategies for cultivating a better life • On our 20 hour roundtrip, 12 representatives from the Brunca Bioregion shared in story and strategizing for the missions of Vida Sagrada • The Raices Libres Spanish chat receives on average between 10-20 posts per day of information or sharing regarding our journey into the Buen Vivir • 555 trees planted • 17 people got to escape from the city and reconnect with nature and simplicity • Elders sharing their stories, perspective and wisdom help refine and focus the passion of the youth and activists • 500+ fruit trees planted • 1000+ support species planted • 100+ fruit trees pruned for better productivity and ease of harvest • 300 reforestation trees planted • 16 people got to share the joy and wisdom of planting and caring for trees, while sharing stories purpose • classes • community • yoga • pilate • HIIT • cocreate • We are open twice a month on Fridays, offering this recycling service voluntarily for the local community • We offer practical alternatives to stop send trash to landfills. We are regularly communicating about this on groups an social media. • - We upgrade the structures at the recycling center in order to keep doing our Recycling work in comfortable environment • Increased ecosystem services & functions by ~50% (protection, production, generation, decomposition, filtration, stabilization, support, regulation, provision) • ~ Increased biodiversity by ~80% fungi, plant & insect species; ~30% bird species & ~10% mammal species • Increased soil generation by ~80% (first year increase in potential soil generation from trapping leaves, decaying vegetation & other material, as well as creating conditions for water penetration, microbes, fungi & plant roots to start activating the dirt & creating soil) • Created over 20 hectares of rewilded habitats • Showcased & explained the project to the entire Home Farm team (10 people) & over 100+ people, both within the community of the Baru & visitors to the farm from all over the world • Tracked & documented changes via photos, video, wildlife camera traps & detailed GIS maps • Most people were very respondant, felt more connected to nature, saw plants, birds, insects & mammals they had never seen before & felt called to support rewilding & restoration projects on their own lands or in the own parts of Costa Rica or the world • The project helped reduce erosion from the property • The project helped reduce some of the sedimentation of the Barucito River & downstream Baru River, as well as the coastal zone in Dominical • Created awareness of what rewilding is, the benefits of it to ecosystem & human health, biodiversity & habitat • Educated 2 people • Having natural stones in the form you want, when you have none • - We are planting the roadside with dwarf coconuts, small fruit trees, berries and flowers to make it beautiful and welcoming • - We removed + 20 kg of trash from this part of the garden, ready to be recycled • We harvested the first FreeTheFood Champedak from the Soccerfield in Las Tumbas, 8 Locals loved it and would like more fruit trees to be planted around the soccer field • We are maintaining a very important part of our village : The soccer field • This regular community service bring us together to work in service for the bigger vision : an alive and harmonious village • By doing community service we are giving back to the local community, it is part of the integration. • - provide with the Coliazul children a climbing structure for the vines • - Creating an open tent around a tree • - building an protected outdoor area • - Meeting and orientation wall at the entrance of Diamante Luz community and the Coliazul Cultural Centre • - Experimental wall, Testing the ecological methods for the Coliazul campus • - strengthening the rammed earth wall and receiving a beautiful clay surface • - using local clay • A library for the village community is a heart of connection, learning, and inspiration for the village. • - Offering high quality books by Rudolf Steiner among other spiritual books, inviting reflection, dialogue, and personal growth, supporting those on a path of self-development and holistic understanding of the world. • - Thoughtfully chosen children books, encouraging our children to develop a love for reading • - Books in English, German and Spanish allowing both Costa Rican and international residents to find meaningful reading material in their native languages, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding. • we prevent the soaps and grey water from 3 houses to fall into a spring • - we are bringing awareness in our local community that its possible to do something to protect water • we are looking to make this creek a pilot project for more creeks an rivers to be protected • Community strengthening: We had a beautiful cultural event for the people of the community and guests. • Education of children: The children presented their newest songs and experienced an amazing talented storyteller for children • The Coliazul project got known to more people • We collected $510 donations that help to run the Waldorf-inspired children program • +70 people came to the celebration of the new roof • Many children were running around, playing with adults also • we are opening a new chapter of community in our area, we have a centered and public roof where we can gather and shelter at any moment. • Creating a Community Center / Playground Center is becoming a reality and brings this awareness to more people • We have had very good feedbacks from from the local community with this project. • We built 6 gates out of recycle materials • we cleaned up the salon communal completely and sorted the trash • we fixed the sinks that were leaking for years • we bought new lockers to improve our system when the salon need to be used • We made a flyer for the coming soccer games that will bring funds to make more improvement in the salon • gathering • community • education • connection • technology • community • classes • yoga • gathering • practice • teaching and practicing Spanish with the Community • offering more Spanish speaking opprtunities through digital interfaces • Support local businesses • connecting to the wisdom of the heart through meditation and yoga • taught participants and practiced meditation in action (also called karma yoga) • spending time in silence listening to the land and nature • connecting and developing the spiritual foundation for the community at eartHeart • Introduced over 60 people to indigenous language ceremonial songs • created a consistent weekly community gathering for stabilizing local relationships • seeded 3 additional locations for other offshoot song circles in the greater bioregion • Improving the commons • Gathered information & first hand experience of the river • Talked with local neighbors in the community • Documented various impacts • Mapped the river, headwaters & sources • Reconnected with the land & water along the watershed • Community Connection • Education on Herablist • learned how the finca impacts its neighboring community • Bringing people together creating networks, building relations, prayers foe the Water the Earth and our collective Future • We fundraised a total of 4000$, the necessary amount to purchase the materials to build the roof of the community center. • +80 people donated during events, at the market, by direct donations. • 15 people came to build the roof, part of them workers team of Merlin, part volunteers • It took us 2 full weeks to build the structure, our goal was to make it happen before the rainy season, we did it ! • This new community space is an upgrade for the village of las tumbas and for the area locals are already enjoying it. • Community strengthening: We had a beautiful summer party for the people of the community and guests. • Education of children: The children presented a scene of a theatre play • The Coliazul project got known to more people • We collected $1150 donations that help to run the Waldorf-inspired children program • Nurture multicultural exchange through theater • Multigenerational collaboration kids and adults • Support bilingual development Spanish and English for kids and adults • Involved 7 children and 11 adults in the play • Presented first advance of the play to audience of about 40 people at local cultural event • 120 hours in playwriting • empowered local artists to create video art, • Edited, filmed, and co-directed one music video! • Supported childhood dreams and inspired what is possible for community • finalized and recorded 1 original song made by kids • We bring awareness to our area : How can a Community Center benefit to making the village evolve ? • By creating a welcoming and open gathering space, we help everyone connect in the Bio-Region • A Community Center helps Information to become more accessible to everyone in the Bio-Region. • By creating a roof and a playground, we invite all ages to enjoy, adults can meet, children can play.. • On January 18th we gathered 60+ people in Las Tumbas around games, sports, music and food... We shared the vision of Roof and Play. • increased outreach of fundraiser, improved donation portals for the fundraiser • Supported my teams missions and provided a way for us to proudly share our story with the greater community • We informed our bio region (3 villages) of our re-Opening • We shredded + 60kg of non recyclable Hard plastic • We made +10 Ecobales of accumulated soft plastics with the Ubuntu machine • We are regularly recirculating glass jars and bottles in the local community • We are educating individuals twice a month, offering a diversity of alternative to “trash” • platform education • community building • shared resources • Christmas Presents For 32 Kids From low income families • x • Green house system improved with homemade compost teas, soil amendments, and lactobacilius microbes. • Drip irrigation systems have been researched, compared, and purchased. • Seeds and genetic material have been researched and purchased • Access trails have been strategically designed and created to manage water and improve maintenance. • Airpruning seed beds have been researched, designed, and built to improve ease and efficiencies in tree propagation. • Educated new land buyers in the area on Bioregionalism, local networking, and asset mapping • Provided tools, maps, and connection to allies for land project development • Developed regenerative project leads to match those with resources to local service providers • children of the valley are given alternatives to learning and living • development of curriculum of child rearing practices • 1-8 children are in the care of a support system of mothers • converted degraded cow pasture into future food forest • trained local youth in regenerative planting theory and techniques • 6 students learned syntropic gardening skills • 10 square meters of syntropic garden were planted • Strengthened organizing cohesion across 10+ land nodes in the bioregion • Introduced 20+ neighbor node leaders to each other through facilitated activities • Conducted intergenerational activities for children, parents, elders and neighbors to connect in the same space simultaneously • Educated 30+ people on bioregionalism with a detailed presentation that engaged greater participation in the movement • Identified levels of understanding in our extended bioregional village network to tailor future education events • Provided a deep and felt experience of interdependent relationships between families, cultures and communities, inspiring collaboration • weekly, create and distribute 2 large wheelbarrows of chicken compost to our food forest • independence from outside sources of plant fertilizers • strengthening the cycle of nutrients within the farm • created a productive chicken compost area • 2 sacos of chicken compost per week • - Community strengthening: We had a beautiful cultural fiesta for the people of the community and guests. • - Education of children: The children presented a theatre play inspired by an indigineous story, as well as a puppet show, • - Connecting with indigineous people: We invited a couple from the Boruca tribe of indigineous people, to tell about their culture • - Building bridges to local people: We had musical presentations from a Costa Rican traditional local band • - The Coliazul project got known to more people • - We collected $500 donations • educational activities, relationship skills, singing, swimming, reading, gardening • child care 1-8 children • Community strengthening • Bringing life to the Coliazul building site • We learnt to feel the strong earth energy of an ancient fire place by teaching of Reinhard Coppenrath • held the first silent immersion at Diamante Luz • cultivated a container of listening for 5 days at the land • provided refuge for 1 wandering soul • contributed 3 hours of karma yoga per day amongst 4 people into the land and kitchen • cultivated 5 days of silence • dedicated merit of ~ 125 hours of cultivated purity for the benifit of all beings • weeded the garden beds surrounding the commons of eartHeart • cultivated 17 meals with love and communion • accumulated 3 hours per day of karma yoga over 5 days with 5 people. Totaling 75 hours of karma yoga • prayed for 5 consecutive days over the land and all of its beings • created and updated 3 foundational documents • held 3 review meetings • 6 students and 1 teacher synchronized and jammed for 2 hours while shifting our perspective about junk. We strengthened our connections by • by balancing our cerebral hemispheres, synching our mind/heart/breath connection into group coherence. • We built connections by exploring cultural expectations and diversity. • We brought adults and children from multiple countries and culturesw together • we practiced english and spanish, overcoming fears and language barriers • Coordinated the implementation of a booking system that records and credits event organizers • Produced an event connecting Bliss Burn organizers for a mid-year ceremony (delayed Solstice) • Connected musicians, artists and volunteers to each other for collaborative ritual practice • We've begun the designing and organizing with the local munincipality to build an extension to the existing public building in los tumbas • received offers of bamboo to be donated to project • planned our next building phase on december 6th • Become more involved in the local munincipality and the soccer organization • property is maintained by hand so as to eliminate usage of pesticides or agrochemicals • land is happy in its state of being attended and loved • land produces food and the extra is shared with the neighbors • Sharing local study globally to distribute impact report results • Successfully designed 9 buildings in 30 days, for educational purposes and more . • Strengthened community bonds through collection of the needs involving various community members and neighboring projects in the process of • Involving the children in the classroom design (see pictures) • The biggest impact still lies in the future, but already now we feel that the characteristic design grown on the land in the holistic proces • The holistic way is rooting in the energy of the place + thus the buildings are inspiring for connecting with the land in return • We could inspire the famous Bamboo builder Rodo to host his workshop at the Coliazul site in Feb.2024, One of the Coliazul stories to come • After months of planning and preparation we could start running the kids program for initially one day per week, for a group of 6 children • We managed to have an experienced Waldorf teacher from UK visiting us to educate and advise our teacher for 2 months. • We had found a social worker willing to start as our first teacher. • We rented an appropriate building for the initial time of the program • 24 service hours to the Syntropic Food Forest where 7 people where Empowered with general and species specific pruning practice • 16 people shared plant knowledge and harvested and cocreated a community meal from the land as well as spreading plant seed and babies • Marketing for Coliazul children's program • Marketing for the next benefit event, fiesta de las culturas • Successfully harvested, treated and transported 40 pieces of bamboo for the shelter construction. • Strengthened community bonds through collaboration and teamwork, involving various community members and neighboring projects in the process • Laid the groundwork for the Coliazul Cultural Commons, using our collective power and resources from alied projects. • Presented the DBC / Giveth / Bloom to Rancho Margot leaders and mastermind participants • Facilitated cross collaboration between North and South ecovillage leadership on land trusts • Built relationships of value exchange with regenerative development leaders in Costa Rica • Received direct cultural experience from Indigenous people in their village • Strengthened relationship of respect, appreciation and camaraderie between our peoples • Studied educational presentations and displays of the Boruca history in their village museums • Represented our communities as cultural exchange ambassadors, storytellers, and friends • Integrated the profound wisdom, humility, courage, pride and resilience shared with us, to share with our people • We are creating a grey water system to protect a creek from soaps, oils and detergent dropping into the spring. • We moved a cow fence further away from the spring so we can stop the cow dung going into the water. • Instagram of Rios Limpios : rioslimpioscostarica • We have been sharing information on how to build grey water filters on social media and local groups, to raise awareness about Grey Water. • We have turned a giant grass field into a Community Fruit Forest, we use it as a demonstration to share about Syntropic farming. • We are maintaining the garden twice a month, we welcome volunteers and hire a local worker to help us chop and drop ! • We have reforested this land along the river, helping to hold the river's edges from eroding while strong rains. • We have shared many videos on Social media, spreading knowledge, tips and inspiring people to plant Free Food. • We store glass bottles and jars by size and shape, for anyone in our local community to build or create with them. • Glass is precious, it can be integrated as "bricks" into adobe or cement walls, and also turned into drinking glasses... and more ! • We believe that a Glass "micro industry" can be a part of an intelligent village. • We collected donations and built a Precious Plastic Shredder in order to process hard plastic items, usually considered "Non Recyclables". • We have educated 70+ people on how to sort their plastic at home, and how to prepare it to be shredded at our Recycling Center. • We have reached 1500+ people on social media and local groups. We hope to inspire other communities to do the same. • We have transformed so far +40kg of plastic that usually would have ended in a landfill, and it is just the very beginning. • We designed and built our first Recycling Stations, to provide a proper system that completely replace the common trash bins. • We have educated 50+ people on how to use a Recycling station, and this system idea reached 1000+ people on Social media. • By creating recycling stations, we raise the awareness about trash in our local community, once there is a system, recycling becomes easy. • Recycling stations are also designed to care for the so called "non Recyclables" : Soft and hard plastics, that usually end up in landfills. • We are improving the Communal Salon of Las Tumbas in order to create a welcoming Place, an Information and Community center • We built a fence around the soccer field to avoid that cows to come in and create holes, for the safety of adults and children when playing. • To build an intelligent village, we need Centers where Adults, Parents and Children have their space. • The Community Center is like the Heart of the body, that connects all the members and organs.(us People and Farms). This Center connects us. • Free The Food : We are freeing the food, by planting roadsides with fruit trees, and sharing them on "Fruit-Stops" • "Fruits Stops" : Like Bus Stops, but for fruits, anyone can bring their harvest, and take what they want home. • We are bringing the "Giving Mentality" to this world, anyone passing by a "Fruit Stop" will remember that it's possible ! • We place the "Fruit Stops" on specific central location so many people can see them, many cars pass by, the idea travels ! • In our recycling center we educate people how to turn their trash into building blocks called Ubuntu Bloxs • We have educated +100 people on how they can avoid sending their plastic to Landfills • With Social media we are reaching +15 000 view on how to make Ubuntu Blocks (Facebook - Instagram) • community building: strengthening bonds for our big project • Energetic work: clearing obstacles, calling in supportive energies • Education of children • We invited and informed 4 other families about the Coliazul children program • Also other community members came to learn about Coliazul • Games and activites for the children were offered by community members. • Community building • Community members Experienced in fixing greenhouse tarpaulins for roof structures showed us the most efficient and durable fixing techniques • dry classroom for the children's classes • constructed the shelter that Jeffree would inhabit for his stay at dluz • affords housing to several people that have offered their time on the land • Cooperation with local experienced workers • Using local resources • Setting up new relationships for future cooperation • Getting the bamboo building material that is needed for the first Coliazul buildings • provided the sanitary service for the now existing Coliazul school • created a more modern, expansive, user friendly community kitchen space. • resolution • allowed the group to receive and acknowledge one of our members in a difficult process of their life • much soul searching • group therapy • team building excercises • personal responsibility • 6 people learned about building simple bamboo structures • all participants learned how a simple but versatile bamboo building can be designed • 3 volunteers learned about simple bamboo building and making joints for a solid bamboo construction • everyone in the group experienced what you need to think about when building in a tropical climate • the participants experienced how seasons and daytime affect construction work • we all learned how to create a minimum of beauty in a functional temporary building • We had a beautiful cultural fiesta for the people of the community and also some guests. - celebration of connection • The children had their first presentation as a choir in public after weeks of practice with their teacher. - Big educational value • The project got known to more people. - Marketing • We collected $750 donations. - Needed for bamboo building activities and running of children's program • Redirected scrap bamboo harvest. • Demonstrates the value being provided through regenerative initiatives on the ground. • Highlights local leaders' expertise to attract wider recognition and to attract support. • Documented practices for stewarding common resources like water, soil, and process documentation. • Showcases the power of local communities using online media and coordination tools. • Celebrates the beauty and magic of community, showcasing how much is possible when we do it together.
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