12 Syntropic Farming Tips & Tricks + New Courses

12 Syntropic Farming Tips & Tricks + New Courses

Over the last few years of studying, designing and installing syntropic agroforestry systems, I have picked up a few small tips and tricks. Some of these are very practical and specific to species or management, others are based around the design concepts and principles. Regardless, I hope they provide some insights so that your work might move forward in succession.

The Tropical Permaculture Homestead: a Case Study with Porvenir Design

The Tropical Permaculture Homestead: a Case Study with Porvenir Design

I have a university degree in economics, but my studies did not touch upon the etymology of that word—derived from the Greek oikonomia meaning “management of the household.” My studies set me to master Microsoft Excel, to calculate complex regression analysis, and prepared me for a job in finance. They did not, though, prepare me for what to do with so many bananas.

Agricultura Sintrópica: Estudio de Caso, Cacao en Costa Rica

Agricultura Sintrópica: Estudio de Caso, Cacao en Costa Rica

Luego de organizar y participar en nuestro primer taller de agricultura sintrópica en el 2019, nuestro equipo en Porvenir Design sabía que necesitaba encontrar al cliente adecuado para implementar un sistema a una escala mayor y aprender más acerca de estos conceptos. Finca Luna Nueva nos presentó esta oportunidad pues buscaban expandir sus plantaciones de cacao y recientemente habíamos empezado a administrar por completo su finca.

Syntropic Agriculture: Cacao, Costa Rica, Case Study

Syntropic Agriculture: Cacao, Costa Rica, Case Study

After organizing and attending our first syntropic farming workshop in 2019, our team at Porvenir Design knew that we were looking for just the right client to implement a larger scale system to learn more about these ideas. Finca Luna Nueva presented that opportunity as they were seeking to expand their existing cacao orchards and we had recently taken over full administration of their farm.

Patterns of Site Establishment

Patterns of Site Establishment

Ten years ago I had the opportunity to join a land-based project (Rancho Mastatal Sustainable Education Center in Costa Rica) already eight years into operation. Upon my arrival I found a site that had focused on infrastructure and program building through its early development. This was an important leverage point in building a financial base as an education center, but it meant that some aspects of the campus were still in their infancy, such as the agricultural and food preservation systems. I arrived during a shift in focus to the latter systems, which enabled me to participate simultaneously in different phases of site establishment.

Porvenir Design Case Study: Brave Earth Retreat Center

Porvenir Design Case Study: Brave Earth Retreat Center

Brave Earth or Tierra Valiente is a young shareholder based community located on a 35 hectare property in the La Fortuna area of Costa Rica. The project was founded in 2016 by a large group of friends who were connected through their activism and the larger healing arts and medicinal plant communities. 

The project is squarely in the early experimental phase of development.

What is Syntropic Farming?: A Permaculture Perspective

What is Syntropic Farming?: A Permaculture Perspective

Like many of us I saw the Life in Syntropy video a few years ago and was immediately intrigued. Syntropic farming looked like the type of agroforestry that I envisioned in my personal and professional work. I dug around for more information, but was slowed by the Portuguese language barrier and lack of distinct resources unique to this style of agriculture. To overcome these challenges I decided to organize a workshop here in Costa Rica on Syntropic Farming.

Vanilla Cultivation: A Practical Guide for the Tropical Homestead

Vanilla Cultivation: A Practical Guide for the Tropical Homestead

The vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) is one of the world’s most interesting plants. Of the nearly 35,000 species of orchid, the second largest botanical family of plants, vanilla is the only species that produces an edible fruit. True vanilla is a sought after product, usually the second most expensive spice in the world, yet we associate the word vanilla with plain, boring, and commonplace. Native to Mexico and Central America, the vanilla vine is well suited for any tropical homestead. Yet vanilla is a particular plant requiring special care, in particular during pollination where every flower must be hand pollinated.

Permaculture Due Diligence Workshop

Permaculture Due Diligence Workshop

A few months back a series of clients began asking me questions that I didn’t have the answers to. I knew just enough about the topics to know what I didn’t know. One client wanted to know about building restrictions around a small body of water, another needed information about opening up land for a road through an existing forest, and a third was seeking support to enroll in the FONAFIFO Environmental Service Payment program.