Work and learn on an organic farm and education centre for alternative agriculture techniques.

Finca Sarita is a family owned and managed organic farm and educational centre for local, national, and international communities through training in permaculture, agroecology, and ecological design. The farm’s focus includes organic agriculture, soil conservation, heirloom seed saving, natural construction, alternative energy, and ecological waste management (grey water and humanure). The experiences and knowledge of Finca Sarita are shared with those who want to live in a better world, seeking sustainable solutions to the problems generated by the grinding gears of the industrial world.

The farm is eight hectares of land divided into three separate pieces, including a food forest, a sustainable lumber parcel, and areas for animals including chickens, pigs, rabbits, and goats. Servio, the farm director, has worked in permaculture and organic agriculture since 1994 and has a degree in agricultural sciences, has been an instructor at Rio Muchacho organic farm, and is an active member of the community promoting ecological solutions to local problems. 

Volunteers at Finca Sarita help with the daily managing and tasks of the farm and can participate in the many projects it is developing to enhance sustainability. The activities undertaken are dependent upon the seasons, weather, cycle of the moon, and the needs of the farm.  Some things volunteers can do and learn at the farm include;

• Learn how to make chocolate
• Use the "bunque" for hand peeling rice and coffee.
• Learn traditional soapmaking
• Make banana vinegar
• Extract oil from oil seeds using our press.
• Make artesan crafts in our workshop using local materials (tagua, bamboo, real palm, mate gourds, coconut shells, etc)
• Make organinc fertilizer (Biol) and Soil Amendments (Rice hull carbon)
• Harvest, plant, process, prepare peanuts, coffee, cacao, corn, tobacco, rice, sugarcane, yucca, bananas, papayas, and much more
• Make wine and rum
• Assist in the feeding and care of the livestock

Some future ideas and dreams for future projects at Finca Sarita include;

• Solar powered water heater
• Human powered water pump
• Centrifuge for honey extraction from honeycombs
• Solar powered food dryer
• Two room bamboo treehouse
• Bamboo social house
• Greywater branched drain/mulch basin system

Community based projects for the future

• Form a microenterprise to help the local community and the economy
• Start a paper recycling program at the local schools