Living in a sustainable community is becoming a priority to people across the world. The impetus of climate change and economic uncertainty is driving smart, sustainable development, particularly where food systems are concerned. With more consumers choosing organic, local diets produced in their very own backyard or community garden, the adage of “you are what …

From the Restoring Our Watershed Blog El Centro Verde, ROW’s partner in developing sustainable solutions for the Nandamojo watershed, is now playing an even more significant role in the restoration process. Hundreds of saplings left over from reforestation efforts in 2012 will be stored and cared for at ECV during Guanacaste’s dry season, ensuring their availability for planting in the …

Only a handful of places in the entire world are nesting sites for some of the planet’s most formidable travelers: sea turtles. With local awareness campaigns and protection organizations, Costa Rican coastal communities have helped rejuvenate the populations of these amazing animals that are a vital part of healthy ocean ecosystems. Just 35km from Tierra …

Tierra Pacifica is committed to green development practices, both within our community and in our watershed as a whole. We support Restoring Our Watershed, a US-based 501(c)3, in their efforts to improve aquifer recharge, preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and restore the local food system with micro-lending. Last month, ROW installed 20 honeybee hives as …

From Restoring Our Watershed Restoring Our Watershed and the Nandamojo’s Blue Flag Committee succeeded in bringing 6,000 trees to our valley last week. The saplings will be used to complete six strategic reforestation projects throughout our valley, representing approximately 14 acres. The projects are focused on the most critical areas of the watershed, especially riparian zones (the areas along …

Costa Rica ranks #5 in the 2012 Yale University Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Costa Rica is, impressively, the only non-European representative in the top 10, and has recently received recognition in other global indexes (Happy Planet Index, Ernst & Young Soft-Power Index). Ranking so well in the Environmental Performance Index is the third feather in …

This article has been reproduced from the Restoring Our Watershed blog. Earlier this month, Restoring Our Watershed teamed up with two local landowners to to reforest critical parts of our watershed. Though it has been a drier “green” season than normal, we took advantage of the still rainier season and planted along the headwaters of …

Costa Rica topped the Happy Planet Index (HPI) for the second time, as measured by nef (the new economics foundation). The HPI strives to measure global well-being and relates those findings to human progress. 151 countries were analyzed to determine the extent to which they deliver long, happy, sustainable lives for the people who live …

If you’ve been to Disneyland (the one in California, the original), you know that they claim to be, “The happiest place on Earth.” Well, Disneyland has some competition and there’s data to support it; the New Economics Foundation released their Happy Planet Index this week and Costa Rica ranks #1 among all 151 countries analyzed. …

Tierra Pacifica is not just another green retirement development near the beach. Many of our residents work remotely, run a local business, or get involved in local organizations to keep busy. Two such residents, Doug & Sheri Monge, just celebrated the first anniversary of their tourism business, Tierra Pacifica Vacations. Based out of the Plaza …