“I want to be free. I want to be me.”
This was the intention that I set for this new year and my little journey to Punta Mona, a remote permaculture farm in the mids of the jungle of Costa Rica.
A few weeks ago my dear friend Rex from Malaysia asked me if I would like to go with him to Punta Mona for a small festival and retreat that takes places from the 27th of December till the 2nd of January.
At first I was not sure… But after a few days I asked myself… “Where would I rather be? What would be my ideal transition into the new year?”
And this is where I remembered Punta Mona and the opportunity for a very transformative, learning experience that will have probably more impact in my life than anywhere else.
Punta Mona is a permaculture Farm located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It is reachable only by a two hour hike trough the jungle or a 30 minute boat ride. Quite far away from civilization, right? The perfect hideaway to reconnect and reinvent myself for the new year in community.
I have been travelling to Punta Mona since I am four years old. On it’s long beach the local turtles called “Baula” come twice a year to lay their eggs and have babies. As a kindergarden baby my class and I travelled to Punta Mona for a weekend as a field trip. We woke up at 4am and saw the turtles laying their eggs in the darkness. Since then I keep coming back to Punta Mona every year. It has changed a lot, but the core essence always stays the same.
The essence of permaculture to regenerate the land providing permanent culture in harmony with the environment
What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is defined as “the development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient”. The Permaculture gardens serve many functions. Rather than limit the garden to only one use, permaculture gardens employ a variety of uses. A permaculture garden provides food and medicinal crops, wildlife habitats, crafting materials, an attractive appearance, and a private, relaxing atmosphere throughout every season.
Why is it so important?
There is a growing number of people to whom that Permaculture means much more as if it’s a philosophy. This might have happened because a number of advantages and important connections with other systems were found while pursuing this sustainability. Agriculture for millennia has been the basis for humanity and society as we know it. It has a direct impact on fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climate, diseases, plagues, ecosystems and countless other nature elements. Based on the principles of Permaculture a number of solutions were found that have very positive consequences.
Both directly or indirectly, in life and nature and even in today’s most valued factor, money. Permaculture seems to be, in various ways, a miraculous solution for a whole array of problems, a sort of elixir that cures a number of diseases and ailments.
How is Permaculture changing the world?
Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking informed by ethics and design principles that feature on this site.
This approach guides us to mimic the patterns and relationships we can find in nature and can be applied to all aspects of human habitation, from agriculture to ecological building, from appropriate technology to education and even economics.
By adopting the ethics and applying these principles in our daily life we can make the transition from being dependent consumers to becoming responsible producers. This journey builds skills and resilience at home and in our local communities that will help us prepare for an uncertain future with less available energy.
The techniques and strategies used to apply these principles vary widely depending on the location, climatic conditions and resources that are available. The methods may differ, but the foundations to this wholistic approach remain constant. By learning these principles you can acquire valuable thinking tools that help you become more resilient in an era of change.
How did this experience transform my life?
I knew that by going to Punta Mona I would expose myself to an unknown soup of energy from people arriving from all around the world. I also knew that those people had to be extremely brave in order to travel the world now during Covid times and taking on an adventurous trip to the edge of nowhere. Sometimes, I just love to expose myself to those unknown situations trusting into whatever will happen, happens for a reason.
Without any expectations I surrendered into the activities, workshops and conversations with people that I just met. Even though most of the people there were strangers to me I had this inner feeling of security, of home, of knowing them since a long time already. The sense of community, of tribe reminded me about how special it is to be connected with people that share your perspectives and world-views. I remembered that I am not alone and many people out there also love to learn, grow and develop themselves.
But there were a few very special moments, workshops and interactions that I will remember for ever. Within only 6 days I learned so much like in 6months of school. I learned to be present in every moment. I learned to be vulnerable and honest with others. I learned to be authentic, to be free and to be me. I am grateful for each and everyone. Sending love to the world and envisioning how we will now all continue our new year as seeds of transformation, seeds of change igniting the world and the places we pass.
