Permaculture & Yoga Program (PYP)

Spend a week with us in the jungle and learn to design a bountiful garden that supports all life.

With the era of consumerism, the world faces many challenges from loss of habitat, to environmental degradation and social disconnection. We believe it’s time to cultivate opportunities for positive change and learning. Permaculture – derived from the words “permanent” and “culture” – is a design science based on mimicking efficient patterns and relationships found in nature. Permaculture is yoga for the land, as yoga is permaculture for the body.

Introduction

Our week-long course includes the following:

7 Days / 6 Nights at Rancho Delicioso
3 Meals per day that showcase healthy fresh cooking from the farm or local providers
Introduction to Permaculture – Daily Workshops
Daily Yoga Class
Aerial Silk Beginner’s Class
Archery Class
Beach Trip To Playa Hermosa (Surfing Lessons Optional)
Montezuma Waterfalls Excursion
Anamaya Yoga Excursion
Pool Party

Introduction to Permaculture Daily Workshops:

The program will include eight permaculture courses, from 90-120 minutes long each, throughout the week, earning you an “Introduction to Permaculture” certificate from Rancho Delicioso. These eight courses will be:

1. Definition, Ethics and Principles:

Participative discussion that includes the Web of Life Activity.

2. Soil Science:

Know your soil types, micro-organisms, textures, Ph, simple tests to do at home.

3. Composting:

Making a “lasagna-style” compost pile and bio-fertilizers.

4. Biointensive Gardening:

Hands on mulching, seeding, transplanting, making beds, moon cycles, pest and disease control, plant propagation, seed saving.

5. Garden Design:

Using patterns and the edge effect – design and hands-on making an herb spiral or mandala garden.

6. Medicinal Plants and Medicine Making:

Native plant walk, tinctures, honey cough syrup and ointments made with local herbs.

7. Food Forests:

Tree planting and maintenance, layers of the forest, guilds, observation exercise in a native forest.

8. Sustainable building:

Discussion about various methods of natural construction techniques, natural cooling, energy, and green building.

Horses and Animals

Animals are an essential part of a sustainable cycle in a farm. They provide companionship, food, work, and even their poop is vital to our work of soil restoration.

Many more photo here: PYP Photo Gallery

Activity Details

Aerial Silk Basics

Ever wonder what it’s like to dance in the air? Our workshop teaches how to move with the silks using breathing techniques that prevent muscle exhaustion. This is a fun way to activate all muscle groups, while learning a few tricks to show your family and friends back home!

Archery Basics

Perhaps after seeing “The Hunger Games” you have wanted to try shooting a bow and arrow? Now is your chance to let fly a few shots into some hay bales on the farm. It’s surprisingly addictive and cathartic.

Healthy Cooking and Nutrition

The truth is we can all cook like Nigella Lawson without using ingredients from the whole world. Learn to live sustainably by using local seasonal produce to create magic on your plate. From kefir to sauerkraut workshops and making dehydrated chips coated in cashew goodness, our workshops will leave your mouth watering and your body craving more!

Daily Yoga Classes

You don’t have to be a ballerina doing split handstand to be able to practice yoga. Whether you’re a beginner just wanting to stretch, or an advanced level yogi, our daily classes will allow you to connect with your body.

Yoga at Anamaya Resort

The yoga decks at our partner resort – Anamaya – are truly spectacular. With views over Montezuma and out to the ocean, it is a wonderful place to practice at the beginning or end of the day.

Beach and Surfing Trip

No trip to Costa Rica would be complete without a chance to dive in, balance your body, and feel the power of the ocean. Surfboards and surf classes, boogie boards rentals, etc, require an extra fee, but a trip to enjoy the beach is included. Click here to read about some of the area’s best surf spots: Surf Spots Near Rancho Delicioso.

Pool Party

An opportunity to chill with your new-found family beside a cozy bonfire. Enjoy our salt-water swimming pool to cool off from the tropical heat. Stargazing included! Afterwards, those who want more can head down to Montezuma for the famous “Reggae Night” street party every Thursday.

Retreat Leader

Meet

Adriana Pál

. Adriana is a native Costa Rican, and our area’s leading permaculture expert. She is the founder of

La Escuela de la Jungla

(The School of the Jungle) and has been teaching various courses in the area for several years.

Originally with a background in tourism and hospitality, Adriana became enamored with permaculture and sustainability, and has been educating herself in all things “green.” With a delightful personality, a love of teaching, and a natural ability to connect with people, you will fall in love with her passion for the earth and her drive to help protect it.

Dates offered:

February 7 – 13, 2016 – (Dorm spaces sold out – bring a tent only!)
February 21 – 27, 2016 – (One Dorm Space Left!)

March 6 – 12, 2016 – (Dorm spaces sold out – bring a tent only!)
March 20 – 26, 2016 – (2 Dorm Spaces Left)

April 3 – 9, 2016 – (2 Spaces Left – 1 dorm, 1 tent)
April 17 – 23, 2016 – (3 Spaces left)

May 15-21, 2016 – (Just Added!!)

June 19-25, 2016 – (Just Added!!)

July 3 – 9, 2016 – (Just Added!!)
July 17 – 23, 2016 – (Just Added!!)

August 7 – 13, 2016 – (Just Added!!)
August 21 – 27, 2016 – (Just Added!!)

All programs begin on Sunday and end on a Saturday. This gives a generous window of time if you leave your home country on a Friday night or Saturday, and return to work/school on a Monday.

Video of the farm

Week Schedule

This is a general week schedule, which may shift a bit depending on various things like the availability of teachers. We try to fit all this in here, and more. Sometimes if someone amazing is in town and offering something unique we’ll bring them to the farm and offer it to the guests, such as a unique style of yoga or something that fits with our vibe. Some guests find there’s too much to do and want to relax more… that’s fine too, you’re not obligated to do any of these activities.

Sunday – Orientation

Opening Circle
Introduction to Permaculture

Monday – The Fun Begins

Morning Yoga
Permaculture: Soil Science
Archery Class
Permaculture: Composting
Open Mic Night at Cafe Organico in Montezuma ($4 addl pp for transport)

Tuesday – Anamaya and Waterfall

Healthy Cooking Class
Waterfall Hike and Lunch
Ocean View Yoga at Anamaya Resort
Permaculture: Garden Design

Wednesday – Beach & Surf Day

Morning Yoga
Permaculture: Biointensive Gardening
Beach Trip – Surfing Optional

Thursday – Anamaya Dinner Night

Morning Yoga
Permaculture: Aquaponics or Greenbuilding
Permaculture: Medicinal Plant Walk
Dinner at Anamaya Resort
Dance and Street Party Night in Montezuma ($4 addl pp for transport)

Friday – Free Day and/or Aerial Silks

Morning Yoga
Permaculture: Food Forests
Aerial Silk Class
Raw Chocolate Making Class

Saturday – Goodbye Day

Morning Yoga
Closing Circle, group hugs, tears, and goodbyes

Click here for a

calendar of classes and events

.

Lots More Photos

Many more photo here: PYP Photo Gallery

A Typical Day’s Schedule

6:30-7:45am

– Yoga

8:00-8:30am

– Breakfast

9:15-10:00am

– Fitness Class (optional)

10:00-12:00pm

– Permaculture Class

12:00-1:00pm

– Lunch

1:00-4:00pm

– Siesta, Free Time, Swimming Pool, or Various Activities

4:00-6:00pm

– Permaculture Class

6:00-7:00pm

– Dinner

7:00-9:00pm

– Free Time. Movies, bonfire, various extra activities

9:00pm+

– Sleepy Time…

For more detail, click here: Detailed Schedule of Activities

Prices & Payment

Dates: February through April 2016

The PYP Program price depends on your accommodations. We currently have three options:

1. Bring Your Own Tent:

– $450

2. Dorms:

– $500 – Check this out here:

Volunteer House/Dorm
3. Joseph’s Treehouse:

$450 base price + $79/nt or $59/nt May-Nov (Please check Joseph’s prices in case of changes.) It has a queen-sized bed, private bathroom and full kitchen. Can be shared by couples who book together. The treehouse is booked directly with Joseph from his AirBnB page:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3164732
Dates: June through August 2016

The price is higher for June-August because our new accommodations will be ready with much more space for everyone.

1. Bring Your Own Tent:

– $450

2. Dorms:

– $600

3. Joseph’s Treehouse:

$450 base price + $79/nt or $59/nt May-Nov (Please check Joseph’s prices in case of changes.) It has a queen-sized bed, private bathroom and full kitchen. Can be shared by couples who book together. The treehouse is booked directly with Joseph from his AirBnB page:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3164732
Payment and Deposit:

When you’re ready to book, we’ll send you a PayPal money request for 50% of the price of the program, as a non-refundable deposit. The balance is due two weeks before your arrival, and we’ll send you a PayPal money request for that as well. If you prefer to pay the balance in cash when you arrive, that can sometimes be arranged too.

Liability Release Form: Upon arrival you must sign our standard liability release. Please read it before booking: RD Liability Release Form

Additional Notes

Why not add a week?

 If you’d like to add a second week, after your program ends to practice what you have learned, the cost is $200 for the week (7 additional nights). Limited space for 4 people so let us know asap if you want to stay on as a farm volunteer. PYP students who add the extra week will work on the farm with the regular volunteers, but less work is required. We ask for 3 hours per day for this extra week (compared with 6 hours per day for regular volunteers.)

Join a like-minded community to gain the tools to empower our humanity and live to the fullest. Let’s create an abundant future together!