La Gran Vista Researchers, field work, interns & volunteers

We are happy to receive volunteers, student groups, families, and
environmental interns from abroad. In addition, eco-tourism
organizations send groups of volunteers to La Gran Vista every year to
participate in the project.

We offer opportunities for undergraduate groups, ASB, graduate
students, and researchers to pursue specific interests or field work
pertaining to sustainability and organic farming. Students looking to
pursue a career in sustainability will have the opportunity to have
practical experience that will be invaluable to their future
endeavors.

We believe that the best way to preserve our Planet is for everyone to
be active and lend a helping hand to Mother Nature. The problems are
right in front of us, from greenhouse gases to massive landfills,
pesticides in our food, and unclean drinking water, making it
EVERYONE’S responsibility to wake up and live a more responsible life.

We cannot change the world in a day, but if we all do our part we can
change the course of history. So start today and join us in our
attempt to create a more sustainable future.

Thanks for your help and please contact us for more information about
La Gran Vista.

Contact:

Ing Agr. Donald Villalobos
Manager
La Gran Vista Agroecological Farm
San Isidro del General, Costa Rica
http://www.lagranvista.com
E-mail: lagranvista@hotmail.com

We are on Facebook “La Gran Vista Agroecological Farm”

Volunteer Work:

A typical daily schedule will be as follows:
• 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Work
• 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Break
• 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Work
• 11.30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch
• 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Work

The work will include construction, feeding the animals, planting
seeds, soil conservation, maintenance of medical plants, producing and
using organic fertilizer, maintaining the spring-water wells, and
harvesting crops. Each morning you will find a whiteboard with the
day’s tasks, which will be assigned by Donald. The work is at times
challenging, but volunteers have invariably found it stimulating and
rewarding. Please respect the instructions of the staff, and leave
tools such as shovels and hammers clean and in their correct places
inside the tool shed, along with boots or work shoes. There are
several projects on which the volunteers will be working while at
Finca La Gran Vista. They include:
• Soil remediation. The pasture area on the farm is heavily degraded,
with little natural vegetation and substantial areas of bare soil.
Unwanted grass species currently there will need to be removed, the
soil prepared for grass plugs (lots of digging), and then the plugs
will need to be planted by hand. In addition, Donald installed an
electric fence, which, apart from the wiring, was done by the
volunteers. Every so often, volunteers will need to help trim down any
weeds tangled in the wires and to restore a safe distance between the
wires, to prevent them from intertwining. Moreover, each year,
volunteers sow seeds in patches of soil where plants don’t already
grow.
• Medicinal herb plot. There is currently a medicinal herb plot with
approximately 75 plants, for the production of natural shampoos,
insect repellents, and herbal remedies. This will be a labor-intensive
job requiring grass removal from the new lot, soil preparation, and
transplanting the herbs by hand. In the future, Donald plans to
harvest, prune, fertilize and process the plants for the finca’s, and
sometimes even for the volunteers’, consumption. The volunteers will
also help process plants for the production of tea leaves, using a
wood mill constructed on the farm.
• Solar dryer. Future volunteers will help with the construction of a
solar dryer, a structure covered with a special type of plastic to
gauge the ideal temperature to dry medicinal plants.
• Terrace construction and maintenance. The farm maintains a terrace
system on the land in order to slow erosion and prevent soil loss.
There is a need for more terraces to be built, as well as some
renovation of the older terraces, particularly in the orchard area. In
addition, volunteers will help by planting Vetiver grass (a species
with soil-binding properties) above the terraces; another activity in
which the volunteers can participate is the preservation of the
terraces, from raking leaves to moving loose soil.
• Vegetable plot. Volunteers will learn how to plant and cultivate a
variety of vegetables organically, including tomatoes, beans, lettuce,
radishes, chiles, and cilantro. This part of the project will also tie
in with compost production, for which the farm uses California Red
Worms.
• Biogas production. The farm currently cooks using propane and wood
as fuels. The energy source Donald favors the most, however, and the
one that the finca is building towards, is natural biogas (methane).
Since the volunteer-assisted construction of a specially excavated
site that produces it, Donald hopes that, in the near future, biogas
will act as the finca’s sole source of energy. As volunteers undertake
their project, they will have a chance to learn about an alternative
energy source and how it works.
• Frog pond. There is a worldwide decline in amphibians, one of the
major causes of which is the decimation of wetland areas. As such, a
frog pond, stocked with natural plants and native frog species, has
recently been dug, an innovation of the finca. Volunteers are very
much encouraged to help maintain it and safeguard.
• Fish Pond. To get protein on the diet, La Gran Vista Staff are
growing ” Tilapia fish”, and are now starting a new lot of fish.
Additionally, La Finca is growing its own natural Azola algae to serve
as another nutritional component to the Tilapia´s diet.
• Other tasks. Although the above projects take priority, there are
other tasks on which the volunteers can lend a hand, including cutting
and chopping wood for the kitchen stove. If the students are
interested, they can help Xinia to make natural shampoo and/or insect
repellent from herbs one evening. In addition, there will be several
other duties essential to the farm. For instance, the chickens and
ducks require food and water every morning, and their eggs need to be
collected. Other possibilities include feeding the animals (chickens,
horses, cows), milking the cow and making cheese or yoghurt.

You will need to be reasonably fit for some of the work. Donald and
Larry work very hard, but their patience and sense of humor make for a
cheerful working atmosphere. Volunteers will not have to work very
early in the morning nor late at night. The working schedule, though
intense, is intended to be exhilarating, not exhausting.

Please Note: Given the nature of conservation/community development
volunteer work, there are often numerous circumstances out of our
control (e.g. the weather, relying on materials to be delivered in
time, etc). Please understand that we will do our absolute best to
keep tasks as described in the project overview, however, if changes
do need to be made, we thank you in advance for your cooperation,
flexibility and positive attitude.

Transportation:

Upon arrival in Costa Rica. Once in San José, volunteers take a three
hour bus to San Isidro ( Tracopa Company), stopping next to the Super
Weber supermarket in a village called El Peje de Repunta (15 minutes
out of San Isidro). From there, volunteers will be picked up and
driven to Finca La Gran Vista.

In terms of trips into town from the finca itself, the local bus runs
every hour to and from the nearby town of San Isidro, from a bus stop
twenty-five minutes walking distance from the project site. Coming
back from the town, volunteers in the past have found it easier to
take a taxi all the way back up to the finca (about 6000-7000)
colones); the bus back is a cheaper option, but the walk from the bus
stop is a good 40 minutes uphill.

Accommodation:

The volunteers will stay with the host family in a rustic cabin. There
are four rooms set aside for the students, with two bunk beds in each.
Also there are open places to set Camping Tents with room for six
people or more.

Another set of cabins is soon to be constructed at the edge of the
forest, two hundred meters from the main finca building. The finca is
generally well-equipped, with hot showers and electric power sources
in bedrooms. The volunteers are expected to keep their rooms clean,
including the bathroom and kitchen. Xinia will provide cleaning
materials. Guests are welcome to use the washing machine, as long as
they are careful not to overload it. Xinia can provide the soap, but
please use it sparingly. All waste can be recycled (apart from
sanitary waste- please use the bin provided in the bathroom for this).
Toilet paper must go into the bins marked “papel” in the bathroom,
not
down the toilet.

Meals:

The host family will cook all the meals except on the days off. The
meals will consist of simple Costa Rican food, and will include a lot
of cooked rice and beans. Volunteers can even learn how to process,
and help drink, La Gran Vista’s very own house wine, a sweet
concoction that always goes down smooth. With the large number of
guests staying, Xinia will need a little help in the kitchen, and so
each volunteer will help with food preparation for a day. This will
give them a chance to practice their Spanish, learn a bit about
typical Tico cuisine, make frescos, and possibly cook with biogas. We
ask that everyone help with the dishes after lunch and supper- it goes
much faster with a little bit of help. The best and fairest way to
manage this is for the group leader to organize small groups of three
who take it in turns to wash up after each meal. If you have special
dietary needs, please let the La Gran Vista office know ahead of time.
Please remember that vegetarianism is
 not the norm in Costa Rica, but simple requests for no meat can
easily be honored. Don’t expect veggie lasagna or soymilk, but you
will enjoy lots of salad, fruit, eggs, cheese, rice and beans.
Volunteers are welcome to store their own food in the refrigerator,
but please remember that space is limited.

Banks, stores and communication (e.g. internet, public phones):

Public phones and e-mail access are available in the nearby town of
San Isidro (twenty minutes away), as are banks (Banex exchanges
American Express traveler’s checks for free) and 24-hour electronic
cash points.

Free Time:

There are many activities for students to do in their free time, from
relaxing in a hammock, to enjoying the local scenery and exploring the
local area. Donald organizes regular tours to various sights of
interest, including the beaches on Dominical and Uvita; horse riding,
taught by Donald’s youngest son Terry; and visits to the nearby
waterfall and beach. At the local school, a ten minute walk away,
there is a decent-sized football pitch with proper metal goalposts
where ‘mejengas’ (huge, frantic games of football, usually about
twenty-a-side) often take place. Volunteers are warmly welcomed to
join in whenever there’s a game (you can see the pitch, and thus when
children are playing, from the finca!)
If volunteers choose to participate in any activities during their
free time, all costs associated with that activity (e.g. transport,
tickets, etc.) are the responsibility of the volunteers, not Finca la
Gran Vista . Also, any meals missed during free time activities cannot
be reimbursed.

Health and Safety:

Costa Rica has very good health services, and the nearest clinic is in
Palmares, about ten minutes away. There is also a large hospital about
twenty minutes away, in San Isidro. Temperatures range from 87-97° F
during the day, dropping to 82-86° F at night. Expect daily showers in
the afternoons during your stay.

All students must carry a comprehensive medical insurance policy; in
addition, participants are encouraged to consult a travel clinic
and/or their personal physician to discuss recommended immunizations
for Costa Rica. We encourage every participant to be up to date on
his/her tetanus shot (good for 10 years). La Gran Vista has never had
problems with malaria or cholera of the area where the projects are
located, though these are both present in Costa Rica. Dengue is most
prominent during the rainy season. The U.S. Center for Disease Control
provides tips about how to stay healthy while in Costa Rica, as well
as recommendations for immunizations (www.cdc.gov ).

We also suggest that you bring basic medicine for headaches, diarrhea,
stomach aches, and mosquito bites (a strong anti-itch cream). Remember
to bring any prescription medications you will need as well as any
over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, Tylenol, etc. you’d
normally take. Most over-the-counter pharmacy products are readily
available in San José and can be bought before going to the project
site, though it is best to arrive with most of what you will need.

One of the most common, yet preventable, ailments of visitors to the
tropics is dehydration. Water is treated in Costa Rica; however, some
people may experience slight stomach upset when they first arrive in
the country. To be safe, you may want to buy bottled water or boil
water for your water bottles in the mornings or at night. Whatever you
do, just be sure to drink lots of water every day to avoid getting
dehydrated, especially on working days! Should you get diarrhea,
please inform the coordinator immediately- usually the problem
resolves itself in one or two days. Wash your hands frequently, rest
as necessary, and drink lots of liquids.

The sun is another important health factor to consider- you can burn
in the tropics even on cloudy days, so always use sunblock (SPF 30+)
and wear a hat, and drink plenty of water. Moderate to severe sunburns
are not uncommon among visitors and volunteers, yet they are
completely preventable. Please be cautious in the sun: a severe
sunburn can quickly ruin your trip.

Blisters and mild abrasions are common when doing outdoor work.
Mosquitoes are present at dusk and into the night, so use repellant
after sunset. You may also want to sleep under a fine-meshed mosquito
net. All participants are strongly advised to use a flashlight when
walking anywhere at night, as a precaution to avoid stepping on a
snake. While working, boots (not sandals) should be worn. If you are
allergic to insect bites or stings, work in long pants and
long-sleeved shirts. Volunteers will need permission from Donald to
use machetes or electrical machines. Always follow all the safety
protocols and guidelines. Donald’s eldest son Max has a Red Cross
First Aid certificate, should there be an emergency on the farm.

General Requirements:

Bring a positive, hard-working attitude. Volunteers must have their
own comprehensive medical insurance, plus some sort of travel
insurance, including a cancellation policy. No alcohol is allowed on
the farm; if you go out into the community to have a beer, please
respect the wishes of your project host family and don’t drink to
excess. Smoking is allowed only in designated areas outdoors. The
community has only a limited amount of water, so please use it
sparingly (i.e. one shower per day, one laundry wash per week).

What to Bring:
• Light rain jacket (rain pants optional);
• Sun block SPF 30+ (can be purchased in San Jose upon arrival in Costa Rica);
• Calamine lotion (or other anti-itch cream)/after-sun cream;
• Insect repellent (can be purchased in San José upon arrival in Costa Rica);
• Personal toiletries (biodegradable products where possible) and
prescription medication;
• Rubber boots (can be purchased in San José upon arrival in Costa Rica);
• Camera with extra film/memory cards;
• Headlamp (or flashlight) with spare batteries;
• Basic First Aid kit (including treatments for blisters, minor cuts,
muscle aches, and insect bites);
• Mosquito net for sleeping under (can be purchased in San José upon
arrival in Costa Rica);
• Reusable water bottle;
• Long-sleeved shirts and long pants for work that can get dirty;
• Lightweight beach clothing, swimsuit and pack-towel;
• Tee shirts, shorts, capris (casual clothing- quick dry if possible);
• Sleeping sheets or lightweight sleeping bag;
• Work gloves (can be purchased in San José upon arrival in Costa Rica);
• Sandals or flip flops to wear inside;
• Sun hat/ball cap, bandana;
• Notebook, pens, pencils.
• Lots of reading material, cards, travel games, MP3 player, etc.
Please note: Electrical appliances (eg. Cameras, MP3 players) can be
charged up at power sources in the dormitories, so do bring any
necessary chargers and electrical adaptors you may need.

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