Sustainable Farming found at the Abundance Farm in Nicaragua

Somewhere around Carazo, Nicaragua you will find a young man who has become as he wrote to me a "campesino," in an effort to build the Abundance Farm. In fact on his website he says with a smile that if you are headed his way just tell the bus driver, "quiero bajar en El Tigre por Finca La Abundancia, la finca de Pedro el gringo or let me off at the Tiger to get to the Abundance Farm, the farm of the gringo Peter." While I have not had the chance to visit the farm, I wanted to pass you along some news and information about it.  

Peter Christopher, who owns, lives on and really is the base of most everything that happens on the farm has created a place where the mission is to develop a place where work and play are in balance and enjoyed; where basic needs are met with local resources when reasonable; where democratic education is practiced to develop curiosity, engagement with the world, and a life-long learning habit; where international exchanges occur for the goal of global harmony; and where honesty and kindness are supremely valued and also to research and develop psychology, knowledge, and practices that are necessary to socially and ecologically sustainable lifestyles.    While that sound like a mouth full, the core issue here is that Peter is creating something unique to Nicaragua.

In Nicaragua today there is not much emphasis on sustainable or community development.   From foreign and local developers alike, there seems to be a trend heading towards maximizing capital gains at the expense local culture and environment. Without many government regulations on development, many see the opportunity to exploit resources and not the responsibility to protect them. In Nicaragua, the Abundance Farm is helping to lead the way into a new surge of sustainable development, edu-tourism and ecotourism.

Places like the Abundance farm are simple in their goals and common sense by their nature.   The Abundance farm is a nice example of sustainable living in Nicaragua. They offer a wide variety of ways to be involved when you visit. I encourage you to take a look at their website, or if you just happen to be on the mini-bus from the market in Diriamba headed towards San Vincente, tell them you want off at the gringo farm and enjoy your stay! For more information about this project visit the Abundance Farm online at http://www.abundancefarm.com.

by Tyler Tibbs