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Punta Mona (Monkey Point) is a 30-acre
organic farm and educational retreat center dedicated to bringing
about environmental consciousness by creating an example of sustainable
living through permaculture
design methods including eco-technology, organic farming, and a
sense of community. Surrounded by primary rainforest and fronted
by the pristine, coconut fringed Caribbean Sea, Punta Mona is an
ideal retreat for student travelers and groups wishing to connect
to the land, its resources, and its people.
Punta Mona is accessible by hiking along an incredible forested
path or traveling by boat along the jungle clad coast. The farm
grows over 150 varieties of tropical fruits, spices, and medicinals,
in addition to other tropical goodies. The buildings are constructed
entirely with fallen local trees, all energy is provided by solar
panels, and methane gas is produced from the composting toilet system to fuel
our kitchen.
Punta Mona aspires to be an example of sustainable living and a
model for which others can learn the benefits of living in accordance
with the principles of nature.
Check out Punta Mona's website.
For more
information send an email to info@puntamona.org or
507 614-5735
The Afro- Caribbean people first settled
the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in the mid 19th Century and lived
in small farming and fishing coastal villages. Punta
Mona existed as a typical coastal village with nearly 40 Afro-Caribbean
families until the early 1970's. At that time, most of the families
moved to neighboring towns in search of work. By the early 1980's just one resident remained in Punta Mona- a fisherman
named Blas Martinez, better known as Padi.
In 1995 Stephen Brooks began working with North American high school
students in Costa Rica. In planning the first EcoClassroom program, he searched
for a remote beach that would offer the students a diverse experience
with nature. In November he was brought to Punta Mona and introduced
to a wise Afro-Carribean elder named Padi. While harvesting
pigeon peas in a garden next to a small wooden house, Stephen met
Padi for the first time. Stephen felt an instant connection to Padi
that led him to frequently seek out Padi's company and camp in his frontyard in the years
to come. In 1997 he arranged to purchase the land
adjacent to Padi's in an effort to develop the property as an example
of sustainable living and organic agriculture.
Punta Mona is located about 5 km south of
the town of Manzanillo on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa
Rica. The farm is 12.8 hectares (30.72 acres) of beachfront property on the Caribbean Sea, with virtually no elevation change.
The farm was originally part of the village of Punta Mona (see History
above) and had a number of home sites and cleared areas. These cleared
areas have become vast exotic fruit orchards mixed with a plethora
of other tropical food crops. The property has two creeks running
through it and has primary and secondary wet tropical rainforest
throughout it. Our structures include one large main house, outdoor
shower and bathroom facilities, a bunk house, a yoga center, a newly
built volunteer space, and 3 small cabinas scattered around the
main house.
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A village with nearly 40 families existed
in Punta Mona until the early 1970's.
Punta Mona is located about 5 km south
of the town of Manzanillo on the Southern Caribbean Coast
of Costa Rica.
A diverse, intensive and fun learning
experience -- the two week Permaculture curriculum with an
optional one week tour of Costa Rica's homegrown sustainability
practices.
Explore this Permaculture Portal for
helpful definitions.
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