Organic Farmers Seek Healthier Future

What constitutes sustainability in business? What are the key elements that must be present in order for a business venture to be sustainable and stay that way?

I found a good Wall Street Journal article that describes the benefits to farmers in India when they make a concerted effort to convert to and stick with organic farming to achieve certification. Clearly, according to the article, farmers indicate that they are better off producing their crops without pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Additionally, they seem to be making more money as yields are up, less is lost to harsh conditions and prices are higher. If they can get past the big expense of certification ($2000 annually!!), they have a good chance at success. Bravo!!

A big caveat for me is who is profiting the most from this? There is no mention of any fair trade element, so one can only imagine a fat cat middleman skimming off the top (sorry for the pessimism)! Additionally, the certification expense is HUGE and there seems to be no financial assistance coming from anyone or anywhere. Perhaps a scale for farmers that gets them certified for less in the first year and then builds up until they are self-sufficient? I would posit that the certifiers and the government could work out a deal that they could afford and that creates a win-win situation. Perhaps they could form community support groups for those who endeavor to grow organically, but must overcome serious barriers?

Bottom line is, sustainability must be a group effort. We are all in this together and our success is dependent upon working together and sharing ideas and experiences as well as some of the elbow grease!

What do you think?

Rancho Margot - Costa Rica

Here is another informal video of parts of the main area at Rancho Margot in the Lake Arenal area of Costa Rica. The location has a fully functioning farm with livestock and many organic crops. There is also a biodigestor project to use manure for fuel for a thermal hot tub project that may even be ready to use at this time! A good deal of electricity is produced by turbines driven by hydro power. The wilder area moving away from the lake is actually the backside of the famous Monteverde region! It is a wonderful vision unfolding daily. Enjoy!

Beginning a New Project!

Hello All!

I am in the beginning stages (sort of) of putting rubber to road and am looking forward to years of hard work and discovery! I am putting together a project that really will pull together a great number of things that I am truly passionate about and can sink my teeth into! In all honesty, it is really taking what I have been working on for the past 17-18 years and making it a bit more of "my own." When I say more of my own, I don't mean that it won't be a full on collaboration, but I mean that it will be something that comes from my heart and soul and will be something that resonates profoundly for me!

In taking all my experience and learnings about sustainability, I endeavor to pull together a legendary team to scour the globe (and our backyards!) for people, businesses and communities that are putting the principles of sustainability to work. We will document their efforts and identify key ingredients for success. In doing so, we will also endeavor to foster links to connect these efforts into global webs of cooperative and sharing sustainability.

Let me know what you think! Let me know if you have any suggestions! Thanks!

Rancho Margot - Costa Rica

This is a short and rather informal video showing part of a very interesting eco-tourism project in the Lake Arenal area in Costa Rica. Juan, the Chilean owner and visionary behind the project, is converting the 152 hectare ranch into a sustainable and self-sufficient operation to both serve the needs of eco-tourists and the community.