Day Seven Earth University

This is a private, international university that provides a participatory/experiential education. There are 410 students from around the world who come here to learn about sustainable agriculture in humid tropical regions. I had not expected the campus to be so large and beautiful. We lived in dorms that had private bathrooms and pick-up laundry service (yeah!). The food was excellent--they have their own cattle, pigs, banana plantations, pineapple plantations, etc.

We started the day at 5 a.m. with a bird watch. It had rained on/off and we lucked out, being able to hit the trail at the right time, when many species came out between the showers. In fact, one of our guides counted 32 different species of birds seen within one hour! Besides the lectures we had at Earth University, there are a few highlights to this visit. I was able to check off a few items from my "things to see while in Costa Rica list": green iguanas, toucan birds, and a giant beetle. I have pictures of everything, but am technical having difficulties linking my flickr photo site. Please click HERE to visit ALL of my pictures, or go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/giselefaucher

Earth University recycles everything and is carbon neutral. We were able to tour the entire banana plantation and packaging plant, and the livestock area, where animal wastes produce methane gas that is collected in giant storage bags and is used as an energy source in various capacities. All of the wasted cafeteria food is also collected and fed to the pigs.

Have you ever heard of banana crossings? Seriously! They have a system of cables that large bunches of bananas are attached to, with a lead driver pulling the cable on a motorized contraption that goes from the field to the packaging plant, crossing roads in some locations, where a gate comes down, much like a railroad crossing.


We also had our first school visit on Friday. We spent the morning at a secondary school, grades 7-12, talking with staff and students and sitting in on classes. The CR teachers also joined us for lunch. The school classrooms are open to the environment via the doorways and half walls (no windows, just grates). Students wear uniforms and take similar classes that our students do at MHS. However, there are very little tools, materials, and equipment, and there are no lab facilities. Though poor and very rural, students seemed to be getting a good education.

Friday night's dinner was at Costa Flores Garden. Our directors had a special surprise in store for us. The long driveway into the garden was lined with lit torches, and as we approached the site, we saw an amazing open air "stage" that was built of native wood and dried palm and shaped like a boat. The entire reception area was nicely decorated with fresh flower arrangements, including a few beautifully decorated 5-6 foot pieces hanging from the ceiling. It almost looked like the setting for Survivor, with the torches, hand-crafted boat, swamps and lily pads... Our barbecue dinner was excellent (as have been all our meals). Midway through the evening, we were again surprised with the sound of drums and instruments, sounding almost like a Mardi Gras brass band. This was the arrival of the cimarronas and and mascaradas (music and characters dancing). What a great night!