ABOUT US
GuanaHuertas is a club that was born from the communities of Guanacaste. In the context of the global pandemic by COVID-19 and the loss of employment, we seek to strengthen food and nutritional security. New opportunities are built through the development of home gardens and community gardens, which strengthen our social bonds and drive us towards a system of food self-production, a sustainable economy, solidarity, and resilient local culture.
The project has been executed in three stages. The first phase of GuanaHuertas began with the delivery of food diaries to 7000 families. The second phase began in August, with the huertitas and in September the third phase was born; the community gardens.
This is part of a national movement called Costa Rica Regenerativa, led by the Universidad para la Cooperación Internacional (UCI), in collaboration with other local organizations such as CEPIA, Abriendo Mentes and Futuro Brillante. Thus, GuanaHuertas and Costa Rica Regenerativa are under the umbrella of the Regenerative Development global movement. Regenerating means to take environmental sustainability one step further, to revert the environmental impact that we, as a society have produced. Regenerative agriculture uses holistic methods that increase, rather than deplete, natural resources. It relies on natural processes to replenish nutrients, water, and soil to produce healthy, nutrient-rich food.
Feel Better by Eating Healthier
Fruits and vegetables provide us with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients support the overall functioning of the body, help us prevent disease, and make us feel more energetic.
Cultivate Savings
Buying organic food can cost you 20-50% more money than purchasing non-organic products. On the other hand, if you have a 5m2 food garden you can save about 50% of what you spend on vegetables.
Connect to the Earth
We are all part of the same ecosystem; to connect with the earth is to connect with ourselves. When we give the earth what it needs, the earth gives us what we need; nourishing food, relaxing space to work in the garden.
"Growing your food is a revolutionary act. It's at the same time an act of rebellion and hope. A way of saying: I'm not giving up."
- Vandana Shiva
OPTIONS FOR HUERTAS
HUERTITAS
The huertitas are home food gardens focused on the intensive production of vegetables without the use of agrochemicals and applying methods of bio-intensive planting.
An exponential growth strategy is implemented. Initially, a group of people is invited to a workshop to start a huertita in a private home. Then, the people who attend this first activity go to their homes and prepare their land; we encourage them to invite their neighbors and relatives to participate in the land preparation. Once the foundations of the garden are self-prepared, the technical team of GuanaHuertas provides everything necessary for the maintenance and development of the home garden.
COMMUNITY HUERTAS
The community gardens are born from the communities, under the need to set the basis of a sustainable food production model, generating their own supplies, promoting volunteerism, and productive space for unemployed people. All of this, with a cultural and educational agenda that adapts to the needs of each community.
In one hectare of land, we can involve around 30 families. The leaders organize the community gardens and GuanaHuertas supports this process of organization, provides agricultural supplies and training.
FAQS
¿Qué es la agricultura regenerativa? / What is regenerative agriculture?
¿Qué tipo de apoyo brinda GuanaHuertas? / What kind of support gives GuanaHuertas?
¿Qué beneficios obtengo cuando me uno al club GuanaHuertas? / What benefits do I get when I join the GuanaHuertas club?
¿A qué me comprometo cuando me uno al Club GuanaHuertas? / What do I commit to when I join the GuanaHuertas Club?
¿Cuáles son los requisitos técnicos para tener una huertita en mi casa? / What are the technical requirements to have a vegetable garden at my home?
¿Cuáles son los requisitos para que mi localidad tenga una huerta comunitaria? / What are the requirements for my location to have a community garden?
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¿Cómo está compuesta una huerta comunitaria? / How is a community garden composed?
¿Cómo puedo unirme al club GuanaHuertas? / How can I join the GuanaHuertas club?