What a journey it has been! When I first arrived in Costa Rica, I believed I would be building a meditation/healing retreat center. As these kinds of centers are abundant here, the country had a different plan for me. First, I was to sit...do nothing..simply be... FOR EIGHT MONTHS! While waiting for direction, I was able to connect with nature, fall in love with the birds, the plants, the monkeys and yes, even the insects...am still working on falling in love with the snakes. Inspiration and insight finally came.
After deep reflection, connection and surrender, my passion for plant medicine came surging through my veins. I attended a local plant medicine course here which further inspired me to the amazing medicine. Following that inspiration, I attended a two week permaculture course and found an even deeper connection to all that is on the finca. I found so much medicine and wisdom within the community I landed in and felt blessed to listen, trust and learn from these amazing locals. See, I didn't land in the Costa Rican rainforest like most who end up in communities of fellow expats or, at least, neighbors that they know who speak English...oh no, I moved to a community way up in the mountains where I am the only gringa for miles! Did I mentioned I don't speak Spanish...oh, so wishing I had learned when my brain was younger. Fortunately for me though through total immersion, an angel for a farm manager and an amazing Spanish teacher, progress is being made to teach an old dog a new language!!!
One of my main goals in my village is to empower the women by making available lessons in English, teaching them business skills, connecting them together with a common goal that benefits everyone...thus, the tea company. Flory, the Operations Manager handles all aspects of business with oversight by me. Our goal is to employ as many of the local woman to come together to learn, grow and nurture each other, the tea company, our other products and to run the company as a community rather than simply as employees. Much of the profit from the teas is going back into community projects such as the remodel of the church, the expansion of resources in a village with no water or phone lines. There is always a need and we hope to be there to fill the needs that we can.
It is my great honor to be in this magical place with these magical people at this magnificent point in my life!!! Pura Vida....Divina Vida!
