One of Three Projects in Mastatal

The fright sets in as the measurements are taken and the materials are arranged. I am not really a builder-- sure I have but together book shelves and can be somewhat crafty, but play a major role in building a house? Dios mio, what have I gotten myself into.

A team of four interns from the Ranch, including myself, commit to a regular 30 minute trek throught jungle, climbing mountainsides, sloshing through creeks and rivers and braving the heat of the cow pasture to reach our destination. A stick frame house set atop a mountain with a gorgeous view of La Cangreja Mountain. There we meet with a family that has moved to this remote location in order to save money so they can send their teenage daugther to a boarding school in the nearest town, Santiago de Puriscal. Juan Luis and Ana have inhereted the land, a few cows and this house that is without protection from the elements, running water, cooking gas or electricity. Their daughter, when she visits home, sleeps in a hammock out in the open space of the second floor. Rustic rural living with a beautiful view. Juan Luis is a subsistence farmer who lives in San Jose 4 days of the week to work as a gardener and security guard. Ana milks the cows, makes cheese and often joins Juan Luis in San Jose where they stay with family until they return to the countryside for more tranquil scenary. (photo: house as we begin construction)

Solar Energy International had recently installed a solar panel that now powers the indoor lighting (prior to this they were using a diesel lantern- another health risk averted). We committ to constructing the second level of the house, which when we arrive is little more than a few peices of tin and 2x4´s. We also set out to improve the situation in the kitchen where Ana is cooking over an open fire in an enclosed area. Our goals: provide protection from the elements by building walls, a bedroom for their daughter and a rocket stove in the kitchen area. What is a rocket stove you ask-- it is one of the most important discoveries in sustainable technology that I have made during my time in Costa Rica. The stove is basically a metal stove pipe elbow that is encased with an insultative mixture of clay, sand, manure and hay. Fire remains as the main source of heat but is set upon a shelf acting like flue where air can flow in and ventilate the flame. The result is a clean burning fire that uses fuel efficiently and reduces particulate matter, all the while somewhat maintaining traditional cooking methods. Genius I tell you. You can find out more through the Aprovecho Research Center in Oregon who helped to develop the technology. (photos: above: finished construction of house. below: rocket stove and table)

The four of us trekked up to their home on a regular basis, building a friendship, getting to know their lifestyle, sharing regional cuisine of the finest quality-- including my new favorite treat- Coco Con Miel- toasted coconut coated in carmelized honey cooked over low heat until gooey and delicious. Our relationship blossoms, the non spanish speakers get a chance to practice in a safe environment and we discuss the details of the project. Over a weeks time with over 15 different sets of helping hands and many days of hauling wood, sand, supplies, tools etc through the mountains mostly by hand (but also with the help of a horse); we successfully completed the project that sends smiles across our faces for days on end.

What does success look like: two bedrooms, walls complete with window sills that frame the mountain view, a new double burner stove, a handcrafted kitchen table and shelves. They were thrilled with the new additions to their home and continued on with the momentum with additions of their own. As the building project started Ana told us that her original impression of gringo was that of crazy party-goers blowing money on the beach (not a direct quote). She complimented our work ethic with an amendeded view of above mentioned gringos. Not only was her view of us ammended but life long friends were made.

We returned a few weeks later for lunch and a traditional cooking session with Ana on her new stove. She taught us how to make tortillas by hand. We arrived to find that Juan Luis has used the scraps of wood to building a tool shed, a bedroom door and more kitchen shelves. All of us take turns making tortillas, feeding the stove and of course, consuming our work with delicious pride and joy. (photos: Ana and the new kitchen, Juan Luis and his tool cabinet)

Thank you to Erin Taggart and Carolyn who vowed to make a builder out of me and I aim to continue to make them proud.