018 Norman Brooks: Experiments in Community Development and Lessons Learned Along the Way (Punta Mona, Alegria, Ecovilla)
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
Release Date: 09/16/2022
029 Santi Moringa: Living Social Permaculture (Molinos Verdes de Moringa)
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
In this episode, I had a chat with a long-time friend, Santiago Moringa, from Molinos Verdes de Moringa. Santi is a leader in social permaculture and has over a decade of experience building community gardens and other socially regenerative projects across Costa Rica and internationally. In our conversation, Santi shares his journey from discovering permaculture through the lens of agriculture to embracing the broader social aspects that foster community and connection. We delve into his passion for integrating diverse communities into the permaculture movement, including elders and...
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028 Itai Hauben: Why Permaculture Design is The First Step of the Wise (Symbiosis Eco Design)
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
In this interview, I visited Itai Hauben at his lovely home and permaculture education center, called Adama. Adama is nestled in the mountains of the Chirripo River Valley, where Itai and his wife, Melina, teach permaculture design courses to lucky students every year. It’s also the headquarters of Symbiosis Eco Design, their permaculture design and implementation business, serving land projects nationwide. Symbiosis is a powerful change agent in this country ecologically, socially, and educationally. We got together to chat about why creating a permaculture design is such a...
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027 Marcus Merlin Hinds: The Power of Forgiveness and Finding Your Why (MoZen Temple)
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
Welcome to an enlightening conversation with Marcus Merlin, steward of MoZen Temple in the Diamante Valley. We delve deep into personal growth, environmental sustainability, and the much-needed impact of regenerative entrepreneurship. Merlin shares his insights into the power of forgiveness as a personal practice and a foundation for creating meaningful connections and building communities. Forgiveness has the power to transform not just individual lives but entire communities. The transformative power of forgiveness can unlock our spiritual beliefs and lead us to rewrite our personal...
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026 Katya Deluisa: Cultivating a Dementia-Friendly Society (The Infinite Mind)
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of dementia care with our guest, Katya Deluisa, of The Infinite Mind. Katya shares her journey and how she became involved in working with individuals with dementia after observing the loneliness and lack of connection experienced by individuals with dementia, even when surrounded by family. Katya’s grown a passion for educating families on how to better understand and communicate with their loved ones. The conversation delves into the nature of dementia and the physiological changes that occur in the brain. Katya explains that...
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025 Ian-Michael Hébert: Ecovillage Design with Reciprocity at Heart (HOLOS)
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
In this episode, we speak with Ian-Michael Hébert, one of the founders of Holos, a private retreat center and community specializing in holistic living and transformational experiences. In our conversation, he discusses the genesis of Holos, their vision for a sustainable and resilient community, and the importance of focusing on reciprocity and honoring the indigenous people of the land. Ian-Michael also emphasizes the importance of preserving the natural beauty of the Diamante Valley and their commitment to stewardship. Among other details of the community’s...
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024 Sarah Wu: Cultivating a Regenerative Envision Festival
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
In today’s episode, we hear from Sarah Wu, a highly respected permaculturist & herbalist living and teaching in Costa Rica. I sat down with Sarah at the Envision Festival earlier this year to learn about some of the regenerative initiatives the festival has implemented as part of its mission. Envision is a multi-day music festival with several stages and thousands of participants. By day, the focus is characterized by consciousness-raising workshops and presentations on permaculture, community-building, yoga, wellness, the embodiment of the divine masculine and feminine, and...
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023 Scott Gallant: Permaculture Development within a Holistic Context (Porvenir Designs)
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
In this episode, we meet with Scott Gallant, a permaculture consultant at Porvenir Design. I took advantage of the pragmatism he’s developed through his many years here to explore some of the pitfalls he’s seen with foreigners building large-scale developments. We also explore ways he guides his clients toward transmuting those potential problems into solutions. Through his design and consultation work, Scott often finds himself inviting his clients to slow down and simplify their visions. Scott practices what he preaches, and we get into some of the ways he applies the Holistic Context...
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022 Tricia Stapleton: Cultivating Community Resilience through Cultural Connection, Mutual Aid Work, & Trust
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
This episode is with a dedicated community organizer living in the Osa Peninsula, Tricia Stapleton. Tricia shares her embodied wisdom with each question she answers. Relistening to this episode to prepare it for publication was a treat! I had a hard time selecting which portions of this interview to use for the 3-4 highlight reels I produce with every episode because there was SO MUCH amazing content. You’re lucky to be listening to this episode right now. One of the many things that Tricia and I have in common is the responsibility we share as regenerative projects of not ignoring the...
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021 Rodo Saenz: Natural Building Tools, Tricks, and Sage Advice (Bamboo School Costa Rica)
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
Rodo is a master natural building teacher from Costa Rica who’s been studying & teaching bamboo construction around the world for over 40 years. I’ve released Rodo’s full-length interview on , complete with a visual tour of his handmade tools and a demonstration of a few bamboo building techniques he shows us. Still, I decided to release this shortened version of it for my podcast listeners, cutting out the parts that were primarily visual. We start this interview in front of one of his most recent compost toilet & shower installments...
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020 Jean Pullen & Alan Cacao: Living Seed Banks & the Breadfruit Revival
Regeneration Nation Costa Rica
In today’s episode, we get the privilege of visiting with not one but two leaders in the regenerative space, Jean Pullen & Alan Cacao. Through their project , Jean & Alan have been tirelessly promoting permaculture education, seed propagation, food sovereignty, & community-building projects throughout the country. Regenerate Your Reality is a permaculture, agroforestry, and education project working to bring sovereignty and happiness to our communities. It’s their mission to restore the relationship between humans and the earth to build a...
info_outlineThe episode you’re about to hear is with Norman Brooks,
Norman Brooks is a veteran pioneer in community development here in Costa Rica. Norman found his way to the jungle in a different manner than most of our guests. He followed and supported his children's passions. He’s commonly known by many around these parts as the father of Stephen Brooks, a well-known permaculturist and community leader in the country.
While his backstory gives an impression that Norman has been following in the footsteps of his son’s relentless passion and inspiration, the rest of the interview, as well as most of the other conversations I’ve had with Norman before setting a date to record, reveal him to actually be one of the pillars of practicality and fountains of wisdom that have been instrumental in his co-creators’ dreams coming true.
In this interview, you’ll hear the story of how their three projects, Punta Mona, Alegria, and Ecovilla, have evolved one out of the other. You’ll hear lessons learned and descriptions of adjustments made in response.
We also get into some of the legal and logistical details of building a community in Costa Rica and how Alegría was designed to make residential lots accessible to locals. His experience working with the local community has taught Norman that cultural regeneration is a first step on the path toward agricultural and even financial regeneration.
One of my favorite takeaways from the interview is Norman’s reflection that “If your dreams aren't scaring you, you may not be dreaming big enough.”
Links:
Alegria Home Owners Association Condominium Bylaws
Casa Sula (The school at Ecovilla)
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Special thanks to Peter Mukuru and Ariel Poltronieri for editing this episode!
Music: Rite of Passage by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4291-rite-of-passage