Our story
SEED (Society for Ecological Education and Development), the company was founded in November 2009 by five families from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds representing seven countries who together shared a vision of creating an off grid project in the dense rainforest of Costa Rica inspired by sustainable principles. With a mixture of skills as engineers, agronomist, lawyers, teachers and farmers, each family brought dynamism to the project allowing it to unfold as a creative organic process.
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SEED Goals
1. To develop and continue to build a sustainable agriculture and reforestation project
2. To provide a real estate project where lot owners build their own sustainable homes
3. To work towards development and growth of educational activities inside and outside SEED
4. Ensure that SEED continues to be an economically and environmentally sustainable Project
MISION
To develop and demonstrate ways to build sustainable living models that can thrive while maintaining a balance with the natural environment. We do this by bridging the western scientific knowledge with indigenous and local knowledge while collaborating with our neighboring communities.
VISION
Be part of
Once the construction phase of roads and infrastructure was completed in 2012, SEED created the opportunity for individuals and families who wanted to be part of a sustainable project, to purchase lots on the property.
Once lots are purchased, 30% of the area can be used to construct sustainable homes and buildings.
Lot owners are required to pay an annual maintenance fee which covers shared road maintenance costs and the cleaning of their lots three times a year. This fee provides lot owners with the privilege of enjoying access to parts of the farm such as walking trails, the lookout, a beautiful waterfall, access to the community ranch and various pools in the river. Currently the annual maintenance fee is $1000 USD/ year due May 1st of each year.
Design of SEEDs project
Integrated sustainable farm (stables, corrals for sheep, corrals for chickens, ducks and other birds, pig pens, and pastures for cattle grazing.)
Lookout
Trails to waterfall and rivers
Swimming ponds in two rivers
Fruit orchards in full production
Two houses and a warehouse for administration purposes
Approximate
Community regulation
With the goal of building sustainable relationships of coexistence, basic regulations are agreed upon at the time of the sale of the properties between SEED and the lot purchaser. Here are some key points to know prior to purchasing a property.
Lot owners are required to pay a $1000 USD annual fee due the first of May of each year to pay for the cost of shared road maintenance, plot maintenance ( lot cleanings 3x/year) and security of the project. With the payment of this fee, lot owners have access to parts of SEED property including trails to the rivers, waterfall, lookout, jungle trails, and community garden and recreation spaces.
Technical concept
The objective of designing a comprehensive and self-sufficient farm is to be able to give an example of effective sustainable agricultural production without the need for intensive use of chemical inputs and exploitation of natural resources. By having a sustainable system focused on education and self-sufficiency, lot owners can be encouraged to implement new techniques of coexistence with the environment.
Farm design
The technical diagnostic of the project was designed based on the results of different studies from which subsequent phases were developed for the actualization of activities desired at the farm.
Technical components of the project
El objetivo de diseñar una finca integral y autosuficiente es el de poder dar un ejemplo de la efectividad de una producción agrícola sostenible sin la necesidad de un uso intensivo de insumos químicos y explotación de los recursos naturales. Al tener un sistema sostenible enfocado a la educación y autosuficiencia, se puede incentivar a la comunidad a implementar nuevas técnicas de convivencia con el medio ambiente.
