Dalö Tsána

  Geverifieerd door Volunteer World
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rating

4.9

Buitengewoon


20

Beoordelingen


5

jaar in bedrijf

Learn about medicinal plants, the origins of traditional medicine, and culture, in the lands cultivated by the Cabecar indigenous community.

Dalö Tsána takes its name from a term used in the Cabécar community for the sacred stones and tools used in ceremonies to heal people of various ailments.  What we have created in the mountains of Turrialba is a space for healing, connection, learning, and co-creation, offering a place to ...

Omschrijving van de beoordeling

Dalö Tsána takes its name from a term used in the Cabécar community for the sacred stones and tools used in ceremonies to heal people of various ailments.  What we have created in the mountains of Turrialba is a space for healing, connection, learning, and co-creation, offering a place to connect with nature, work the land, eat fresh food, participate in workshops, use medicinal plants, meditate, exercise, and much more.

Turrialba is one of the healthiest regions of Costa Rica without too much intervention from industries, we live secluded by 2 mountains, with the first neighbor in a walk of 5min. The farm is a special piece of land that has 2 high waterfalls (9mts, 14mts). We use and filter our own water. Soon we plan to have solar power for our mechanics. By itself, as soon as you arrive, you feel at home, at peace.

Next Phase

Our first phase is complete, and with all the experience gained in the volunteer program, we now want to focus fully on medicinal plants and apply all the knowledge gained to provide a quality, safe, and enriching experience. We want to open the farm to those who are interested in learning from start to finish how to work with organic agriculture to establish medicinal plant crops.

For this, we have a classroom where we produce organic inputs, a greenhouse where we store the growing plants, a food garden, and several areas for cultivating medicinal plants. We also have 4 forests of fruit trees and 4 types of bamboo which we plan to use soon for building.

Space

In our 16 hectares, we have 2 waterfalls, gazebos, cooling areas, and a sugar cane mill to produce sugar cane juice according to the traditional method.

  • 1 house with 2 rooms each. Each room has 2 bunk beds.
  • 1 house in reform, where there are 4 rooms, if someone wants more privacy, are available prior availability and coordination.
  • 4 showers, 3 toilets
  • Ping pong table
  • Waterfalls
  • Gim area
  • Wifi chill area

Coexistence

We live with 3 dogs, Nero, Chimu, and Lua. We also have 2 cats, Montaña and Lino (mother and son). The cats live in the main house which is being renovated, they are sweet, gentle, and not aggressive but independent. The dogs usually play off-leash, but we have control over them so we can focus on training.

Michael and Lisie live in a separate space, they will run the program and accompany everyone to make the trip a success.

The Farm

  • We have a greenhouse, this is where we put the plants that are growing, the tasks are to water the plants because we still do not have automatic irrigation.
  • The ¨Trapiche¨ is the traditional place where the sugar cane is crushed to make juice or sugar.
  • The classroom is where all the organic inputs are generated and where we teach.
  • The viewpoint, a place to rest, and an incredible view of the mountains.
  • We have 4 separate forests of fruit trees that we are currently pruning and would like to point out with their respective names.

Organic Farming

We accept all the knowledge that brings growth in terms of growing without chemicals. We have evolved and progressed little by little in the management of our waste and at the same time in the production of our inputs.

The worm compost is in progress. Next, we want to build the new chicken house.

We are sorting our waste for recycling, we have compost and we are experimenting with fertilizers. Work in progress is the creation of our personal hygiene products.

Medicinal plants

We have more than 200 plants and seeds on the farm, at this point, we are finalizing our inventory and updating the methodologies so that we can keep track of not only the plants but the medicines that we produce. We don't have enough resources and hands to do this ongoing work that has affected the lives of multiple local families and people around the world. We are reopening the farm to continue building this place of love, acceptance and healing.

If you are thinking of a gift... bring some seeds :)

Accessible medicine

We have been giving medicine to family, friends, people who come to the farm and the local community. This is done empirically, for some plants there's already enough scientific research, but for others, there's none or minimal knowledge. That's where we are now, we want to start documenting which plants work best for different common conditions that can be used in other regions or find similarities to go global.

Our intention is to start sharing more accessible natural medicine and find ways to link not only plants but also recipes, rituals and mystical wisdom that has been used for ages by the indigenous communities.

What have we done so far?

  • We have 250 volunteers (from +22 countries) in our records who have experienced the "Finca".
  • 2 trips to the Shipibo community as a result: Plant labels, recycling station, provision of cleaning materials, improvement of the Maloca (the ceremonial room) against mosquitoes, and protection of the wood. Recommendations to support their program.
  • 2 activities in the protected area before COVID, then we visited to bring supplies to some affected families. Now we are reopening the indigenous program to support the schools.
  • Tools for agricultural work were provided to both communities.
  • 57 testimonies of how the Dalö experience has positively impacted the lives of those who came.
  • +15 co-workers have given their resources, time and teachings to the Finca.
  • 2000 dollars in material donations to the farm
  • A rough calculation of $60000 in materials, resources, salaries to make this experience happen. We did not have clarity at the beginning to start tracking everything like gifts, gas, food, etc.
  • 50% of the legal documentation is ready to start soon as a non-profit foundation.
  • Construction at the farm of 2 new bathrooms, a food garden, a classroom, greenhouse.
Projects in queue
  • Hydroponics systems for low-income communities
  • Agroforestry app
  • Our car for transportation purposes of the groups
  • The lab, where we plan to study in depth the plants and compounds.
  • New shed for materials
  • Cabin into the deep forest
Why coming to the Finca?
With the testimonies we have received, we are sure that this experience can continue to provide rich, insightful, and growing moments for people. We had fun, made meaningful friendships, learned a lot, connected with locals, and so much more. Where at the same time we can make solid progress and bring stable work and education opportunities to rural and indigenous communities.
All these adventures, projects, ideas, would be supported by our love and respect for the plants, knowing that we eat, heal and improve our lives thanks to them, our main goal and purpose is to continue to make ancient wisdom available to people.

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Who are we looking for?
  • We are looking for people with a desire to contribute to rural communities, who understand that there are tricky realities and that we can make a big impact with little effort. We would love to have people with the intention to learn more about indigenous communities, their practices, medicine, food and spirituality.
  • You don't need to have any specific knowledge or background to come, we just expect attitude and energy. 
  • If you are involved in studies related to geology, history, rural communities, social work, sustainability, agriculture, art, and some other related fields, please let us know, as we are open to ideas, mechanics, and improvements.
  • People with prior experience or desire to learn about medicinal plants.


Contactpersoon

Michael Rodriguez

Gesproken talen: Engels, Spaans
  Goed Responsgraad

Dalö Tsána beoordelingen

Viktorija Stojcheva rating4,8

2024 at Reconnect with Nature's Restorative Powers

Me and my partner spent an inspiring, tranquil and nurturing week at Dalö Tsàna. Even though it was just a week, the farm felt like home. We spent the week taking care of the mother medicinal plants and planting seedlings, learning about organic agriculture practices and connecting with the land, ...
I stayed at Dalo Tsana in part of June and July of 2022. It was my first time volunteering on a farm, and really my first time ever on a farm. I didn't know what to expect from the experience, but I couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling, inspirational, learning filled stay. Each day we woke up ...
Dalo Tsana was my first experience volunteering on an organic farm. My boyfriend and I were there for a month, and we both agree that our time spent at Dalo was a highlight of a year of traveling. We met some incredible volunteers who we still keep in touch with to this day. Michael was a great host ...
Jonathan Winkel rating5,0

2022 at Reconnect with Nature's Restorative Powers

Dalö Tsana is the place where I celebrated my 20th birthday with people I only knew a few days... Still it was one of the best birthdays I have Had. Michael, our Host, is a pure and Kind soul that let me and the others feel comfortable and at home. He educated us about permaculture and alternative ...
Lisann Reimers rating5,0

2022 at Reconnect with Nature's Restorative Powers

I learned a lot about the plants, the animals and farm life, as well as about myself. It was amazing to be able to see the plants from seed to part harvest and processing. To make contacts with the local families around, as well as to learn more about the life of the indigenous people, to exchange ...
Guida Morgane rating5,0

2022 at Reconnect with Nature's Restorative Powers

Durant mon voyage j'ai fais plusieurs volontariats et mon temps a Dalo Tsana a été de loin de le meilleur de tous. Le lieu est idyllique et Michael est une personne extraordinaire qui nous fais sentir chez nous et nous fais découvrir son monde avec beaucoup de joie et d'amour. Le jardin est ...

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UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Quality Education