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Hypothetical question: What would you do after 20 years working and exploring across South and Central America?
For Mauricio, Lorena and their daughter the path ahead became quite clear. Vamos a nuestro país! Back to Argentina 🇦🇷, their home country.
From their time in e.g. Venezuela, Panama and Costa Rica, they brought back valuable skills, not least in bioconstruction, gardening methods and beekeeping.
When the time was right they acquired a patch of land in the lush Uco Valley, a 90 minute drive south from Mendoza.
Yet what next? Could there be something more rewarding than using the gathered experience and launching a project that aims to establish an ecologically sustainable farm? In their eyes this was exactly what they wanted to go for, living from and with the land and animals, while sharing their knowledge and skills with visitors and volunteers. Vamos, there is a plan!
And off they went. Some 9 years into the making the Granja Rocío farm has come a long way:
Constructed: One House, Outdoor Kitchen + Gathering Place, Shower + Toilet House, 20+ Beehives
Under Construction: The to be mainhouse, incl. heating system and pizza oven
What else stands out from this remarkable project? The plenty animals on the farm (dogs, cats, chicken etc.) live in harmony together. The secret, as shared by Mauricio? Letting them roam freely and grow up jointly. For some overdose of animal-cuteness, please scroll down 😁
Animal care is evidently a cornerstone of the project. Take the bees for instance. The 20+ beehives produce a good amount of honey each year, yet only some of it is taken out for consumption. The rest stays with the bees.
Also, the hives are never opened after rainy or cold days, to not risk that the colony is getting sick.
And lastly, the flight pattern of the bees outside the hive is frequently monitored, as one can understand the health of the colony from same.
When it was time to leave the farm, it was done so with plenty of inspiration, still some mud on my hands, and the memories of smiling and genuine hosts 🙂
More of it!!
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