The beginning of Farm life in CR

I went to Finca Lilo de Biolley to volunteer for two weeks and during that time I fell in love with farm life! I decided to accept the amazing opportunity from Bruce and Jennifer, who own this farm paradise, to house and dog sit for 2+ months. 

Not photo-shopped! This is me, in my current backyard! 

The pool at the finca (Paradise)

On a walk up the road, coffee plants and + on both sides, Hunter the dog leading the way.

Kris and Kelly down by the falls (again, not photo-shopped!)
Kris and Kelly were Finca guests  my first two weeks on the farm and now...real life friends! 

GOATS!  LAS CABRAS!

BABY GOATS!

I call this one Huckleberry

Goats on parade!

Milking Amy the Goat with the assistance of Kris.
Kris is also staying on the farm with me and makes sure I am well taken care of...as long as I feed

After milking the goats, we went on a coffee field, finca tour with Jennifer. 

Here Jennifer is pulling off a fruit called guaba, I think. If it's not, I still wanted to mention guaba TASTY!

The drying beds of the finca. Jennifer showing us the almost dried mango seeds.

These guys are ready to be transplanted!

Amaranth

That's a big tree!

Pineapple and squash growing side by side in the garden

One of the many banana trees on the finca! 

CAFE y FRIJOLES!

PAPAYA!!

 After the coffee and garden tour we had a delicious breakfast made by Bruce and featuring his famous puffy bread. Following breakfast we went to visit an extrodinary artist and close friend of Jennifer's named Pancho. You can read all about Pancho and his projects here !!! <<<Please read the attached link, my pictures will mean more if you do! He was so generous to open his space to us!

 

Pancho playing an instrument he made, similar to a didgeridoo

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What looks like a blurry picture (it is) is actually a picture of a bug that looks like a stick!

LOBSTER CLAW!

Pancho and I :)

Later on day 2...I found out there is a natural (better tasting in my opinion) cilantro (culantro) growing right by the house! YUM ! After dinner...we danced! Day 2 on the farm is also important because I met the other cabin mate Nisha. You will see and hear more about our blossoming friendship.

Junior, patiently teaching me how to dance (We're still practicing, I plan to be a pro by August) 

Journal entry Day 3

I have been experiencing "happy face food" it's hard to eat because you're smiling too big, because the food tastes SO GOOD. Today for breakfast: scrambled eggs with green onion and garlic greens from the garden! Nisha and I prepared the fruit sald which included bananos, mangos and papaya. Passion Fruit and OJ to drink, goat yogurt and tortillas. After breakfast we ventured down to the river to experience the waterfalls of the finca. The whole gang went! It was so beautiful, refreshing and relaxing. There is even a natural shoulder back waterfall massage. *More photos here from Jennifer Long. The group worked up an appetite after the trip to the river and falls. Jennifer prepared goat yogurt cucumber dip with garden veggies! YUM! Then...(some time had passed) We had Dal prepared by Jennifer and it was complimented by Naan by Bruce. SO GOOD and Great kitchen team! I am comfortable with the majority of my journal entries centered around what I have been eating, I hope you are too.

Luis! This is Domingo's other son, Kris's brother. He joined us for the waterfall fun

 Journal entry Day 4

Awake and ready to go (after two cups of delicious coffee from the farm), fed Hunter and Draco, emptied the trash, put on my boots and headed to the garden with Jennifer. We transplanted amaranth and a mystery plant (it was SESAME!!!). Tons of squash growing, tons of squash ready to eat. I have been incorporating squash with every meal, nature's candy!!! 

My first two weeks also included Iris. I unfortunately didn't get a picture with Iris but she helped and taught me a few things about keeping a house clean in the tropics. She was very kind and patience with me. We may not have been able to say a lot to one another, but with hand motions and the Spanish I did know, we kept each other laughing. Or maybe she was just laughing at me...


You can view more pictures via facebook in my Finca Lilo album but I wanted to (and I have been meaning to) give you more context and depth on my adventures on the farm.This is just a little taste too, I have 2 more months to cover, with a trip to Panama as well!