I am enjoying my time here at La Hacienda de la Norma very much. During the past few days I have been conducting interviews in the local community including the homeowner Nuri who lives on the farm. Nuri lives off of the land mostly and has chickens, ducks, and horses from her backyard. Each week she makes fresh cheese called cuhada from the cows milk produced on-site. There are about 38 horses here and even more cows. When asked what Nuri sees for the future of the Hacienda and Pura Aventura, the eco-tourism business across the street from her home, she said she wants more tourism! I think Nuri and her husband, who manages the ranch operations, Diolis Matarrita, realize that if it wasn’t for the canopy and horseback riding tours the property they reside on might not be able to sustain itself environmentally or economically.
As a result, the Hacienda is making more efforts to become sustainable with the help of Americans Peter and Mareka Lawson who manage the tourism side of the ranch. Global Sustainability student, Tony Pooley, has also been a great assest to the two property managers’ plan to construct a composting greenhouse and a half-acre garden. The garden has hopes to produce mangos, bananas, lemons, oranges, and herbs like thyme, rosemary, and basil. Their goal is to supply food for both the Lawson and Matarrita households as well as the café where many tourists as well as employees enjoy breakfasts, lunches, and mid-day snacks.
Adios, Toni