Rancho Mastatal Sustainability Education Center

This is one of Rancho Mastatal’s most interesting and in demand structures and is built almost entirely out of bamboo. It provides guests with an intimate experience with the nature that abounds around it.  This magnificent private building sits high amongst the trees with dramatic vistas out towards the forest.

The Hooch is outfitted with one double bed and two single beds on two floors and sleeps up to four people. It features a beautiful bamboo floor. Guests staying in the Hooch share two beautiful showers and an awesome composting toilet with with our apprentices in a nearby, separate structure. This option is appropriate for those guests looking for a unique experience and is not appropriate for people uncomfortable going up and down ladders or families with children under 6 years old.  Due to the nature of bamboo's flexibility, the Hooch does move a bit as you do.  The Hooch has perfect access to many of our trails, swimming holes, forests and waterfalls.

Join our diverse team of permaculture instructors led by Scott Gallant for this annual life-changing 2-week experience. The course covers the core Permaculture Design curriculum and emphasizes creating diverse multi-functional human landscapes based on ecological patterns. Utilizing Rancho Mastatal as a living classroom, the class will mix lectures and hands-on work, exploring design solutions for both temperate and tropical regions. Putting Permaculture into practice, the course concludes with students working in teams to create their own permaculture site design. This course is applicable to anyone with an interest in designing resilient and regenerative futures as well as professionals in the fields of architecture, planning, ecology, education, farming and community development. The whole-systems design thinking outlined in the course will give participants the tools to re-design and improve their surroundings; from gardens, farms and homes, to livelihoods, relationships and communities.

To learn about who this course is designed for, learning outcomes, what to bring, and much more, please read our PDC Course Information Book at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/562a70d4e4b02dc3c968a4c4/t/57e56619e6f2e1245f3c4250/1474651674144/PDC+Course+Information+Book.pdf.

This course will introduce students to the fascinating art of polished plasters and clay carving whilst focusing on technique and application. We will also introduce students to the theory and practice of building with clay using adobes, cob and wattle and daub.  

At the end of this course students will understand the roles of each of the ingredients involved in natural earthen mixtures both for plasters and for building. This key understanding will allow students to apply this knowledge when building for themselves or in other situations, empowering students to go on and build successfully with natural materials.

Students will also gain competency in plaster application and be introduced to a number of plasters from around the world including tadelakt, Venetian and polished clay.

This class will be perfect for people looking for an introduction to natural building or for people who already have some plastering experience and would like to learn some new techniques and finishes.

Day 1
Introduction
Tour
Testing mixes

Day 2
Base coat plastering
Material preparation

Day 3
Wattle & Daub
Adobe
Cob

Day 4
Theory of materials
Clay and straw finish coat

Day 5
Rest
Waterfall
River

Day 6
Polished clay
Simple polished lime

Day 7
Clay carving & artistry

Day 8
Tadelakt
Venetian polished lime

Day 9
Wrap up
De-brief
Questions & feedback

Are you a professional arborist looking for some winter Costa Rican sunshine? Have you ever dreamed of working up in a jungle canopy? Are you hard working and a self starter with experience of removing tricky trees in and around multiple buildings and orchard spaces?

The Ranch team has many skills unfortunately we are not able to do many of the tree work that is currently needed around the ranch especially near the main house and our front gardens.
We are looking for an experienced person and probably ideally 2 people who can work together taking down trees to join our team for 4 weeks (or more!!!!!) this winter to help us remove some potentially dangerous trees in and around our structures.

Additional tasks may include:

Equipment sourcing and organising prior to arrival.
Training and working with Rancho Mastatal core team members.
Milling and sawing logs with an Alaskan chainsaw mill

Qualifications:

Relevant professional arborist experience.
Interest in the culture and mission of Rancho Mastatal.
Ability to abide by all Rancho Mastatal policies.
Ability to commit to agreed upon time frame.

Optional but helpful qualifications:

Spanish language abilities.

In return we can offer:

Three hearty and delicious meals a day sourced locally and cooked lovingly by our team.
Home brewed fruit and herbal beer.
Housing in one of our unique naturally built structures.
Access to all the Ranch’s amenities, including the wildlife reserve, hiking trails, waterfalls and rivers, our extensive library, and working farm.
An opportunity to live and work with our team of sustainability professionals and instructors in the beautiful town of Mastatal.

Want to learn more about our sustainability practices? We offer numerous half day workshops for guests and visitors designed to inspired and re-skill you for a more resilient world. Usually running 1.5 to 2 hours, these workshops can often be booked with short notice. We require a two person minimum to run a course. Costs are $25/person and $20/person for five or more participants. When requesting a booking, please specify the type of workshop you'd like. The workshops we currently offer include:

Introduction to Permaculture Principles

Experience the principles of permaculture in action! From starting small to accelerating succession to energy efficient planning we will explore the practical application of these principles around our site.

Plants for the Tropical Homestead

Explore the perennial vegetables, medicinal plants, and trees crops which feed and heal us in the humid tropics.

Plant Propagation

Spend time in our nursery learning the art and science of seed starting and vegetative plant
propagation; including cuttings, layering, and grafting.

Tropical Agroforestry Tour

Walk through the Ranch’s agroforestry systems in order to understand the holistic approach we have taken toward creating a more resilient, place-based, and permanent agriculture.

Soil Fertility Strategies

Learn how we cultivate a healthy soil in our harsh tropical climate. We will focus on biomass species, biochar production, and microoganism cultivation.

Making Your Own Soap

Learn about basic soap chemistry and how to make your own soap using locally sourced oils and fats.

Starting Your Own Permaculture Project

Learn how the Ranch got started, how it has structured its projects and people, and how it has taken on the many challenges of managing a permaculture project in the tropics.

Sauerkraut and Kimchi in any Climate!

Fermentation is a technique that has been used for thousands of years to preserve food. In this workshop learn how to make your own versions of two classic vegetable ferments—sauerkraut and kimchi. The methods you learn can be applied to many different types of vegetables, in any climate.

Fermenting Vegetables for Health and Nutrition: Techniques in Brining

Live culture fermented foods form a crucial component to a healthy diet and digestive tract. In this class you will learn some of the science and magic behind fermentation, as well as simple techniques for making your own fermented vegetables at home, no matter where you live.

Introduction to Brewing Live-Culture Herbal Sodas

Learn how to brew your own homemade live-culture sodas with local sugars, fruit juices, and herbs! These delicious and healthy sodas are packed with vitamins and minerals, herbal medicines, and probiotics. This class includes your own SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeast) to get your own batches going as soon as you get home.

Basic Gluten-Free Herbal Beers

It ss much easier than you thought to brew your own alcohol. Learn the basic principles behind brewing, and how to make simple brews at home with local herbs. You don’t need barley! This class may change your life.

Bernie's Bungalows are our newest naturally built lodging option. This beautiful timber frame, wattle and daub, lime/clay plastered building has 3 private rooms. The building was designed by Ranch core team member Nic Donati and is the latest example of the Ranch's naturally built infrastructure. The bungalows are near the Ranch's classroom with views into one of our orchards. The structure is currently served by 2 nearby composting toilets. There is running water and electricity. The shower structure for Bernie's will not be complete until 2019. Bernie's is currently served by a temporary outdoor shower.

In early 2008, we began construction on a structure called Starboard Cork, named after a song written by Deivis Garcia and commonly performed by Alan Smith and his band The Porchistas. This striking building is poised in front of breathtaking views of La Cangreja.. The timberframe and wattle and daub house, designed by Tyler See, Geoff Kinder and Al Smith and constructed with the hands of many is a fabulous place to stay. It boasts two beautiful bedrooms, a spectacular common space, and wonderful earthen plasters. It is accompanied by a lovely timberframe composting toilet/shower structure thanks to the hard work of Ranch friends Anne Fleusche, Erin Campbell and others. The house has electricity and running water.