No Bakeries, No Problem!

There are many advantages to living off the beaten path in a place where Nature dominates. The night sky is illuminated by the moon and stars with no street lights intruding. Monkeys move through the trees shouting a warning to those below. The chattering of birds is often the only sound you hear. To live far from crowds is a luxury but it also requires a strong streak of independence and self reliance.
The only store in our town is a small pulperia that sells groceries and a variety of necessities . There are no restaurants, bakeries, or
coffee shops in Quebrada Grande.

Caring for a property of almost 100 acres with a trail system on the Pacific slope requires both time, energy and nourishment! When mealtimes come around we are grateful for our versatile, unflappable cook. If you know anything about Refugio de los Angeles, you know Betty!
From the time she shows up for work around 8am until her day on the job ends around 2pm, Betty moves from one task to another with admirable efficiency. One chore she does on a daily basis is making bread of many varieties as well as the local staple, tortillas…

Betty’s tortillas are made with both love and precision…

Betty can make by hand more than 30 tortillas in less than a minute apiece!

When it comes to bread production, Betty’s specialties are breads made from fruits that grow on Refugio de Los Angeles. Papaya, lemon, orange and banana breads are the mainstays of her impressive repertoire…

During the rainy season that begins in May, bananas are especially plentiful.
There are three prominent banana varieties grown at RDLA: the traditional bananas, the larger plaintains, and the stubby, thick cuadrados. All provide the essential ingredient for delicious bread.
Cuadrados have many uses in Costa Rica. Their hardiness and ubiquity ensure that we will never worry about running out…

Betty mixes the cuadrados with flour, eggs and other preferred ingredients to create a smooth, rich texture…

The cuadrado bread comes out of the oven to cool…

and is immediately enjoyed by RDLA’s patrona…

and her curious cat, Nono…

Another popular bread is made with flax seeds and just enough grated carrots to provide come color…

Betty kneads and shapes the bread mixture then usually puts it in the sun to rise…

When the bread has baked and cooled Betty makes the first slice…

And appropriately, this slice of buttered bread goes to the baker!

A Time to Plant

Planting season is the time when work on the land intensifies. While there are a multitude of projects to be done year round, the presence of rain dictates the nature of those projects.

In the mountains of Nicoya Peninsula, the rains arrive in May and usually last until early November; the heaviest rainfall is in September and October. Those months are not ideal for planting because the intensity of the downpours makes it too difficult to work outdoors. The best time for planting trees and plants of all varieties is several weeks after the rains start in May which allows for the earth to soak in the water after the 6 month long dry season. Mid-May to mid-July is prime time for planting.

Moving Perennials Around the Property

Transplanting the ornamentals takes priority in the rainy season.

One of my favorite showy plants is the Dwarf Poinciana known locally as Puntarenas in honor of the region that borders Guanacaste.

This ornamental is not only an eye pleaser, it is a hardy plant that provides nectar for the butterfly population when the rains come. The plant’s profusion of red blossoms with tiny yellow flowers are often surrounded by thirsty winged creatures.

The working planters’ first step is to examine how many Puntarenas plants can be dug up without compromising the health and beauty of these abundant plants which decorate the property.

The Dwarf Poinciana appears to respond well to the thinning process and will soon send up new shoots.

The sturdy quad, a four-wheeled workhorse,  is loaded up with Puntarenas that are transported to locations throughout the property.

Renal, Demercio and Darwing plant Puntarenas all over the farm…

Vibrant splashes of color will soon dot the property for years to come thanks to the efforts of the dedicated, energetic landscapers of Refugio de Los Angeles.

Profusion of Perenials

Another perennial with multiple benefits for the landscape is the Yucca Gloriosa, aka Spanish Dagger. Locally this resilient flowering evergreen is called “Itabo”.

Itabo is planted along the borders of some of the trails that crisscross Refugio de Los Angeles. An excellent erosion deterrent, this robust perennial protects trails while adding decorative value for all that walk the trails.

When the rains come, transplanting begins. One of the easiest plants to move around the property is the Yucca Gloriosa, aka Itabo.

More cuttings are placed on the quad to plant all over the property…

When the Itabo are in the ground, erosion is thwarted and trails thrive.

Flor de Itabo

Within a few years a local delicacy, Flor de Itabo, will begin to bloom. This is a popular source of food for those who appreciate the nutritional value of the flowers that grow in large bunches at the crown of the plant. The clusters of white blossoms have a short lifespan that usually lasts for a few months in the dry season.

Fortunately there are so many Yucca Gloriosas on the property that everyone shares in the bounty.

The Fabulous, Nutritiously Edible Flor de Itabo!

When the rains arrive to our farm on the Pacific slope, a time to plant begins the ritual  work of replenishing those perennials which have served the land with distinction.

The Sport for All Ages

Country living has many diversions but these days the chores of land management diminish when exhaustion takes me to the nearest hammock.

As soon as the will to move is restored I want to play ping pong. This physical activity is not only fun, it is invigorating. Ping pong has many benefits for both the young and the old! Any pastime that keeps the brain sharp, burns calories, is easy on the joints and provides an excuse for friends to gather, is well worth pursuing!

Living off the beaten path requires resourcefulness. Ordering from Amazon is not an option. It is my good fortune to have a son that knows how to make things.

No need for pickup ping pong on the dining table now, because once again Loudon delivers with the construction of a hand crafted table for table tennis!

In no time the word spread that the ping pong table was ready for play.  Build it and the players will come!

It was not long before the younger set wanted their time at the table. Friends from the beach often visit with their daughter to get a workout playing ping pong.

When my friend Alonso heard about the new table, he became a frequent visitor with his cousin, Sharon.

It was soon obvious that a ping pong table would be a popular addition to the local elementary school that Alonso and Sharon attend. Neighbors Jamie Haworth and Michael Berger offered to pitch in and after a discussion with the teacher and parents, a ping pong table was donated to the school in San Bosque.

The day the ping pong table was delivered to the school, a popular new activity was added to the curriculum!

How encouraging it is to see the delight of the children with their new source of physical education!

Ping pong is without a doubt the sport for all ages.

Planting Coconut Palms: A Tree That Keeps Giving!

There are as many as 1500 species of Palms. The Coconut Palm is probably the best known and definitely one of the most beautiful in the world. Their beauty may be a virtue, but their many uses make the Coconut Palm a magnificent tree. It is said that the Coconut Palm ranks among the ten most useful trees in the world. I’m a believer!

When you pass through the gates at Refugio de Los Angeles, one of the first sights that greets you is an ancient Coconut Palm that has lived on the property for decades…This productive coconut palm has provided many treats to all who visit the farm.

Coconut water is a favorite drink, especially after working on the land. The oil and milk from the coconut’s flesh are special ingredients for cooking. Coconut curries and delicious desserts made from the meat and milk of the coconut are favorites.

Foe of Coconut Palm Trees: Big Black Beetle

We blend coconut oil with the wax from our bees to make cosmetics. And there are many other contributions the Coconut Palm gives so generously! Sadly, this magnificent palm is in danger. The culprit is the Rhinoceros beetle…Up in the hills of the Pacific slope where the temperatures are cooler, the Rhinoceros beetle attacks and kills Coconut Palms by boring into the center of the crown, disrupting new growth. This pest has decimated the Coconut Palm population on Refugio de Los Angeles. Every planting season more trees are planted. Before putting the palms in the ground they are examined for the deadly predator…If this pest is discovered, it is destroyed…

Now the beetle-free trees are ready for planting…

Renal, Demercio and Darwin place and plant the Coconut Palms…

Over the years hundreds of these trees have been planted on the property.

Successful Planting Season

As our 2018 planting season nears its end, the last Coconut Palm waits to be planted…It is certain that when planting season comes again,  the planting Coconut Palms will continue and the many gifts these magnificent trees give us will be treasured!

Blue Zone Elixirs

Medicinal teas are a way of life at Refugio de Los Angeles thanks in great part to Betty Mora Altamirano, custodian of cure-all plant recipes that have been passed down to generations of Guanacastecos . Betty’s mother, Dona Clara, was the first midwife in the area and was admired by all for her healing wisdom. Whenever there was information needed about a local cure, all paths led to this
amazing woman.

A gifted cook who has spent most of her 56 years working on the land of the Pacific slope, Betty shares her knowledge of medicinal plants with all who visit the property. Not a day passes without generous samplings of teas and tinctures for any and every thing that ails us.
When friends arrive at Refugio their first stop is the kitchen table where shot glasses of medicinal blends are sampled.

Giant Red Turk’s Cap

A favorite tea is made with generous portions of Giant Red Turk’s Cap flowers that grace a large garden exclusively devoted to this popular medicinal.

When Betty introduced me to this concoction over 20 years ago,
I wasn’t a fan. The viscous texture of the tea was slimy and
reminiscent of okra. There was no discernable flavor to distract from the thick consistency. However, the benefits of Turk’s Cap tea aren’t insignificant: the gelatinous substance coats the digestive tract, helps eliminate inflammation and is high in calcium and vitamins A and C. These beneficial characteristics made it worthwhile to come up with some simple solutions to boost the taste experience.

The Giant Red Turk’s Cap flowers are gathered……

The flower is removed from stem….

The flowers are put in a large pot and covered with boiling water.
The flowers soak until liquid has cooled.

We add several bags of caffeine free tea to steep with the Turk’s Cap flowers. Once the flowers and tea bags are removed, the liquid is placed in pitchers and chilled. Honey from our productive bees can be added or the Turk’s Cap mixture can be mixed with lemonade made from lemons grown all over the property.

The Giant Red Turk’s Cap is just one of the many medicinal teas prepared at Refugio de Los Angeles. More to come soon….

 

Plant Identification: Putting a name to it

“What is that?”  This is a frequent question at Refugio de Los Angeles. Over the years our gardens, trees and vegetation have grown exponentially. The variety of trees and plants reintroduced to the property has multiplied with admirable vigor. Ornamentals bearing colorful blossoms and enchanting fragrances proliferate. The bees and butterflies have sown seeds all over. While they know what they’ve propagated, many of us need visual cues. Plant identification and labeling some of the many things that thrive here has become a yearly ritual.

When biologist Wendy Bishop visits during the planting season, she devotes hours to the task of identifying in legible lettering the diverse selection of plant life that exists on Refugio de Los Angeles.

Her knowledge of medicinal plants has prompted us to search for more varieties with healing capabilities. Hiking around the property with Wendy is an educational experience as well as a treasure hunt. Every year new species are introduced and exploited for their medicinal benefits.

Trees dominate the landscape. After almost a quarter of a century on the property, I find their presence both familiar and very reassuring. Labels at the base of these trees are more
homage than name calling for all who pass by.

The seasons challenge the life span of these labels but like the living things they acknowledge, their resilience is a reminder that the extraordinary diversity found on the Pacific slope must not be taken for granted.