Sustainability

6/4/14

On Wednesday of our third week in Costa Rica, we visited another coffee farm.  This farm was Life Monteverde Sustainable Farm.  The crops and the steps of planting and harvesting the coffee were similar to the traditional coffee farm we visited, but what set this farm apart was the above and beyond, conscious effort for sustainability. 

Aside from the usual recycling bins, and effort to save energy, this farm goes above and beyond in the effort to reduce its carbon footprint.  Some of the major sustainable projects were recycling the methane produced form the animals (pigs and goats) on the farm, and reusing the energy to run the kitchen and other machines. 

 While we were at the farm, we did a service project of planting trees.  The owner of the farm explained to us, that by planting three trees each, we paid for our carbon footprint that we created just by flying from the U.S. to Costa Rica and Back.  This statement made it a reality to us of the impact we each have on the Earth and if we do not contribute to reversing that impact, we will not always have an Earth to live on.  I think as a teacher, it will be important to use hands-on experiences, to relate life lessons to the students so that they can understand personal impacts.

Our entire stay in Costa Rica has shown me that sustainability is important here.  They make a huge effort to recycle, compost, reuse, and be earth friendly.  Everywhere you go, there are recycle bins and signs to turn off lights when not in use.  In the United States, some of us try to be sustainable, but in Costa Rica, it seems to be a unified effort across the entire country, to try to make the earth better for the present people, and for the future generations that need a clean Earth.

Sustainability is very important to me, and at our house, we try to make conscious efforts such as recycling, composting, saving energy, etc.  But there is always more we can each do, and as a teacher, I plan on making the same efforts I make at home, at school, and also teaching my students the importance of sustainability and differences each student can make in the world, and for future generations.