Organic Farming Intensive Course Exploration of Permaculture Systems Ziplining In The Cloud Forest Surfing On The Pacific Coast Horseback Riding in the Rio Muchacho Valley Cultural Exploration in Manabi Hiking In The Andean Highlands

Location:

Chone, Ecuador

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

High School

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

Your Sustainable Summer experience will span from the shimmering Pacific to the majestic Andes. The first two weeks of the trip will be based at the Rio Muchacho Organic Farm, near the coastal town of Canoa. Sustainable Summer and Rio Muchacho, one of Ecuador’s leading organizations for agricultural sustainability and eco-tourism, have developed a customized, 2-week intensive program for our participants that combines a broad-based sustainability curriculum with theoretical and practical investigation of food and agriculture. The final week of the trip will take place in the highlands, where we’ll spend time at the Black Sheep Inn, a world renowned eco-lodge focused on ‘permaculture’ and community-owned tourism. The final days of the program will be spent in the Tumbaco Valley, learning from local artisans and food producers who are pioneering new models of sustainable production and consumption, and meeting with leaders of a grassroots effort to reform agricultural production in the Andean nations. We’ll make sure there’s ample time for fun and adventure in between and alongside the educational components. A few examples include zip-lining through the jungle canopy in Mindo, whale watching at Isla de la Plata, hiking around the iconic Laguna Quilatoa, surfing, horseback-riding, and much more. See below for the full itinerary.

Organic Farming Intensive Course Exploration of Permaculture Systems Ziplining In The Cloud Forest Surfing On The Pacific Coast Horseback Riding in the Rio Muchacho Valley Cultural Exploration in Manabi Hiking In The Andean Highlands

海岸和高地上的课程计划includes: The global food system. Introduction to and history of industrial food system and chemical farming. Where does our food come from? What are the problems with our current food production system? Why is it important to consider alternatives? Organic farming. Principles of organic farming and history of the organic movement. What does “organic” mean? How do organic farmers fertilize and protect crops? How is organic different from industrial agriculture? The value of organic matter. Feed the soil, not the plant. Composting methods. Green manures, mulches, and organic fertilizers. The importance of worms. The importance of biodiversity. Weeds and pests. The importance of crop rotation. Crop associations and guilds. Companion planting. Nitrogen fixers. Plant families. Planning a garden. Overview of garden design principles. Agricultural export economics. Local economics of being a farmer in Ecuador. Beyond organic. The problems with industrial organic. Introduction to permaculture. The local movement. Slow food. Biodynamics. Moon influences. Agricultural policy. History of plant and animal domestication. Seed saving. Political contexts and grassroots movements against global agribusiness. Permaculture theory and design. Permaculture principles and systems. Permaculture as a social movement.

Setting Description:

学生花两个星期在里约热内卢Muchacho有机Farm, situated near the town on Canoa, on the coast of Ecuador. At Rio Muchacho, students will be housed in cabins with typically 4-8 people. Accommodations at Rio Muchacho are rustic, but comfortable, and typically are constructed from wood grown on the farm, and thatch roofs. Cabins on the farm are quite comparable with cabins at traditional overnight summer camps. All bathrooms feature dry composting toilets, and hot water is occasionally available for showers through solar power. All rooms have electrical outlets and lights, but the power supply in the Rio Muchacho valley is inconsistent, so students should plan to bring headlamps or flashlights, in case of a blackout. The accommodations at the other destinations of the program are typically higher-end (for Ecuador) eco-lodges. Where possible, we stay in accommodations that have a concerted focus on sustainable tourism practices, such as the Black Sheep Inn.

Cost:

$2,495