Tilapia Farm and Sustainable Farming

IOn Sunday after Meeting, and after a food shopping trip and a stop in the local taverna in Saint Elena (the commercial centre in the Monteverde Region) my Costa Rican family decided to take me to the local Tilapia farm in San Luis.  The village of San Luis is about a half hour drive from Monteverde, down a one lane dirt road that is almost indescribeable.  Fortunately there wasn't much traffic coming up the hill until then end and we skidded our way down the hill and around the corners....as a kindness they put me in the front on the passenger side.  I cringe and smile and tighten my seat belt whilst Paco the Dad says oh, you don't need a belt in Monteverde...ha! 

This is taken at the top of the hill (it's the dry season so many trees have lost their leaves, waiting for rain)

Onc we got to the farm It was is lovely.  Quiet and green --water does run downhill-- with several ponds and a charming and rustic open air dining room.  

Families were fishing with lines of monofilament, a hook and a worm.  

Our gang tried fishing but only got undersized fish so the owner threw in a net and pulled out several for us.  His wife fried them with garlic, accompanied with fried yucca and a tomato salad/salsa.  It was delicious and as Annalisse reminded us Tilapia is a sustainable fish because it has a low feed ratio, is farmed on land and doesn't affect other species as does Atlantic Salmon..... The budding scientist ! 

After dinner the owner sat down ith us and over a Cuba Libre ( I am told that in CR it is called the Liars Drink) he showed us on a diagram how he gets methane from his cows to use for cooking gas.  Quite interesting actually.  They also grow all their tomatoes and peppers and who knows what else.  It's so interesting seeing this kind of stuff instead of just reading about it, the reality actually does work on a small scale.  

Here I am in front of this amazing epiphyte orchid.

And back home to Monteverde.  

....I'm having a major melt down......there is a mouse or a nest of mice that roar in the night.  I can hear them scrabbling around when I'm sleeping (or trying) and tonight we saw one scuttle across the floor.  I am soo ready for a luxury resort on the beach. Mice poison is out but I am grossed out.  I just killed one (I hope) with a broom!