Covid-19: Gardening Helps People Recover in Costa Rica

When the world paused to stem the spread of Covid-19, many lost their jobs - struggling to put food on the table. In Costa Rica, a new community garden is helping people bounce back while restoring local biodiversity.

The project began in Tempate soon after the coronavirus pandemic arrived in the Central American country.

Initially a food distribution initiative was created, but organizers decided the community needed a more sustainable and longer term solution to food shortages, explains organiser Juan Sio.

"We started with the distribution of food to the neighbours, but we realized that it was a short term solution, so we focused on seeing what solutions there were to generate more community resilience."

Thirty families are involved with the Regenerative Vegetable Garden project.

They have transformed one hectare of previously neglected land, into a lush green kitchen garden.

Over thirty types of fruit and vegetables are grown here, including vegetables, tubers and grains.

Once harvested, the crops are distributed to the participating families and the surplus is sold at organic markets in the region.

The soil is treated with only organic fertilizer and water says Rosa, showing off her crate of assorted fruit and vegetables, "everything is organic, it doesn't contain anything that is bad for our health." she adds.

The initiative has benefited the neighbours mentally, as well as economically, building bonds with team work and working in the fresh air.

The residents receiving training in organic agriculture that would not use harmful chemicals, but rather natural fertilizers that help increase biodiversity and promote water capture.

The method is described as polyculture, in which plant species are planted mixed or together to create natural symbiotic environments, which help control pest and retain soil fertility.

"We have been damaging nature for more than 200 years, introducing pesticides and synthetic fertilizers in the last 50 or 60 years, reversing that means working on solutions based on nature" says Dr. Felix Cañet, an agronomist and food technology scientist working with the Regenerative Costa Rica project.

The team say that on the hectare that has been developed here, more than 72 species of insects that had disappeared from this area have returned, illustrating how biodiversity can be achieved in an agricultural context.

Another participant Ana Días says we need to find a more sustainable way to farm and restore the soil quality.

"The relationship of human beings with the earth must be friendly, not so sustainable, that is not enough, now it has to be regenerative. Now we must seek to regenerate the soil so that we can continue, because if we continue where we are we do not know where we are going to get to."

The well being of the residents has also been restored. Local man Dani Contreras says it fill his heart with joy to see his little son play here.

"The land needs our warmth and here we have so many families, we are 30 families, plus the children who come to play, the mothers and fathers working, it is something that gives me chills to see something so beautiful. I have an older son of 25 years and a young 3 year old son, here he comes to run, to have fun, to help water and that is something that for me is a priceless experience" he says.

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