Agriculture is the human race's oldest industry and the foundation of civilization. Without farming, our species would still be scattered around the world as hunters, trappers and gatherers, huddled in small groups on the knife-edge of survival.
Nonetheless, the drive to increase food production has developed in ways that actually threaten the human race and other species. Irresponsible agricultural practices are a major cause of global warming, pollution, soil and water depletion, food contamination and social injustice.
Selva Negra is a pioneer in sustainable agriculture, the practice of farming in harmony with the relationships between organisms and their environment. We are breaking new ground to develop better ways to increase the abundance of the soil, control plant pests and diseases naturally, use non-renewable resources without wasting them, and improve the standard of living and quality of life of our employees.
The sustainability tour will introduce you to the blessings of sustainable farming, and the many exciting, creative ways we have invented to grow better food for a better world. The tour is conducted by mini-bus. We keep the groups small in order to leave as much time to answer as many of your questions as you want. The tour takes about 1.5 hours.
- Eco Lodge - We begin the tour with a history of the lodge, its architectural style and the small lake at the lodge that we use to power our hydraulic turbine.
- Organic Laboratory - Our laboratory is a scientific center for developing and monitoring organic ways to control weeds and other pests. Find out how we integrate the biological cycles of plants, animals and insects to reduce the need to apply pesticides and herbicides.
- Livestock - The farm breeds two types of chickens, one for laying eggs and another for meat. Our cattle herd produces organic milk, cheese and beef. Our pigs are free-ranged. At Selva Negra you'll be able to savor the farm-fresh flavor of organic eggs, dairy and meat in our restaurant. The same foods in our restaurant are served to the workers on the farm. Several of the items are for sale in the lodge.
- Biogas System - Selva Negra is at the leading edge in the fight against global warming. We have invented new ways to treat wastes in biodigesters that produce natural gas. This helps prevent the release of methane, a greenhouse gas, and provides fuel for the worker's kitchen.
- Organic Fertilizers - One of the products of our biodigesters is a sterile, thick, milky-white liquid that we use to condition the soil. Even the planting earth for our coffee seeds is out of the ordinary. We use a special breed of worm to turn cow manure and coffee husks into organic soil (a process called vermiculture). Our compost bins and vermiculture produce more than four million pounds of organic fertilizer every year!
- Vegetables - The tour swings by our greenhouses and gardens where we use much of our composted soil to produce the organic vegetables on your plate in the restaurant.
- Shaded Coffee Plantation - We use three different heights of trees to shade our coffee plants from the harsh effect of direct sunlight. The shade trees provide habitats for a diverse range of birds and animals, as well as lumber and firewood when the natural life of the trees comes to an end.
- Worker's village - Selva Negra's labour relations are among the most progressive in Central America. We have learned that the success of sustainable agriculture depends on the enthusiastic support and well-being of our employees. The tour will take you to our worker's village, which contains our own school, library, children's playground, medical clinic and accommodations.