2020

Regeneration

2025

100% OFF GRID

Project designed using permaculture principles

Community project with our local farmers

1400

Trees already planted!

Water directly from our mountain spring

Solar power system

We create our own biogas for cooking

Living regeneratively acknowledges that sustainability is no longer enough! Sustainable living refers to a lifestyle with minimal impact to avoid resource depletion. But this doesn’t undo the damage already inflicted on the natural world. Regenerative action goes one step further by actively restoring and improving ecosystems.

Regeneration has been central to the values of La Ponderosa Reserve with regards both local environment and community. Two of the owners are certified in Permaculture Design Courses (PDC). At the start, months were spent observing the land and holistically analysing all the interacting elements within the farm as a whole, to design a closed loop system cycling energy within the system to minimise resource and energy use and waste.

This approach gave birth to:

Converting animal and kitchen waste into biogas and fertiliser in our onsite biodigester which we in turn use for cooking in the kitchen and fertilising our veggies
Using only compost toilets which require no water and eventually feed our fruit forest
All dirty water is naturally treated onsite and cycled into food growing systems
Goal for ZERO-WASTE – we premake all snacks, juices and mixers to avoid plastic. Guests are involved in our eco-journey and advised not to bring/leave rubbish here
A local farmers association with our neighbours
Providing fair employment to our local community or supporting them in the startup of their own tourism initiatives
Experimentation of different bioconstruction techniques
Weekly permaculture tours for guests to raise awareness on the issues with our global food system and the solutions
We grow organic food for our vegetarian restaurant and then prioritize sourcing from local farmers

La Ponderosa Reserve is constantly evolving as we continue to learn and grow. We are grateful to everyone who has guided us along our way. Our regenerative community is expanding, with new residents recently completing their PDC’s—bringing fresh ideas and diverse perspectives as we walk the regenerative path together.

Working with a local foundation, Fundación Bachaqueros, we learned how to reforest our landscape from local seeds. We have planted 1400 trees, focusing on bringing back topsoil, water and biodiversity by creating biological corridors. Our project was built exploring different bioconstruction techniques with local materials: clay bricks, bamboo and palm roofs, fallen trees, river driftwood & dry-stone walling.

Together with our neighbors, we’ve created an Association for Farming and Ecosystem Services—an effort to regenerate and protect our region, once affected by conflict. We’re currently seeking funding to help designate the area as an ecologically protected zone eligible for conservation financing. Alongside this, we plan to host workshops on sustainable farming, offering practical alternatives for those looking to diversify, with a goal of creating a farmers shop and trade network.