In this episode, I had a chat with a long-time friend, Santiago Moringa, from Molinos Verdes de Moringa. Santi is a leader in social permaculture and has over a decade of experience building community gardens and other socially regenerative projects across Costa Rica and internationally.

In our conversation, Santi shares his journey from discovering permaculture through the lens of agriculture to embracing the broader social aspects that foster community and connection. We delve into his passion for integrating diverse communities into the permaculture movement, including elders and marginalized groups. Santi also opens up about his personal transformation and the pivotal moments that shaped his commitment to the social permaculture movement.

From his early experiences with factory farm methods to his life-changing reflections on the importance of love and empathy in all human interactions, Santi's stories are heartfelt calls to action for us all.

I’m grateful for Santi’s emphasis on integrating social elements into permaculture, focusing not just on physical structures but on fostering genuine human connections and community resilience. We really need to expand our perspectives on permaculture and how it can be applied beyond food forests and water management.

Santi also highlighted the need to embrace diversity beyond appearances. Instead, seek functional diversity in viewpoints and interactions that honor each individual's unique contributions, leading to more innovative and inclusive solutions.

With this comes a need to understand and embrace our emotions, which leads to personal growth and stronger community bonds. It's crucial to channel these emotions constructively to create a safe container for that diversity to be expressed. At the same time, always remember that growth is a process, and it’s crucial to be patient with ourselves and others as we navigate the human experience together.

If Santi's work inspires you, consider putting effort toward making a difference in your local community. Support those already doing incredible work so you can build a more regenerative future together.

Thank you for joining us today. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of regenerative living.

To follow more of Saniti’s contributions toward a regenerative world, check out:
Website - www.mvmoringa.com
YT - https://www.youtube.com/@mvmoringa/
IG - https://www.instagram.com/mvmoringa/

This episode is brought to you by, well, YOU! I haven’t built up my audience enough to have attracted sponsors, so instead of buying an organic cotton shirt or an online course, maybe you can just buy me a coffee!

Go to https://ko-fi.com/regenerationnationcr to drop a few dollars in the bucket and let me know you care.

You can now also visit our website’s Resources page to find lots of great information and products that many have found to make their lives better. Visit: https://regenerationnationcr.com/resources

Special thanks to Patrick Fuentes for editing this episode!

Music: Rite of Passage by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4291-rite-of-passage

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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In this interview, I visited Itai Hauben at his lovely home and permaculture education center called Adama.

Adama is nestled in the mountains of the Chirripo River Valley, where Itai and his wife Melina teach permaculture design courses to lucky students every year. It’s also the headquarters of Symbiosis Eco Design, their permaculture design and implementation business, serving land projects nationwide. Symbiosis is a powerful change agent in this country ecologically, socially, and educationally.

We got together to chat about why creating a permaculture design is such a highly recommended investment BEFORE making any significant investments into any land-based endeavor. Itai gives several examples illustrating the importance of hiring a professional who can read the landscape and avoid potential pitfalls.

In addition, Itai emphasizes the need to conduct proper due diligence before purchasing a property and hiring specialists to ensure the security of your investment. There are some things that just can’t be undone!

Understanding and integrating local knowledge into permaculture design can’t be overstated. We've delved into the critical aspects of water management, soil stability, and the creation of food forests, illustrating the importance of thoughtful, well-planned permaculture designs.

Learning from our mistakes is ordinary, meaningful, and part of the journey. Learning from other people’s mistakes through research or hiring the assistance of someone further along the path is wisdom, and an integral part of the permaculture design process.

The episode wraps up with talks on preventing burnout and pacing a project according to the client's needs.

Let's carry forward the wisdom and inspiration from Itai's journey. Remember, the path to successful, sustainable living and professional growth in permaculture is paved with patience, planning, and a profound respect for the surprises that can be found amidst the natural world.

May we all embrace these principles in our own endeavors, nurturing a future where both our environment and our businesses can flourish in harmony.

To follow more of Itai’s contributions toward a regenerative world, check out:
Website - https://symbiosiscr.com/

FB - https://www.facebook.com/SymbiosisEcoDesign

IG - https://www.instagram.com/adama_permaculture/

Email - symbiosisecodesign@gmail.com

Other recommendations:

• Regeneration of desert into forests in Jordan https://www.greeningthedesertproject.org/

To support the show, go to https://ko-fi.com/regenerationnationcr.

You can now also visit our website’s Resources page to find lots of great information and products that many have found to make their lives better. Visit: https://regenerationnationcr.com/resources

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Welcome to an enlightening conversation with Marcus Merlin, steward of MoZen Temple in the Diamante Valley. We delve deep into personal growth, environmental sustainability, and the much-needed impact of regenerative entrepreneurship.

Merlin shares his insights into the power of forgiveness as a personal practice and a foundation for creating meaningful connections and building communities.

Forgiveness has the power to transform not just individual lives but entire communities. The transformative power of forgiveness can unlock our spiritual beliefs and lead us to rewrite our personal narratives in ways that propel us forward. Marcus’s story reminds us of the profound impact forgiveness can have on our lives, offering us freedom and a new perspective on our purpose.

Together, we explore the concept of 'Finding Your Why,' as Merlin discusses the significance of discovering one's purpose to facilitate freedom from the past and a clear direction forward. This idea serves as a gateway to passion-driven work, where doing what you love transforms the traditional notion of work and productivity. It is also the theme of his annual retreat in Costa Rica.

The significance of finding our 'why,' creating passion-driven work, and the magic of vulnerability within dream teams are all worth reflecting deeper on. These elements are crucial for anyone looking to lead a fulfilling life while making a positive impact on the world. They provide us with tools and philosophies to embrace a more holistic and purpose-driven approach to life.

The conversation also highlights the essence of building 'dream teams'—individuals who share a passion for what they do and support one another in achieving common goals. We discuss the importance of vulnerability and authenticity within these teams, revealing how these qualities can be superpowers in personal and professional development.

We also touch on the role of shamanic and spiritual practices in personal transformation, the importance of selective commitment to stay true to one's values, and the power of community and forgiveness in action. The role of shamanic and spiritual practices in personal transformation might be a new concept for some, but it’s thankfully becoming more commonplace in our modern-day culture.

The lessons from this episode have the potential to catalyze change in every aspect of our lives. If you’d like to dive deeper into these concepts, visit www.findyourwhy.info and register for Merlin’s upcoming retreat.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter at https://regenerationnationcr.com to hear more about cultural bridge-building, regenerative-minded events, and future podcast releases.

To follow more of Merlin’s contributions toward a regenerative world, check out:
Website - www.findyourwhy.info

FB - https://www.facebook.com/marcushinds1

IG - https://www.instagram.com/marcusmerlinpowerguide/

Go to https://ko-fi.com/regenerationnationcr to drop a few dollars in the bucket and let me know you care.

You can now also visit our website’s Resources page to find lots of great information and products that many have found to improve their lives. Visit: https://regenerationnationcr.com/resources

Support the Show.