Together, we are co-creating a hub for purpose driven leaders to thrive in connection with people and the planet.

A Month of Ecological Experimentation

The time seems ripe to go beyond the known. After returning to the land from a few months in Costa Rica, we’ve planted a lot of seeds and began making small breakthroughs in foundational systems to build community consciously. While we prepare to co-create a new food forest and community membership model, we are also beginning to dream about how a network of cooperative social enterprises can grow, for the good of all, through Más Allá and beyond.

In our pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle that resonates with the rhythms of nature, our community has embarked on a transformative journey, with growth and evolution, over the past month. We’ve grown from 1, to 6, back down to 2 people + 1 dog living on the land together over the course of this past month. This article shares our experiences, insights, and the evolving philosophy of living in harmony with our environment. Our aim is to inspire and educate readers who are attuned to ecological living and interested in adopting a more sustainable lifestyle through permaculture and circular economy principles.

Philosophy and Practice

Improving Permaculture Design

Recognizing some suboptimal actions in our initial approach, we are leaning deeper into studying permaculture ethics, design systems, and principles as a foundational standard for evolving our living environment optimally. Permaculture offers a systems-thinking approach that emphasizes the interconnection between all elements of the ecosystem. By observing and mimicking natural processes, we are learning to create more resilient and sustainable living conditions that nurture both the land and its inhabitants.

Circular Economy in Construction

Our initial construction phase relied heavily on external resources, including materials and expertise imported from off the island. This dependency was identified as a significant misalignment with our long term goals and shared vision. In response, we are redesigning our build plan for phase 1 to achieve approximately 99% circularity on Ometepe. This involves utilizing local materials, employing local craftspeople, and ensuring that all elements of construction are reusable or recyclable, minimizing waste and external inputs.

Community Engagement and Co-creation

A pivotal aspect of our month was hosting a brainstorming workshop that evolved into a think-and-do tank. This gathering harnessed the collective creativity of free thinking empowered minds, transforming ideas into actionable projects focused on recycling, upcycling, and eliminating waste. This collaborative approach not only accelerates problem-solving but also strengthens community bonds and commitment to our shared vision.

At Más Allá we continue to facilitate design thinking and problem solving workshops, both spontaneous and unstructured along with scheduled and structured processes. We’ve created a new channel, with friends in the community, on Telegram, Ometepe Waste Mangement Think&Do Tank. Welcome to join the discussion on there, and our upcoming workshops!

Energy and Waste Management

We began noticing, as more people have been arriving, more trash has been arriving, and more electricity has been demanded. What to do in response? What we see presenting itself is a profound learning opportunity. We aspire to implement small and slow solutions, permaculture principle #9, to eliminate waste and optimize energy production. With long term thinking, this aspiration presents significant challenges. Conventional solar PV cells and batteries contain toxic chemicals. While conventional solar PV cells and batteries are readily available with predictable prices and guarantees of work, they are not the only ways to capture and store renewable energy.

Eliminating waste is a great way to optimize energy production. Beyond what’s conventionally available, we aspire to research and develop better solutions with total alignment to people care, earth care, and fair share. We adhere to the principle that "energy management is waste management." By developing systems that optimize renewable energy capture and storage, and eliminate waste, we are not just conserving resources but also enhancing the overall health of our ecosystem. Projects such as pyrolysis for converting plastic trash into energy and the installation of solar turbines (or rediscovering zero-point energy) are examples of how we may aspire to apply advanced engineering disciplines to obtain yields with total ethical alignment. For the good of all.

Vision and Long-term Planning

In our ongoing discussions, we are brainstorming not just for the immediate future but for a sustainable legacy. Our 40-year vision includes is one of self-sufficiency, ecological resilience, and community well-being. We aim to create better models, open-source, that other communities can adapt and implement according to their specific environmental and cultural contexts.

Empowerment through Self-Realization

Self-accountability, self-management, and self-empowerment are pillars of our philosophy, enabling each community member to achieve self-realization.

We support this journey through various initiatives, including:

Integrative Organizing Training: Equipping people with skills and systems to consciously create harmonious living systems and profitable social enterprises

Conscious Community Building: Offering events to the public that support meaningful connections, cross-pollination of ideas, and true spiritual growth.

Living-Learning Community Membership: Providing food, lodging, and continuous learning opportunities in a supportive, inspiring environment.

Each step forward in our community's journey brings us closer to realizing a sustainable lifestyle that not only nurtures the environment but also fulfills the human spirit. Through shared efforts and a commitment to these principles, we are paving the way for a future where both people and the planet can thrive together. Beyond waste management, there is abundance of energy to share.