FARM AND ORGANIC GARDEN

Sustainable Farming on our Organic Garden

When we started in 2002, Finca Exotica was made of only a small chicken coop, a shade house nursery and open areas previously occupied by cattle. The garden was naked, barren land. Once used to graze cattle to feed workers of the booming gold mining industry, most of the soils nutrients were leached, leaving it unable to grow anything at all. The tireless efforts of our gardeners have proven that with a little love, care and compost this soil, the grounds here can produce an abundance of fruits, root vegetables, herbs, spices and more. Our organic garden provides not only for ourselves, but a diverse array of wildlife that call our trees, bushes and grounds home!

The property, over 90 hectares in size, is home to both primary and secondary forest. We are now home to over 1200 trees, 130 varieties of tropical fruits, a wide variety of bamboo (for construction), herbs, medicinal plants, greens for salads, and more. We are now able to offer organically grown fruits and vegetables, and cure the occasional sunburn with our own Aloe Vera. This has always been one of the main objectives at Finca Exotica: to continuously move towards self-sufficiency.

Continuously Evolving Permaculture

The Finca Exotica organic garden, cultivated for over 14 years, is a natural extension of the untouched forest all around. You may not even realize you are there until your guide tells you! A sanctuary for botanists and nature lovers, these gardens are a continuous work in progress that now incorporate biodynamic techniques and constant input from a wide-variety of organic philosophies. We make our own compost from kitchen left-overs, leaves and cow manure from the neighbors. This is an important addition to our biodynamic preparations, microorganisms, natural insecticides (like hot chili peppers mixed with garlic, lemongrass, vinegar and alcohol) and fungicides (like calcium carbonate).

Come wander with our guide on one of our garden tours through the landscaped paths blooming with exotic ornamental and fruit trees, spices, herbs and medicinal plants. You will go away with a new appreciation for our green friends and perhaps a cure for what ails you!