Río Muchacho Finca Orgánica

Country:

Ecuador

Zone:

Manabí

Description

Río Muchacho Organic Farm is not a foundation and has never received donations or funds from any kind of organization. It is a private property dedicated to the experimentation of responsible systems for managing the earth, but we have acted as if we were a foundation, with a socio-environmental vision and projection. Originally, this farm also had a history of traditional livestock raising but, when we realized that the land was turning into a desert, we made drastic overnight changes in order to devote ourselves to environmental regeneration and healthy agricultural practices. Environmental work on the farm began in 1989, introducing agro-ecological initiatives to try to utilize the earth’s potential in a series of efficient manners that constitute alternatives for the responsible work of farmers. Since we began working in organics in 1989, Río Muchacho became the First Agrotourism Project in Ecuador. Since 1989, Río Muchacho has received foreign tourists attracted by the idea of a farm that works with the land and produces chemical-free food, knowing the culture and nature. Two important projects sprouted in the region: the Río Muchacho Environmental School and Ecopapel in Bahía de Caráquez. The touristic aspect of the farm consists of four elements: local ecology, culture, adventure and environmental stewardship. The visitors that get to know the tropical nature of this transition system want to know more about the montubio culture as one of the country’s ethnic groups, want to have new adventure experiences in the forest, either on horseback or walking and, they want to see different systems used for the correct utilization of waste materials, compost, recycling, and transformation of energy in general. Current results are, in addition to the products of constant experimentation, associating and rotating crops, trying out designs and planning different combinations; little by little, we have witnessed how the work of the people is increasingly less as nature works harder, allowing us to be able to appreciate an environmental balance and equilibrium among different factors of production. We were initially concerned about the presence of certain pests in the crops but we now understand that their presence is necessary for self-regulation and balance, to the point that now we do not even use natural fumigants but rather allow natural corrections to take place. In this way, we have learned much from Mother Earth and have established a group of proposals as part of an alternative organic and permaculture model of agriculture. At the same time, the farm has turned into a model of alternative tourism for foreigners while being a training center for Ecuadorians, community organizations, and agricultural associations. The farm boasts examples or models of solar energy, biogas, vermiculture, recycling of gray water systems, composting toilets, composting areas, organic crops, agroforestry, silviculture, production of bamboo, reforestation, animal husbandry, and bee-keeping. The farm receives community groups from different parts of the country for training in ecological topics. Farming groups from various provinces of Ecuador have visited the farm. At the beginning of 2003, Río Muchacho was the setting for the Third International Agroecology Course, organized by the Ecuadorian Agroforestry Network (RAFE), with the participation of representatives from other Latin American countries. We have also received groups of tourism, environmental sciences, agro-fishing students from several universities in the country; and groups of children from schools for adventure and ecology camps. We have various specific programs for training in rural tourism, organic agriculture, ecological design and recycling of organic material. In other areas, many young foreigners have participated in our organic agriculture training program with an emphasis on tropical permaculture and learning Spanish.

Location

Río Muchacho is located 35 kilometers north of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecocity. It is the first farm on the Ecuadorian coast to be certified for its work with and production of food free of chemicals in the area surrounding Canoa Parish, San Vicente Canton, in Manabí Province. The farm is located in the transition zone between the dry tropical forest and wet tropical forest and is also influenced by two sea currents: the Humboldt and the El Niño (Panama). The cold Humboldt current comes from the south, parallel to the coast and, directly in front of Río Muchacho, in Cabo Pasado, it turns toward Galápagos. This change is most evident between June and October and directly influences the vegetation of the coastal zone, enriching the dry tropical forest ecosystem. This current lowers the temperature and the scenery is dark, cloudy, with moist breezes (light rain season) and showers that, in June, allow coffee to mature for harvest. The warm El Niño current, however, originates in the north and approaches the coast beginning in December, producing a high degree of evaporation on the ocean, formation of clouds, temperatures higher than 40°C and strong rains. The winter season and the wet tropical forest ecosystem result from this influence. Río Muchacho is the product of the transition between these two forests, dry and wet. For this reason, it is easy to find trees, plants, animals, birds and insects from both ecosystems living together.

Advice to our visitors

Light pack with clothes for 3 days, including long pants for horseriding and shorts for shrimp fishing
Sun hat
Swimsuit
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Camera
Flashlight
Raincoat (in wet season)
Towel
Water bottle
Work clothes that you don’t mind getting very dirty (light cotton clothes are best)
Clothes washing detergent
Biodegradable body soap
Tidy clothes for fiestas
Books
Medical supplies you might need
Itch-soothing cream
Mosquito net

Prices