Sustainable Off The Grid Clean Energy Hospitality At Rancho de Caldera Eco Project Panama

[Rancho de Caldera]

One of the greatest strides anyone can make is moving toward energy independence. No small feat for an operation like Rancho de Caldera (www.ranchodecaldera.com) yet we have already accomplished this by drawing our energy from hydroelectric, solar and wind power instead of being connected to the national grid. Our off-the-grid approach doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury for our guests and all of our cabins are equipped with air-conditioning, an iPod docking station, and television. We want our guests to be comfortable but also to be aware of energy consumption, so you’ll find small reminders asking you to please turn off electronics when not in use in order to conserve the small amount of energy we produce which is shared by everyone.

On-site electricity production is just one of many components that make Rancho de Caldera a sustainable operation. We produce much of our own produce on the property by growing fruits that are adapted to this climate. For those things that require a more delicate environment i.e. tender greens, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, we use greenhouses constructed from that great renewable grass... bamboo. Bamboo is truly a gift to humankind. Giant bamboo can support more downward force than steel, can be made into plywood that is harder than oak and its fibers can be woven into soft and extremely durable fabric. It is the fastest growing plant on earth and some varieties have been reported to grow as much as 47 inches in a single 24-hour period! We use giant bamboo as support columns and beams for our greenhouses that protect our crops from the rude sun and ruthless heavy rains that can rip seedlings from the soil. We have large areas of newly planted bamboo so that in three to five years we will be able to harvest our own for future construction projects.

One form of organic fertilizer we use is produced in nearby Boquete and is a rich mixture of composted coffee beans inoculated with Tricoderma.Tricoderma is a fungus that grows naturally in the environment and grows on and around root systems protecting plants from the harmful funguses that cause root rot and some foliar diseases. We use this in all our planting to be sure that Tricoderma is omnipresent on our property. In many areas, such as our fruit orchard, compost is laid and then covered with layers of mulch in the form of wood chips from our shop or water hyacinths from our pond. Because of their very rapid growth water hyacinths run the risk of becoming invasive so we treat them as a farm product and thin them when they begin to overwhelm our pond, using them to lock organic matter in the soil.

Our goal at Rancho de Caldera is to be completely self-sustainable by producing everything ourselves; electricity, biodiesel, produce, meats, cheeses and animal forage. We want to serve as a model for those interested in independent living in a world of dwindling resources. The road to that goal is long and bumpy but information is plentiful and like-minded people are all around us, graciously offering their knowledge and skills. We are thankful for them as we continue our journey towards sustainability and encourage you to join us for a time, so that we can share what we have learned with you.