Join the us for a 3 day deep dive into Syntropic Farming in the hills of Volcan Tenorio in northern Costa Rica. Our team at Porvenir Design is partnering with Cinco Ramas Spice Farm and their newest endeavor Bodha Gardens. Over the last two years we have installed two separate 5000 m2 syntropic agroforestry systems.
This workshop is designed to give you all of the tools you will need to go back to your land, where ever in the world that might be, and install your first syntropic orchard.
SYNTROPIC FARMING
Syntropic Farming is an innovative agroforestry practice originating with Ernst Gotsch's farm in Bahia, Brazil. This course introduces you to Syntropic Farming, focusing on growing food and reforesting landscapes from day 30 to year 30. Learn how to use forest succession to regenerate ecosystems and grow food, moving from theory to practical implementation!
The course will include the following activities and resources:
The installation of a 500 m2 syntropic orchard focused on vegetable and grain production, ie the “canasta basica.”
The maintenance of a 1 year old syntropic system focused on cacao, vanilla, and medicinal plants.
The maintenance of a 2 year old syntropic system focused on pili nut, tea, vanilla, and citrus.
A complete exploration of the principles and major activities involved with syntropic farming.
A design guide for designing your own system.
A detailed species list for all major climate zones.
An extensive resource packet with all the major texts related to syntropic farming across tropical, mediterranean, and temperate climates.
Enroll Here
BODHA GARDENS & CINCO RAMAS
Nestled in the lush, biodiverse region of Río Celeste, Costa Rica, Bodha Gardens is a 156-hectare regenerative agroforestry and botanical garden project stewarded by Robert and Geri Brown. The farm integrates syntropic agriculture, conservation, and a living library botanical collection in a landscape of rolling hills and dynamic ecosystems. Over the past two years, Bodha Gardens has been developing and refining syntropic farm lots—ranging from early-stage plant collection and succession plantings to slightly more established systems—featuring a diverse mix of fruit trees, biomass species, medicinal plants, and native forest regeneration. With deep experience in organic farming, reforestation, and land-based education, the team is honored to host this workshop and co-create an immersive learning experience rooted in practical skill-building, and syntropic principles in action.
SCHEDULE
Friday, January 23: Start at 9 AM and finish at 5 PM. Lunch is included.
Saturday, January 24: Start at 7 AM and finish at 5 PM. Breakfast and Lunch are included.
Sunday, January 25: Start at 7 AM and finish at Noon. Breakfast is included.
LANGUAGE
This course will be taught in both English and Spanish. It will include simultaneous translation.
COSTS
Price for foreigners and expats: $250
Price for Costa Ricans: $150
SCHOLARSHIPS
We are offering 2 complete scholarships to Costa Rican’s who can not afford the cost of the course. To apply for a scholarship please fill out the form linked here.
MEALS
Included meals are noted in the schedule above. No dinner meals are included.
LODGING
Lodging is NOT included in the price of the course. There are affordable and nearby lodging options available. We will post details of the lodging options soon.
LOCATION
You can find the farm location using this Waze link. Note that 4x4 is recommended for arriving. We will share nearby parking and carpooling options for anyone without 4x4.
FACILITATORS
Scott Gallant
Scott is a permaculture designer and educator with 16 years of experience working predominantly in Central America.
He is the co-founder of Porvenir Design, a landscape design firm specializing in productive landscapes, agroforestry, water systems, and design of large multi-stakeholder projects.
With his team he organized the first Syntropic Farming workshop in Central America, and since then he has studied with some of the foremost practitioners including Fernando Rebello, Thiago Barbosa, Henrique Sousa, Nat Muget, Marc Leiber, and Juã Pereira.
He is particularly interested in translating the unique practice of syntropic farming into English and contexts outside of Brazil.
He prides himself on the clear and concise teaching of complex ideas, and more recently has begun exploring Syntropic Farming in the mediterranean climate of southern Italy.
Gerardo calderon
Gerardo es Técnico en Agricultura Orgánica y Permacultor con más de una década de experiencia en el diseño y manejo de huertos y fincas orgánicas en Costa Rica. Actualmente, cursa estudios en la carrera de Ciencias Agropecuarias. A lo largo de 11 años ha trabajado en diversas regiones de Costa Rica, especializándose en proyectos con enfoque de agroturismo, donde se integra prácticas sostenibles, educación ambiental y producción de alimentos saludables.
En los últimos 4 años, ha profundizado su expertise en Sistemas Agroforestales con formación especializada en Agricultura Sintrópica que ha recibido en Costa Rica, México y Brasil.
Actualmente, se desempeña como Gerente de Finca en Finca Luna Nueva, donde lidera la implementación de prácticas regenerativas y la transición hacia sistemas productivos regenerativos. Además, a través de su empresa Geosmina, colabora como consultor externo con algunas de las principales empresas de diseño de Sistemas Agroforestales de Costa Rica.
Entre sus áreas de interés y especialización destacan:
Diseño y manejo de biofábricas (producción de insumos orgánicos como biofermentos, compostas y biopreparados).
Salud del suelo: manejo de microbiología, bioindicadores y fertilidad natural.
Producción de alimentos desde enfoques regenerativos y de bajos insumos.
robert brown
Rob is a horticulturalist and plant-centric business owner living and working full-time in Costa Rica for the last eighteen years, with broad experience in tropical forestry and organicallycertified food and spices. His passion is plant propagation and greenhouse management.
He is the co-founder of Cinco Ramas, a certified Organic spice farm of over 13 years, that produces a diverse range of tropical spices, medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables. He is alsothe co-founder of Silviterra, a vertically integrated forestry company that has planted over 2.7million trees in the northern zone of Costa Rica focused on sustainable timber for housing and packaging.
Rob’s current project and site of the workshop, Bodha Gardens, is the realization of his, and wife Geri’s, life’s work, experiences and interests; a vision to bring together the worlds of aesthetic landscapes and botanical collections, health and wellbeing, education and conservation, discovery, and the pure enjoyment of being outdoors.
Alberto koberg
Alberto, aka Veto, studied Construction Engineering, but being the son of a biologist he has been in contact with nature, intrigued and amazed by it since a very young age. This led him to work for seven years at SPHERA Sostenible as Project Manager for lower impact construction projects which incorporated sustainability elements. While researching more sustainable ways of living he took the Permaculture Design Course with Porvenir Design in 2018 and since then has been incorporating and practicing permaculture principles into his life, finally shifting from engineering to permaculture design in 2023.
Alberto is passionate about ecology, relationships between living organisms and natural processes, and is determined to understand nature and life itself better. Through the lens of permaculture he hopes to improve the way in which humans interact with nature and (re)integrate the human environment with the natural environment. Alberto enjoys spending time in nature, whether in his home garden, hiking in the mountains or surfing. He also enjoys mycology and birdwatching in his free time.
ENROLLMENT and QUESTIONS
To enroll in the course please fill out the enrollment form.
For any additional questions please reach out the following people:
Isabel: +506 8945 1038
Geri Brown: +506 8858 9329, geri.brown@cincoramas.com
