Project Bona Fide

Description

Bona Fide's projects revolve around both short term and long term needs of the local communities surrounding the pilot farm, Finca Bona Fide. Long term projects focus on creating sustainable economics that steward the health and diversity of the community and environment. These long term solutions begin with establishing relations with community members and listening to their needs in relation to project goals. Projects begun in this direction support international organic certification, diverse farming system designs, seed and tree stock donation/planting, value added product market research, ongoing educational and practical workshops, and co-operative organizing. In layman terms this means growing seed stock, setting up nurseries, collecting species diversity, adapting sustainable designs to local conditions, learning what the export market wants and planning for it, setting up workshops to demonstrate simple techniques in planting and placing, and meeting with local farmers to discuss the benefits and processes of forming co-operatives.

// Short term projects are concerned with the immediate needs of the local communities. These projects usually focus on health, safety, and education. Though these projects vary depending on need, current endeavors include working with a local primary school to build compost toilets and implement a waste management program in the community. The lack of a waste management system and open burning of trash create immediate health concerns. Project Bona Fide's angle is to work with the upcoming generations to realize needed change.