Editor’s Note: Our community is celebrating a new mural in Juluchuca, thanks in large part to the initiative of Season 10 fall farm intern, Margot Mattson. Many previous volunteers have talked about doing a community mural, but this is the first time it’s actually been done – and it’s a huge success! Here, in her own words is the story of how Margot worked with local high school students to give us all a wonderful gift. Thank you Margot!
Written by Margot Mattson
This Fall, I was welcomed into the community of Juluchuca as Playa Viva’s Farm Intern. My role was to work on the Playa Viva farm, moving forward their organic food production goals, as well as engaging the community in health and educational projects. When I first arrived, I could barely hold an introductory conversation in Spanish and feared that my language skills would never improve. Thanks to the dedicated help of the Playa Viva staff, I was able to improve my Spanish speaking abilities enough to start working in the community.
Margot and local students in front of their finished product
A Shared Vision of Juluchuca
Through helping out in the local high school, I quickly realized that a great education project would be an environmental mural. The students had already initiated painting projects throughout the town to remind us to take care of the planet. With the help of the head teacher, Maestra Jessica, and the education volunteer, Ariel, we were able to organize a group of students to take the lead on the project. I wanted the mural design to come from them, an inspiring group of young people working to take care of their community.
My hope as I leave Playa Viva is that these community murals help instill a sense of pride amongst residents of Juluchuca
When you ask the people of Juluchuca why they like living in their town, many respond with a similar answer: la playa. For many residents, the beach is one of their favorite places in the area. It is a space of beauty where you can watch sunsets and connect with nature. It’s a place to enjoy a Sunday picnic with family or the launching point for a day spent fishing. As a town supported by agriculture and fishing, the people of Juluchuca identify strongly with the importance of the natural environment and the biodiversity of our surroundings.
Over the course of several weeks, I held meetings with the students to discuss and brainstorm what most symbolizes their town. What are they proud of? What do they love about living in Juluchuca? Without surprise, the students suggested that what most represents Juluchuca is the beach, the abundance of wild animals, and the agricultural fields. They wanted to include iguanas and sea turtles, both species that are facing the impacts of poaching and anthropogenic pollution. Both animals are also symbolic of the area: sea turtles commonly nest on our beaches, with the La Tortuga Viva volunteers working tirelessly to protect them, and the iguana is represented in one of the most traditional dances of Guerrero.
With our vision in mind, the class selected three students who were considered the best artists to help draw the design. We came up with several sketches and settled on one. We painted the mural next to the primary school, where many families pass by each day. The students were incredibly dedicated and self-motivated workers. They organized themselves into teams in order to accomplish tasks with little instruction. To my surprise, all of the students participated in the painting process, even those who claimed they weren’t very good at art. They were eager to learn new painting techniques to achieve a desired look and were supportive of everyone’s contribution to the mural regardless of their painting experience.
A Mural for the Whole Community
As we were painting in a public space, members of the community would pass by and share their excitement and gratitude for the student’s work. When the principle of the primary school saw the mural, she asked if we would paint another mural to cover the previously grey brick walls flanking the school gate. We agreed, and students who previously showed hesitation and doubt of their drawing skills asked to help with the design process for the other two walls. To show their appreciation, passing community members would give our group cold 2-liter bottles of soda along with a stack of cups for sharing. One of the students brought her speaker and we all enjoyed painting in the early morning shade, listening to music and sipping on cold “refrescos”.
Throughout the mural painting process we talked about the importance of nature and the negative impact of pollution on the environment. Often we were painting in a space surrounded by litter. We are all aware that Juluchuca is not perfect and that we can each do more to keep our community clean and thriving. My hope as I leave Playa Viva is that these community murals help instill a sense of pride amongst residents of Juluchuca, and that this, in turn, will lead to better environmental practices such as recycling and keeping the town clean. Through this experience, I was able to watch as young people expressed themselves as artists and pushed themselves to design, organize and complete a beautiful project. They are the next generation, and I am incredibly proud to say that they are already making our world a more beautiful place.
The Best Conservationists Are Often Former Hunters
Hector Maldonado is known throughout his hometown of Juluchuca as a man who loves turtles. That was not always the case, as he was once jailed for poaching turtle eggs. These days, he spends his time protecting them instead. Hector serves as President of La Tortuga Viva, where he manages a team of fourteen volunteers who patrol the beaches collecting nests buried in the sand, and keeping the eggs safe within a protected incubation pen for 45-60 days until they hatch and the baby turtles are safely released into the ocean. Hector often personally works around the clock to make sure the sanctuary is running up to speed. He is now a leader in his community, playing a crucial role in protecting the turtle species that nest at Playa Viva.
Like the other members of the sanctuary, Hector works as a volunteer, receiving a monthly food basket for his time. But it’s no easy job taking care of a hatchery and managing a team of fourteen volunteers:
“I come in almost every afternoon to see if nests need to be cleaned out or if a tejon (badger) has gotten into the camp. I hold meetings with the guys and always try to make sure we are working as a team, that we are saving turtles and keeping the sanctuary protected. Sometimes it’s really hard!”
In addition to the day-to-day work at the camp, Hector also organizes and leads night patrols to collect nests, helps with construction and maintenance, oversees the government permit process, and still finds time to come to Playa Viva to interact with guests about the importance of La Tortuga Viva. It is clear that sea turtle conservation is often a full-time job. When asked why he does it, he says it’s simple – it’s a labor of love:
“I love doing this. I love saving nests, searching for Leatherbacks, and seeing the turtles released. When I was young, I wanted to study to become an ecologist. I didn’t have the resources to achieve that, but I still feel I am making an impact.”
From everyone here at Playa Viva, we are so grateful for the work that Hector does for our community and for the turtles that nest on our beach. His transformation from poacher to conservationist reminds us all that change is possible when we each do our part.
Each year 1000s of mother sea turtles return to the beaches around Playa Viva to lay their eggs. These turtle nests are increasingly vulnerable to both predators and poaching, but since 2001 they have been protected by the dedicated volunteers at La Tortuga Viva. The volunteers patrol the beach each night, collect freshly laid eggs, moving them to the turtle sanctuary, a centralized incubation pen, where they are safe until they can hatch and be released into the Pacific. The sanctuary operates 365 days a year, and just since 2010, La Tortuga Viva has protected and released over 400,000 endangered turtles.
It’s a huge task, but the work doesn’t stop there. Every few years they have to construct a whole new sanctuary structure in a different location.
Each morning after a turtle release and yoga we set out to dig, hammer, and lift in order to get the new sanctuary off the ground.
Over time bacteria and ant infestations build up in the sand, and without moving the sanctuary, the birthrates would plummet and the process would not be effective. So we are incredibly thankful this holiday season for the gift of a brand new sanctuary structure, made possible by the hard work and financial support of 109 World, a service and mindfulness organization, that brought 35 members to join our community of volunteer conservationists for a 6 day yoga and service trip.
As a service and mindfulness organization, 109 World members have traveled all over the world leading retreats to empower individuals to transform their lives. They organize a wide variety of humanitarian projects, in areas such as education, the environment, animals or women’s rights in order to make the world a better place. 109 World Executive director Leticia Reyes sums it up saying “our mission is to help individuals fulfill the promise of their potential through mindfulness and actionable impact.”
It was clear for everyone involved that this experience went beyond just building a new sanctuary.
With the 35 participants from 109 World and 14 local conservation volunteers, we were able to achieve a lot of action and impact! Each morning after a turtle release and yoga we set out to dig, hammer, and lift in order to get the new sanctuary off the ground. Our efforts paid off, with 90% the sanctuary finished by the last day.
Our Shared Impact
It was clear for everyone involved that this experience went beyond just building a new sanctuary. It was about connecting with people from different walks of life and seeing how we can come together to learn, engage and give back. Despite language barriers, the 109 World participants were able to meet and interact with our dedicated team of turtle camp volunteers. It was a wonderful chance for members of La Tortuga Viva to showcase their work and take pride in the conservation project they have created. Whether through collective lunches each day, nighttime patrols, or our final bonfire on the beach, there were so many moments of connection and engagement.
When asking Leticia about her experiences here at Playa Viva and working with La Tortuga Viva, she shared:
“This is our twelfth 109 World trip, and I can honestly say that from start to finish, this it is the best trip yet. Coming to Playa Viva has allowed us to stay in a space where our values are completely aligned. From an environmental, ethical, and social perspective, staying and working here allows us to come full circle. Not only are we doing a service project with La Tortuga Viva, but we are also staying at a place that is actively engaging the community, giving back and protecting the environment.”
As we put the final touches on our new turtle sanctuary, we are left full of gratitude for the generosity of 109 World. We feel humbled to have had the privilege to host such an amazing group of individuals and hope that we will have the chance to collaborate with 109 and other groups to come on future projects.
At Playa Viva, we are thankful this holiday season, and every holiday season, for all the great meals we’ve had and all the great people we’ve had them with!
If you feel the same way, we think you’ll want to make sure that you have a copy of Comida Viva around to spice up the holidays and share with family and friends! Take a look at these gorgeous photos and bump this unique gift up to the top of your wishlist!
Change how we eat, and we change the world for the better
During the past three years, the farm and food production team has turned the Playa Viva Farm from a seasonal operation into a year-round farm that plants and harvests even when the hotel is closed. Promoting a farm-to-table philosophy, increasing the volume of locally sourced healthy ingredients and helping create a resilient local food system are essential activities that touch on Playa Viva’s core mission and values. As a sustainable boutique hotel, we want Playa Viva to be a place where you can enjoy the luxury of your time and with your loved ones, meaningful experiences that make a positive impact on the local community and connection to nature that regenerates the landscape.
Nick Wolf – Playa Viva Agricultural Team Manager
I manage the Playa Viva farm with a simple goal: to consistently increase the volume, health, variety and value of the food that we provide to the kitchen. While the overarching goal may be simply stated, the philosophy behind it and the means of achieving it deliver the depth that make it work in accordance with the hotel’s values.
Why is Farm-to-Table important to Playa Viva?
The food we put on our plate at each meal (how it was farmed, transported and prepared) is one of the principal ways in which we affect our planet and our communities. For many of us, it’s no longer a surprise to hear that agricultural greenhouse gas emissions rank in the top ten opportunities to ‘draw down’ our carbon footprint (along with refrigeration, transportation and manufacturing). Additionally, the vast majority of people living in extreme poverty globally work in agriculture. While these challenges can seem intractable, that they are so intertwined with one of our essential daily activities affords us many opportunities to act, to constantly improve and to make a positive impact.
For every ounce of food (or gram since we’re in Mexico) the farm sends to the kitchen, we take a tiny step toward a more locally based food economy. To start, including more plants on your plate brings you health benefits and reduces each meal’s environmental impact. In the past year, the kitchen has incorporated many new yet local ingredients such as jackfruit from ours and neighboring farms, creating delicious dishes great for guests and the planet. In addition, Playa Viva’s farm is much closer to the hotel’s kitchen than any market or store. And, when food comes from our farm, we know who planted and picked it as well as their working conditions.
We want the ‘farm’ in farm-to-table to be more than just Playa Viva’s farm. Supporting our neighbors and community means bolstering them with our food purchases as well as facilitating training and other market opportunities for them. As we consolidate our efforts on our own farm, our goal is to increase engagement with other farmers and incentivize them to employ organic and regenerative practices. By training local farmers in these practices and helping them get certified, we increase the health of the local ecosystem as well.
How do we implement Farm-to-Table at Playa Viva?
How we do things on our farm and how we get food all the way to the table are just as important as why. On the farm, we adhere to organic, agroecological, regenerative and permaculture principles. We have strived to create a place that provides physical, spiritual and ecological nourishment. The ‘farm’ is composed of a variety of spaces across the hotel property, from down at the beach, through the tamarind and coconut groves and up to the mango and fruit orchards where we also plant most of our greens and vegetables.
In the past couple years, the farm team has focused on saving as much of our own seed as possible, choosing varieties that are continually adapting to our climate and conditions while also sharing and exchanging with other farmers to increase the availability of local seeds. The farm implements three different composting systems to utilize food waste from the kitchen and provide for the nutritional needs of our plants. We minimize the use of outside inputs on the farm and when we do use them, we opt for organic selections.
Off the farm, Playa Viva works with partners elsewhere in the local food ecosystem: we sell produce at the weekly Eco Tianguis Sanka market; we exchange recipes and ideas with the Cooperativa Ecovegana; and we support our farming partner, Gente Viva, in working to promote organic farming and connect farmers with market opportunities. Through all these activities, we promote actions that reduce our environmental impact and strive to increase our own local sourcing. If we can move to healthier, more plant-based options and contribute to regenerating the soil while building a thriving, resilient local food ecosystem, then we are accomplishing our goals for farm-to-table at Playa Viva.
The holiday season is often a time to reflect on the gifts we’ve been given, and to make an effort help those who are less fortunate than us.
For a group of women in Juluchuca, that effort is not limited to the holiday season. They volunteer their time year round at the local Comedor (Soup Kitchen) to serve food to those struggling with poverty and lack of opportunity. Cooking is an art form and way of self-expression in Juluchuca, so providing a meal to others is no quick task. Volunteers arrive daily around 4:30am to begin the preparations for the morning meal. Playa Viva is proud to support this community effort.
Playa Viva began partnering with the Comedor in May 2017. Here are a few of the ways that management, staff and guests have supported the Comedor.
Weekly volunteer hours
Food donations
A new coat of paint for the building
Building hanging garden made from upcycled plastic bottles to grow fresh herbs and plants to be used in various dishes.
If any Playa Viva guest is interested in dedicating a morning of their stay to help serve the local community, additional volunteers are always welcome! Any Playa Viva staff member can help you set it up. You’ll be doing good, and you’ll be able to try some of the delicious food made at this humble eatery including atole (a hot rice-based beverage), and traditional rice, beans, soup and pork dishes.
Giving the Comedor a new coat of paint
The Juluchuca Comedor operates Monday – Friday throughout the year since being founded in 2014. A full meal typically costs 5 pesos, which translates $0.25 USD. Meals are free for the volunteers themselves. The majority of the food served is provided by the Mexican government, which delivers the shelf stable ingredients on a monthly basis. The perishable items, such as spices and vegetables, are then picked up by the volunteers, donated or grown on site.
We are eternally grateful for all volunteers past and present who have contributed to the Playa Viva project. Here’s a little about our most recent volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please send inquiries to volunteer@playaviva.com
Rachel Bubb
USA
3-months, Agriculture + Community Garden Intern
What’s your “story”? (Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived? How did you get “here”?)
I was born and raised in southern California, and graduated from UC Berkeley two years ago with a degree in Conservation and Resource Studies. Last year, I worked on Bainbridge Island, WA at an organic farm. Working there I realized my love for growing and being outdoors, but was eager to get out of the Pacific Northwest chill, so I decided to skip winter. Since November I have been traveling south from Baja California to Panama and then back up again to Mexico. I literally got here by plane, but my love for plants, the ocean, and Mexican culture brought me to Playa Viva.
How did you find out about Playa Viva?
I was referred to Playa Viva by a friend. She volunteered here during the early years of Playa Viva and recommended I check it out.
Why did you decide to volunteer?
I chose to volunteer at Playa Viva for a few reasons. One, I wanted to experience living and working in a different country. My Spanish was okay; I could get by, but I wanted to immerse myself and really improve. Second, I wanted to learn to grow in a different climate, learn new tricks of the trade, and gain an understanding of what a functioning farm to table operation looks like and requires. Lastly, the community involvement and development projects of Playa Viva in Juluchuca drew me in. I wanted to work on the Playa Viva farm and learn their ways, but I really liked the idea of working with the community and developing projects within the town.
What are you working on at Playa Viva?
Stu and I are setting up a permanent garden space at the Comedor in Juluchuca as well as creating/maintaining a community garden in town at the volunteers’ home. The main goals of our projects is to introduce fresh vegetables and herbs to the community and encourage them to grow and use fresh food for their own purposes and inspire healthier living. Juluchuca is a very poor, rural town and the dietary habits of the community are not the healthiest, therefore, we are trying to show them that they can grow quality fruits and vegetables and incorporate into their daily meals.
What has been the highlight of your experience so far AND/OR what are you most looking forward to learn and contribute during your internship/service?
The highlight of my experience thus far is the flexibility in being creative with our projects. The volunteer program allows you to be innovative and experiment with ideas. Also a huge highlight is eating all the different fruits in the huerto; fruits I didn’t even know existed. I am most looking forward to finishing up our project at the Comedor and establishing a permanent garden space for them. They are really excited about getting herbs, sunflowers, and fresh vegetables, and it’s been neat to see them get on board with the project. Furthermore, I am looking forward to learning more about this growing climate and the organic techniques of the Playa Viva farm. Share the moment you felt a paradigm shift (or were inspired) to get involved with agriculture?
Gradually my classes in University led me to get involved with agriculture. I started changing my diet, enjoying farmers markets, and growing potted plants. Before I knew it, I was attached to my plants and their well-being, eager to get more involved with a garden space, and then decided it was time to work on a farm.
What motivates you to keep going in this field?
Watching the plants grown and change over time keeps me going; I love seeing the plants sprout and develop throughout the weeks. When the going gets real tough with the heat or pests ruin your newly planted plot, I love to just spend time by myself weeding and meditate. Also the chance to eat all the fresh vegetables I can motivates me even more to keep going.
The farm team after installing the new fence for the community garden
Stuart Miller
USA
3 months, Agriculture + Community Garden Intern
What’s your “story”? (Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived? How did you get “here”?)
I am from Napa, California and went to UC Berkeley where I studied Earth Science and first developed a passion for sustainable agriculture. I then decided to work on an organic farm in Washington. TO celebrate the bountiful harvest Rachel and I traveled Central America and now are making a quick pit-stop to volunteer here at Playa Viva.
How did you find out about Playa Viva?
A past volunteer informed me. She knew I would be in the area and of my Spanish/farming capabilities. It really worked out well!
Why did you decide to volunteer?
I wanted to learn how to grow produce on a hot, coastal climate, experience new produce, and improve my Spanish.
What are you working on at Playa Viva?
Right now our focus is on repurposing plastic bottles as growing containers for produce. The ground in Juluchuca is uncovered and exposed to a lot of sun, making the soil lacking in microorganisms and nutrition need for plants to grow. We are introducing this method of growing to the comedor (soup kitchen), schools and generally all around town.
Tree planting workshop with the kindergarten
What has been the highlight of your experience so far AND/OR what are you most looking forward to learn and contribute during your internship/service?
My highlight has been living in Juluchuca. I have learned much more than I thought I could just by living in a community that is unlike any other I have lived in America. It has been very positive for me to be immersed in a place of people who do not know me but are very nice, friendly and genuine. I hope to return!
Share the moment you felt a paradigm shift (or were inspired) to get involved with agriculture?
After college all of my friends logically moved to San Francisco to work in tech to be part of the big start-up boom. That’s when I knew I wanted to farm outside instead.
What motivates you to keep working in agriculture?
The moments. Getting caught in an abrupt thunderstorm while harvesting. A cool breeze that relieves me when I struggle in the heat. Making eye contact with a ladybug whilst weeding. Gets me going! You know what I’m talking about?
——-
Thibault Henninger
France
5 months, Sustainable Tourism
What’s your “story”? (Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived? How did you get “here”?)
Hello my name is Thibault I’m French and I’m currently finishing my studies in sustainable tourism with Playa Viva. Living and working in Guerrero is something new for me but it’s the second time I’m living in Mexico. After working in Yucatan, I decided to come back because I really enjoyed my daily life in Mexico. I definitely felt grounded and fully connected to myself and right after I finish studying, I wish I’ll be able to start my active life somewhere in Mexico.
How did you find out about Playa Viva?
I knew about Playa Viva through Instagram, I am quite interested in every sustainable project. In my view Playa Viva could never grow too much while staying coherent with its values but I do think Playa Viva’s concept could and should be massive. So yes I was interested in learning what it means to be an eco-regenerative resort and I felt like I could try helping PV in its tourist area by developing a relationship with the locals.
Why did you decide to volunteer?
I chose Playa Viva, but didn’t choose to be volunteer haha! Jokes aside, I’m a student until September 2018 and I’m currently doing my Master’s final internship. In France students are paid while doing an internship. I already knew that’s not the tendency at all in central America but I’m focused and driven by my final goals and by what’s interesting me more than money.
Intern “office” 🙂
For these reasons, I am pleased to be in “La Costa Grande”, living and working with PV. Moreover, after one month and a half now, I can safely say by being part of PV’s volunteering program that we are well treated; we’re eating healthy food and the shared house PV is renting for its volunteers in Juluchuca is nice. Having our own transport vehicle would be the last great step to be more efficient.
I can also say the good work and reports made by previous volunteers made me feel safe
about playa viva and my interest for this company and place grew thanks to what I was able to read around de volunteering program. Someone is doing a good job on that in my view = )
What are you working on at Playa Viva
With Playa Viva I’m trying to develop new tours and activities involving more the locals at each step of the process. I am studying sustainable tourism and my goal here is to identify and understand the local dynamics. I value inter cultural exchange, inter-religious dialogue and inter-regional communication between generations, of different cultural backgrounds.
As a result, I am trying to think with the locals and even if the atmosphere in the hotel is pleasant, (no doubt on that, Playa Viva is an impressive great place) I wish I’ll be able to make people discover and understand more the real local life of Costa Grande. I am also attached in improving the local economy, and I’m listening the locals to understand their expectations and choices. Sustainable tourism implies the understanding and the respect of the local culture / nature and sharing the benefits so I salute and respect, every effort made in that direction.
Trial “tour de pesca” – Puerto Xapútica
What has been the highlight of your experience so far AND/OR what are you most looking forward to learn and contribute during your internship/service?
I look forward to see a new fair partnership between Playa Viva and some new locals that would give a local experience to tourists. The inhabitants of the region need Playa Viva and its strengths in term of visibility to bring people here; and at the same time, Playa Viva need the locals to propose real authentic sustainable tours that people are looking for. From all over the world people are getting more and more interested in authenticity and it is not so easy to find in the hospitality business. For me and for what sustainable tourism means, it has to be a just win-win situation.
What motivates you to keep working in sustainable tourism?
I’m living near the biggest tourist hub in the world which is the Mediterranean basin. Nowadays and despite what already exists in terms of tourist development in the hinterlands, coasts and beaches represent by far the main tourist appeal in a country. I know, I’ve studied and I’ve seen in some places about the consequences coming from the destruction of the coastal landscape under concrete because of massive seaside tourism, which leads in addition, to a loss of cultural legacy and traditions. Thinking the future coastal areas and the “tomorrow’s beach space” is the main challenge we have to deal with in terms of viable long- term tourism.
World population is increasing, transportation accesses are always easier and it exists a growing very important link between Sustainable Development and Tourism.
——
Eric Shaw
USA
2 months, Agriculture + Community Garden Intern
What’s your “story”? (Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived? How did you get “here”?)
I worked the past 5 years in organic agriculture in the US. I was interested in long term travel in Mexico and pairing that with my work experience. So, I looked for how I could make that happen!
How did you find out about Playa Viva?
I found out about Playa Viva on the work exchange website, Workway. I really wanted to find a place to live short term in Mexico so I could learn more about a specific area. I focused my search on organizations that needed help in tourism, agriculture, and hospitality. Playa Viva fulfilled all three!
Why did you decide to volunteer?
I decided to volunteer because it was a great learning opportunity in many areas. I wanted to experience how the tourism side of the hotel operated and how it provided an experience for the guests. Also, how the hotel incorporates a self sustainable approach to agriculture into their kitchen. I had a lot of interest to learn about about the specific climate and native plants to the area. I had actually never lived close to the coast, so experiencing that lifestyle interested me.
What are you working on at Playa Viva?
I am a farm volunteer for Playa Viva. I work in the hotel’s gardens doing planting, soil preparation, harvesting, and any daily task needed to be accomplished. Also, I support the community’s low income Comedor by providing a link between them and Playa Viva. We provide them with weekly food deliveries, helping them with their garden, and installing a water catchment system. Another project is expanding and caring for the volunteers’ gardens at Casa Blanca. The goal is for it to provide vegetables to the future volunteers and the Comedor.
What has been the highlight of your experience so far AND/OR what are you most looking forward to learn and contribute during your internship/service?
I have really learned a lot about coastal tropical agriculture here at Playa Viva. The hotel sits on land that was previously used for coconut and mango production. There are also many cashew, soursop, jackfruit, lemon, cocoa, and nanche trees. I was very unfamiliar with all of these plants before I arrived. I am excited about building three rain water catchment systems. They will greatly improve water availability to the Playa Viva gardens, Comedor, and the volunteer house.
Afternoon fishing in La Barrita with fellow intern Thibault
Share the moment you felt a paradigm shift (or were inspired) to get involved with [agriculture, marine conservation, whatever it is you’re working in/working toward]?
I stumbled upon agriculture on accident. Before, I worked in engineering for a major aviation company and found the work unfulfilling personally. Many hours were spent at a desk on a computer indoors. I decided to leave this job and try something new. After traveling in Central America working as a hiking guide, I realized that I needed to be outdoors! When I returned to the US, I found a job working on a vegetable farm in California and fell in love with the work. Every since I have appreciated working outdoors, getting exercise, and feeling like my contribution towards producing healthy food is a worthwhile field of work.
What motivates you to keep going [in your field]?
I continue to work in organic agriculture because it is constantly changing, and there is always more to learn. The field is growing larger as more and more people become concerned with how their food is produced. I hope to continue to learn and also offer a positive contribution of my own one day.
After my first couple days at Playa Viva, I remember walking down to the turtle camp, a nice 10-15 minute stroll down the beach from the hotel, and introducing myself to the two turtle volunteers who happened to be working that morning: Eusebio and Celedonio — two brothers who had been working in the camp for several years. I had no idea what I was really getting myself into. Yes, I had worked in conservation before; yes, I had worked in small, rural communities; but I had never quite worked at the intersection of tourism and conservation. Additionally, although I have a Mexican father and had traveled to Mexico many times before, I had also never worked and lived in Mexico.
Turtle volunteers transplanting nests into the sanctuary
My Spanish was rusty and all I knew about the turtle camp was that I was now managing the relationship between the camp and hotel and that the camp was a popular attraction for the guests at the hotel. I began to do my research, talking with past Playa Viva volunteers who had worked with the camp, and began to observe the operations of the camp. I had observed some less than favorable practices and knew as well we were very overdue for the federal permit required to operate a turtle sanctuary. The more I began to uncover, the more I realized I couldn’t do this alone.
Baby golfina (olive ridley) making its way to the sea.
To boot, this was just one of many projects and priorities. On top of the daily turtle releases with the guests, I also had a volunteer program to run, a social impact evaluation to conduct, guest education and integration, community projects to roll out, and more all at the same time. I simply didn’t have the time or emotional energy to mobilize a team of 14 volunteers from the local community to provide them with the tools necessary to be effective conservation stewards.
I knew that I couldn’t do it alone. I knew that I needed help.
I put out an ad for a “Turtle Sanctuary Coordinator” in October of 2016 (an unpaid position mind you), less than a month after I arrived at Playa Viva. That first round I got a bunch of applications and the last one that rolled in, about a month after the rest, turned out to be a gem.
I read Lissett’s cover letter and resume, discovering that she and I were ironically from nearly the same hometown in Northern VA, and knew pretty much immediately she’d be a great fit for the role:
Specifically, I would be able to deliver the following – exceptional organization to track, monitor and improve the daily procedures of the conservation program and volunteer team … Lastly, as an avid world traveler and having built relationships over long distances, I have strong understanding of diversity and other cultures and welcome new environments.
This was exactly what I needed and I wasn’t disappointed.
For nearly 11 months of the past year, Lissett dedicated herself to supporting the coordination and management of the turtle camp and its relationship with the hotel. As a unique turtle camp-Playa Viva volunteer, Lissett’s responsibilities were twofold: support the sanctuary and its fourteen volunteers (all from the local community) to ensure they are following best conservation practices and engage hotel guests (mostly international) in hatchling releases and educational tours of the sanctuary.
Aside from the most pressing task–working with the sanctuary president to renew the sanctuary’s overdue federal permit–she simultaneously helped to organize and manage the nearly all-male volunteers (initiating regular monthly meetings), coordinated (and raised funds for) the construction of a new sanctuary, organized capacity building activities for the volunteers, and engaged hotel guests in hers and the sanctuary’s work (including daily sea turtle releases).
Facilitating one of many turtle camp meetings at the Casa Blanca (shared volunteer house)Turtle release with Playa Viva guests
Lissett was the first volunteer to work formally in this capacity with the sanctuary. Having never actually worked with sea turtles before and without much guidance, her ability to take on and find solutions to the various challenges presented—e.g. breaking through cultural norms regarding her gender as a woman, building relationships with men from a rural machista culture, and the slow, bureaucratic process of working with local, state and federal government in a foreign country, to name a few—was impressive.
Organizing volunteers on one of the construction days for the (new) turtle camp
“Building relationships with the volunteers proved to be one my biggest challenges. I was a total outsider and it took months of one on one time with each of them and some (literal) heavy lifting during weekend cleanups/ construction to gain their acceptance and friendship. Without these relationships it would have been impossible to accomplish anything – from getting them to show up to a meeting to constructing the new sanctuary.”
Doing some ‘heavy lifting’ with the guys: a couple volunteers even commented, “¡Eres bien cabrona para trabajar!”
Finally, after months of hard work poured in, Lissett, the turtle camp President, Héctor, and camp Secretary, Beto, were ready to fly to Mexico City to submit the permit application to SEMARNAT (Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources).
The Mexican government doesn’t make the acquisition of said permit easy: in addition to the mountain of documents required, submitting the permit directly in Zihuatanejo (1 hour by car) could take up to 9 months to process. So, Playa Viva paid for the three of them (Lissett, Hector and Beto) to go on a three-day trip to the big city and submit it directly to headquarters to speed up the process. That trip was Héctor’s and Beto’s first time on a plane and Beto’s first time out of Guerrero.
A pretty amazing thing to see and be a part of.
So now, finally… the good news! After submitting the permit in mid-October, we recently received the once elusive permit from SEMARNAT to legally operate and run the turtle hatchery.
The whole process was a massive reminder for me that things are possible and often all that’s required is a little patience.
Working in Mexico is not for the faint of heart. Things move very slowly and the community work we do down here is full of challenges. You’re constantly pushing uphill, constantly working against entropy.
Sometimes you feel all your battles are uphill, with no end in sight.
source: cartoonstock.com
Nevertheless, over the course of several months Lissett charged uphill, seamlessly worked across two different cultures on a daily basis, gracefully dealing with rural machista culture, turtle camp politics and the demands of the hotel. She never gave up.
Thanks to her, we have new leadership positions within the camp, which has helped camp organization, and she helped paved the way for Débora, our current camp coordinator who is also doing amazing work.
The permit process, although cumbersome and although we’ll have to do it all over again in just a few short months, will now be a lot easier this next time around.
Looking back, it’s incredible to see how much progress has been made in a year and a half for a small turtle camp outside a rural community of 350 people, entirely run on donations from Playa Viva guests.
It makes me wonder what is possible in the next year and a half.
For the moment–however brief and fleeting–the feeling I have is this:
Sometimes the largest hurdles just take time, a little patience and the right attitude to get it done.
Wow, another year has flown by at Playa Viva. After having spent all of 2017 working with the wonderfully dedicated Playa Viva staff and numerous volunteers who came to us from around the world, I can say I have seen a lot happen in just one year.
I started working with Playa Viva a little over a year ago (September 2016) as their first “Social and Environmental Impact Officer”. My main responsibility is to understand and track Playa Viva’s impact in the community and on the environment, ensuring the hotel is on the right track to achieving its social and environmental goals.
Activities and stakeholder map (massive gratitude to volunteer Romain Langeard for helping with this!)
One of the biggest endeavors I took on for my first year was to carry out an investigation evaluating Playa Viva’s social impact, i.e. their impact in the community. The purpose of that study is to explore the perceptions and attitudes of the people affected by or involved with Playa Viva to determine what kind of impact – positive, negative, or neutral – the hotel has had on its host communities. The thoughts and opinions of the residents of Juluchuca and Rancho Nuevo and hotel staff will be used to increase understanding of regenerative development, the impact of a sustainable hotel on a community, as well as make Playa Viva’s future efforts more beneficial and effective for its host communities.
The results of this study are still not yet ready, but they will be soon, so sit tight!
Another one of my main duties is the volunteer program. The volunteer program at Playa Viva is used as leverage to help the hotel and its staff achieve its longer term social and environmental goals. I oversee, recruit, and manage all Playa Viva volunteers. One of my goals coming in was to expand and reorient the volunteer program to better suit the needs of the hotel and the community. The first step in this process was to extend the minimum time commitment of service. Now volunteers are required to spend at least three months working with our team and with the community. Staying longer has had a great impact on the continuity of projects.
Through this new volunteer strategy, volunteers are building better relationships with the staff and community and are directly contributing to the success of the following programs:
Interns Nathan Ellermeier and Ezra Pasackow in front of their hanging gardenNutritional cooking workshops at the local soup kitchen, provided by La Casita EcoVegana
Our sea turtle conservation program with La Tortuga Viva: this is a partnership dating back to 2010, when the original La Tortuga Feliz split off and a new turtle organization was born, La Tortuga Viva. Our first official Turtle Sanctuary Coordinator was Lissett Medrano (blog linked) who tremendously helped this program move forward. We now have Debora Newlands working with the camp to continue supporting its many priorities.
Lissett and the whole turtle camp crew after a day’s work.Débora presenting about turtles to the kindergarten
Seafood sourcing sustainability assessment In Spring of 2017, volunteer Romain Langeard spearheaded the seafood sourcing evaluation. I worked with him to better understand where our seafood was coming from and what realistic changes we can make to ensure we are supporting local fishermen and the health of our local fisheries.
Romain and I talking with local fishermen and examining their catch to ensure it meets size restrictions
Farm-to-Table: We have continually been recruiting volunteers to assist in our farm-to-table program. They have been working with farm and kitchen staff to improve their capacity to strengthen the link between farm and table.
Above: Farm-to-table volunteer Christabel attending a workshop with chef Inés, a day out sampling vegan food at La Raíz de la Tierra in Ixtapa, our new farm-to-table chalkboards and a fresh garden salad.
Above: Volunteers Kyra and Julia preparing gifts from the garden to our kitchen/local market. Julia has been experimenting with jamaica (hibiscus) salts and incorporating certain garden ingredients to our kitchen. Kyra has been using Playa Viva’ s abundant moringa to make moringa powder. Volunteers Alex and Liza also helped in the kitchen, bringing recipes and new ideas for how to improve our operations.
Social Impact Evaluation: the study will be released soon and detail Playa Viva’s involvement with the community and how we can move forward.
Getting fed in Rancho Nuevo during household surveys
Along the way, shorter term volunteers have also contributed to other projects, such as the first Discovery Trail Guide, an interactive and educational booklet that guides guests from the hotel zone through the property to our farm, teaching them about our environmental initiatives and learning about various flora and fauna.
Volunteers Josh and Liza working with David and Odin on the trail guide
Outside of these volunteer-related efforts are the many projects that guests have also supported. Guests have engaged the community in a number of ways, including donating numerous school supplies, provided free chiropractic services at the health clinic, and donated yoga mats for the community kids yoga class. One of our yoga retreats donated a new water pump for the town of Juluchuca (which at the time was without water for nearly two months), and another guest provided a generous donation toward the construction of the first high school in Juluchuca.
So many projects still need attention and so much of the community still need our and your support.
If you are interested in supporting our work in health, education, and conservation, please make a donation through our fiscal sponsor, The Ocean Foundation.
We are excited for the year ahead! Please stay tuned, we have lots coming up this year!
I really wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into when I decided to quit my job of 5 years and move to a small rural community in Guerrero, Mexico to work with sea turtles, especially since I had never “worked with turtles” before. But after spending 10 months working alongside the Juluchucan volunteers that manage La Tortuga Viva (LTV) sea turtle sanctuary, I have a much better understanding of what community-based conservation entails. One thing I’m definitely sure of now is that I made the right choice and this experience has paved a clearer path of how I want to continue to support preserving this planet and its vulnerable species. There were many lessons learned and even more people I am eternally in gratitude toward.
Given that I was the first person to formally work with the camp in this capacity (as “turtle sanctuary coordinator”), my experience was an open canvas and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to completely take charge and make this role my own. At first, it was a bit challenging adjusting to working with little direction, but ultimately I thrived on the lack of formal structure in this role, which enabled me to cultivate leadership skills that I hope to continue develop and apply in the future.
As mentioned in a previous blog, I dedicated a bulk of my efforts in my first few months in building relationships with the volunteers, mainly composed of males. A few of my priorities included:
Renew permit with Ministry of Environment (SEMARNAT) required for nest relocation
Construction of new sanctuary
Capacity building of camp volunteers
Improve turtle release with Playa Viva guests
Environmental education and awareness
Facilitate partnerships with local turtle camps
Improve data collection
However, as I began to learn more and more about the issues in the camp, I ultimately dedicated most of my energy toward the first three priorities: permit renewal, new sanctuary and capacity building.
FUNDRAISING FOR NEW CAMP AND PERMIT RENEWAL
It is a conservation best practice for artificial hatcheries to be moved approximately every 2 years to prevent the buildup of bacteria and ants caused by egg shell remains, which threaten the success rates of hatchling turtles. LTV had been operating for many years without relocation and the hatchling success rate was suffering. Also, the camp had a significant amount of wear and tear and was no longer effective against predators such as the tejones, local badgers that managed to get in and prey on multiple nests on a daily basis. After assessing the cost and qualities of supplies needed, we realized it was much higher than expected so decided to fundraise through a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.
There were many hurdles every step of the way in building the new turtle sanctuary and getting the permit paperwork ready. There were challenges for even the most simple of task; for example, borrowing some tools for construction was met with surprising resistance. After a month in the process of acquiring the supplies, it seemed that every action in this process would require strategic thinking and would take much longer than expected. There is no local Home Depot to pick up wood or black shade mesh required for these types of sanctuaries. I worked with multiple staff at the hotel in locating, ordering and delivering these supplies to the new sanctuary location. I didn’t always make the best choice and it was tough to come to realization that I should have gone about things a different way. In the end, all the hardships I experienced and approaches that “didn’t work” will enable me to better address these type of issues in a different context in the future so I took them as lessons learned.
So many people were involved in helping with the permit process and the creation of this new camp and I am beyond grateful to all the family, friends and other donors who supported these projects. Through this collective effort, up to 6000 turtle eggs will be monitored at a time in the new camp.
Below is a brief timeline of the process for both tasks.
Submitting paperwork in Mexico City: SEMARNAT
CAPACITY-BUILDING
Another exciting opportunity for the camp were some of the capacity-building activities that we were able to begin. Throughout the year, despite some resistance, we established semi-regular meetings to discuss internal issues that were hindering the effectiveness of the camp and I worked to rally and empower the volunteers to talk about these issues openly. Though these efforts sometimes clashed with the views of the President, it’s important to facilitate these exchanges in order to build an organized and high-performing team of motivated volunteers.
We were also able to organize a few capacity-building workshops with the volunteers. With the help of Joao Gouveia, a fellow conservationist in the area who has experience in training turtle camp volunteers, the camp received training on sea turtle management, biology and handling with the aim of improving sea turtle hatchling success. For many volunteers, this information was new and they were eager to learn more and apply their new knowledge in the field during their patrols. These quarterly trainings will continue in the new season.
SOME TAKEAWAYS
I’ve learned an incredible amount about what conservation “on the ground” really is. Here are some of my takeaways/advice for anyone looking to work in community-based conservation:
Focus on the big picture- it’s impossible to solve all the issues;
Sea turtle conservation in rural Mexico = working with people 90% of the time;
It is absolutely essential to understand what incentivizes and drives the community to conserve or not conserve;
Community-based conservation is a complex ongoing process and there isn’t “one way” to do it successfully but a multitude of ways to address it.
Although the new camp, permit and capacity building opportunities are incredibly exciting news, the most rewarding part of my work with the camp were the relationships I built with all the volunteers. Being an outsider and in a new role, it was a tough integration on both sides that took a lot of time, patience and learning. As I began to say my goodbyes to this beloved community, a few of the guys, including the Camp President, reflected that they were really proud of what we accomplished and having someone so invested in their work has given them more reason to “echarle ganas” or “work hard” which made the all hardships worthwhile as they are the ones that will ultimately be the protectors of this vulnerable species in the community.
It was bittersweet but I left Juluchuca full of hope for the future of the camp and its volunteers. For an extended update of LTV’s activities this year, you can check out the Season 8 Report here.
We are eternally grateful for all volunteers past and present who have contributed to the Playa Viva project. Here’s a little about our most recent volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please send inquiries to volunteer@playaviva.com
The highlight of my experience thus far is the flexibility in being creative with our projects. The volunteer program allows you to be innovative and experiment with ideas. Also a huge highlight is eating all the different fruits in the huerto; fruits I didn’t even know existed. I am most looking forward to finishing up our project at the Comedor and establishing a permanent garden space for them. They are really excited about getting herbs, sunflowers, and fresh vegetables, and it’s been neat to see them get on board with the project. Furthermore, I am looking forward to learning more about this growing climate and the organic techniques of the Playa Viva farm. 
What’s your “story”? (Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived? How did you get “here”?)
My highlight has been living in Juluchuca. I have learned much more than I thought I could just by living in a community that is unlike any other I have lived in America. It has been very positive for me to be immersed in a place of people who do not know me but are very nice, friendly and genuine. I hope to return!
What’s your “story”? (Where are you from and what were you doing before you arrived? How did you get “here”?)
What are you working on at Playa Viva 
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