Purchase a Home or Land to Build On

Affordable options from 1 to 5 acres

Live in Peace Out of Harms Way

Neighbors who share your values

Water and Electricity Available to All Buyers

Multiple sources of low cost water and power

Build a Home In a Safe Community

Friendly local residents and little or no crime

Live Where the Weather is Perfect Year Round

Cool breezes - no air conditioning or heating expense

Friday, June 1, 2018

Location Out of Harms Way Key to Survival



When we began our search for the best bug-out location for our community in Panama, our concerns were many. After realizing that being at beach altitudes was a non-starter due to the heat and humidity, we began to look at the mountainous regions. These were our main concerns:

1) What areas were comfortable, at the perfect altitude for growing food and could provide a long term sustainable source of fresh water?

2) Where could we survive and flourish for a low cost, yet still live in a clean healthy environment?

3) What parts of Panama offered the best opportunity to survive a catastrophic event should something like that occur?

4) Did the area offer several ways into and out, in case there was a road closure or other event that made passage difficult on the main thoroughfares?



Being at the dry forest altitude proved to be great for growing crops of all types, including all varieties of fruits and vegetables as well as herbs and medicinal plants. And having multiple sources of water makes this perfect for food cultivation.






The cost of living here compared to the states is extremely favorable, and even compared to other parts of Panama, very affordable. Gas, food and energy costs are especially low due to the fact we don't need air conditioning or heat at this elevation, and there are adequate breezes to keep the air fresh clean and cool.




When we compared our community to expat pueblos like Volcan and Boquete, the fact there are several roads into and out of our area was, for us, a huge advantage.

Boquete has only one road into and out of the whole town! Yet, whenever you live in an area that gets a lot of rainfall annually, there are bound to be times when the road you normally travel is closed. Having multiple options is critical to survival no matter where you are located.



This road was blocked due to 3 days of pretty hard rain. Amazingly, the road crew had the road re-opened within 2 days.



There are several roads into and out of the nearby town, as well as through and around the border with Costa Rica.



Another reason we located here is our distance from Volcanoes. We also wanted to be high enough to be out of reach of any "rising tide" scenarios.



Volcan in particular, was concerning to us. Located on an alluvial fan, this town was built on a sandy silty base, which could lead to catastrophic problems for the residents there, if the Volcan Baru erupts again, or if it rains for several days straight. In addition to that, because of the composition of their soil, it is nearly impossible to grow crops without significant cost for soil brought in from outside sources. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.



Contrast that to the soil at Finca Cazador, which is plentiful and contains a whole host of microbes and beneficial organic ingredients, which makes growing food a snap, without the expense of chemical fertilizers and herbicides.

As a matter of fact, the fertile topsoil is so deep (up to ten feet) in places, it's inconceivable that you would ever run out of the ability to grow crops...and all of our soil is 100% organic.

If you are looking for true sustainability, you would be hard pressed to find a better location than our farm community.


Tuesday, May 29, 2018

How Elevation Affects Survival in the Mountains of Panama



When thinking about a location for long term survival, it helps to be aware of a few basic factors; food and water availability, air quality and climate tolerance.

The reasons we chose this area of Panama to locate our community are many, but these were three of the earliest and most important factors we considered when deciding on an elevation and area.



Air Quality

Did you know that 92% of the world's population breathes toxic, polluted air? The World Health Organization (WHO) analyzed air quality from 3,000 locations around the world, testing for sulfates, nitrates, mineral dust, and black carbon. Developing countries tested back with the highest concentrations of pollutants and particles, while wealthier countries or countries with vast wildlife/nature preserves had very few pollutants.

WHO concluded that pollution is responsible for 6 million deaths per year. Cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are all products of poor or toxic air quality.

Many people who travel regularly can feel the changes in air quality. While some enjoy the busy city, most can agree the living conditions are not healthy, and provoke stress and disease.




Living in the mountains provides some of the world's cleanest air. Oxygen rich air is very beneficial, and many can feel the effects when walking through the forest or being in the garden. Less pollutant concentration is also beneficial for the plants. Untouched forests work tirelessly to provide oxygen and filter harmful pollutants. Ground vegetation below tree canopies tends to be very lush and healthy due to its protected environment. Bananas, mangos, cocoa, guanabana, guava, and coffee grow widely in Panama, providing food and an oxygen-rich environment for humans and animals alike.

Rainfall


There are 4 main ecosystems in Panama; Tropical wet lowland forest, Tropical coniferous forest, dry forest, and cloud forest. These forests vary based on elevation, location, and types of plants.

 
Tropical Lowlands
 The Tropical lowlands are very dense with plants, animals, and bio-activity. Usually formed near coasts and the equator, these forests receive year round rain and have a very fast decomposition rate. The average rainfall is 100 inches of rain per year.  Common plants include mangrove, palm varieties, coconut trees, and tropical flowers like hibiscus and orchids.

Tropical Coniferous

Tropical coniferous forests are forests that have a period of no rainfall, causing some plants to die seasonally. They house tall hardwood trees such as redwood, eucalyptus, mahogany, and fruit bearing trees as well. You can find exotic fruits such as guanabana, guava, and soursop growing wildly.

Both of these forests tend to be at a low elevation of one to two thousand feet.

Dry Forest (Finca Cazador)

The dry forests are primarily located on the Pacific side of Panama, and the wetter forests and mangroves are on the Caribbean side. The dry forests cover mountain ranges and extend into the wet lowland forests, or extend higher into the cloud forests.


Cloud Forest
Cloud forests are typically at a higher elevations, and sit in dense layers of condensation. The forest mainly consists of towering trees and thick vegetation below. Rainfall can vary from 20-50 inches per year.

Bio-Diverse Land at Finca Cazador

Climate / Temperature

Finca Cazador sits at a very comfortable 3,200 feet above sea level, making it one of the most comfortable elevations and highly adaptable to year round survival.

Incidentally, mosquitos and other insects often have difficulty surviving at these higher altitudes, due to the lack of access to their natural food source.

It is important to remember that trees, and every other plant, provide clean oxygen for the entire globe, while filtering harmful pollutants. Deforestation is very detrimental not only to the forests, but the air quality. Deforestation along with commercial farming practices has killed the living soil containing beneficial decomposers and fungi in many areas.

The remediation of the soil through organic practices at Finca Cazador has allowed the land to once again support plant and animal life. Living in an environment free of pollutants is something that should our highest concern.

Sources:





Friday, March 9, 2018

Immigration and Other Statistics for Panama


How does Panama compare to the U.S., Costa Rica and Canada...statistically?


Today, I thought I would share some statistics I found interesting regarding Panama's demographics, health and economy, compared to the United States Costa Rica and Canada.

According to our source:

The Population of Panama is 3,753,142 and the number of people per square kilometer (population density) is 50.

The population of Costa Rica, our next door neighbor, is 4,930,258 and the number of people per square kilometer is 96.

The United States is home to 326,625,792 people, and the population density is 33 people per square kilometer.

Canada has 35,623,680 residents, and their population density is only 4.

Migration:

This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population change. The net migration rate does not distinguish between economic migrants, refugees, and other types of migrants nor does it distinguish between lawful migrants and undocumented migrants.

Panama is flat. In other words the number of people leaving (emigrating) is roughly equal to the number of people arriving (immigrating), so they are shown as a zero net figure.

Costa Rica is a (1) and the U.S. is a (4), so for every 1,000 people in the States, last year there were 4 new people arriving, with or without documentation.

Interestingly, Canada had a (6) person per 1,000 population increase in 2017.

Mortality:

This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining fertility results in an aging population.

Panama and Costa Rica are both (5) on the scale, the U.S. has (8) deaths per 1,000 people and Canada comes in at (9) on the scale.

While we're on the subject of life expectancy, since obesity has been proven to be a contributing factor to early mortality, here are the obesity numbers:

In Panama, 23% of the adult population is considered obese, while in Costa Rica the number is 26% and in the U.S. that number jumps to 36% according to this report. Canada's obesity rate is 29% of the population.

Obesity is defined as an adult having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater to or equal to 30.0. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kg and dividing it by the person's squared height in meters.

Life Expectancy at Birth:

This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages.

Panama and Costa Rica residents have an average life expectancy of 79 years, and the U.S. is only slightly higher at 80 years, despite the fact the United States spends a whopping 17% of all the money they generate (GDP) on healthcare. Panama's healthcare expenditure is only 8% of GDP, and Costa Rica spends 9% of their overall income on health care. Canada spends 10% of their GDP on their national health care system.

Economy:

While we're on the subject of GDP growth, Panama enjoys a 5% year-over-year real growth rate, while Costa Rica sits at 4%, and the U.S. is still only able to churn out 2% growth, even less than Canada's 3% rate. This despite the fact that per capita oil usage for the U.S. (61 barrels per day per 1,000 people) is more than double what Panama uses (28 barrels per 1,000 people) in a day.

 Energy:

This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.

Panama uses 8, Costa Rica uses 9 and (hold on a moment could this be right?) the U.S. uses 3,911 kilowatt-hours annually! Canada uses 517.

Technology:

For every 100 people in Panama, there are 193 mobile phone lines. I suspect that is because there are several carriers serving the country, and since the equipment is cheap and rates are low, they have more than one line. They also change services a lot and use different SIM cards, which each carry their own number. In the U.S., there are 99 cell phone lines for every 100 persons.

Every day, I find new reasons why Panama's future looks so bright...and sustainable!

We're offering organic parcels of land to people who want to live healthy, survive whatever calamities might be heading their way and enjoy the beauty of a tropical mountain paradise.

Get in touch if that sounds good to you...



Wednesday, March 7, 2018

A Plan-B Preparedness Strategy


Prepping plan B

Creating a dual-purpose preparation plan can make prepping activities more effective and cost less in the long run.


Being prepared is more than just storing enough food, water and other supplies. Having a plan for any eventuality, as best you can, is also key to being prepared and feeling secure. That includes mentally thinking through all the different scenarios that might present themselves, and devising ways you can eliminate or at least reduce the risks associated with those threats. But, what if the threats you have prepared for don't happen in your lifetime, what then? Did you prepare for nothing? Is all that time, energy and money wasted?

Ideally, since nobody really knows what the future holds and which threats are likely to play out, having a "dual-purpose" preparation strategy can reduce the overall cost of preparation and help reduce stress levels.

An example would be dual-purpose financial preparedness. Many believe that runaway inflation is just around the corner, due to an unprecedented expansion of the money supply after the 2008 housing market collapse. One way to prepare for price inflation (higher prices for goods and services) is to have a hedge against the dropping value of the dollar.

One such hedge might be buying actual (not paper) precious metals, like gold or silver. Another might be obtaining and storing some crypto-currencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, if you believe they are here to stay and will become useful in the future, thereby retaining their value.

In the event the value of the dollar dropped rapidly (hyperinflation) or collapsed entirely where nobody wanted to hold dollars, you could potentially use either the precious metals or the crypto-currency to trade for your necessities. Of course, the places you would be trading with would have to also value and accept those alternative currencies, in order for them to be useful as a hedge against inflation. At the moment, crypto-currencies like Bitcoin do not enjoy wide acceptance, and regulators are still trying to decide how they want to classify them and tax them.

So a dual-purpose strategy would be one where we invest in things that are useful or valued in a SHTF scenario, but also are likely to be valuable if the stuff doesn't hit the fan. An example of a financial hedge, would be to invest in a mix of stocks that target high tech companies, perhaps in an ETF or maybe even in an emerging market. The high tech investment would increase in value (potentially) as high-tech products came to market, and we would benefit financially from that appreciation. That could help offset some of the cost of purchasing supplies, for example.

Incidentally, silver is believed to be in short supply and is likely to be in high demand as the world moves toward solar power. Silver is also used in many electronic components, and so it might be an ideal dual-purpose hedge on it's own, if you don't mind storing it. Again, invest only in the actual physical metal itself, as the paper investments are rumored to be over-sold.

A dual-use preparation strategy is essentially adopting a mindset that if this (insert calamity here) happens, we are prepared, but if it doesn't happen, this hedge can still be useful even in a non-SHTF scenario. Or at the very least, we have a "balancing" hedge against the original hedge, as in the ETF investment above.

Another scenario that keeps some people up at night are fears about how fast technology is moving and the direction it is taking us. For example, some people see micro-chipping humans as a way to streamline and improve efficiencies for healthcare, while others believe that having a chip inserted into their bodies under their skin would be invasive and troublesome from a privacy standpoint.

Weather we like it or not, the tech world is relentlessly marching forward, and the fear of being left behind and not being able to function in a society that increasingly revolves around high tech gadgetry, is a very real one. One way to hedge against that scenario might be to move from a city environment to a more rural area, or even a different country, where technology is less pervasive. Making that location a beautiful vacation spot or a location that would be increasingly valuable if things were to normalize, is how this could be a dual-purpose prepping strategy.

Man-made or natural disasters also weigh heavy on our minds, and can result in less than ideal feelings of stress and anxiety. Things like nuclear war, EMP blasts taking out the electrical grid, runaway climate change resulting in devastating droughts and flooding, and other end-of-the-world (TEOTWAWKI) scenarios that may or may not happen weigh heavy on most people's minds.

If you think about it, there are any number of hedges out there that can be used in just about any scenario, if you have a dual-purpose investing mindset.

Our community is all about dual purpose hedging. For us, living in mountain paradise not only provides us and our families a safe retreat where we can grow our own food should any one of many nightmare scenarios play out, it also gives us a wonderful place to go to enjoy life and relax in the meantime. And, on top of that, prices for organic land with water, electricity and internet are very likely to go dramatically higher in the future.

Get in touch if you'd like more information about our community and goals.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Fresh Food in the Cool Tropical Mountains of Panama



This time of year I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in an agricultural area, as opposed to a big city.

Not only is it much cooler up here in the mountains, and the air is much cleaner, the food is fantastic!

Although Chiriqui province is considered to be the "breadbasket" of Panama (most of the food in Panama comes from this area), there's nothing quite like living in the heart of Chiriqui, near where all that fresh food is grown.




Some of the things I enjoy most are the fresh grass fed cheeses, straight from a local dairy and sold for $4 a pound or less.

Avocados, high in fiber and vitamins, are also plentiful in this area. Some of them are so large that the pit is nearly the size of a typical red apple! You can easily make guacamole from the fruit then use the oversized outer shell as a dish for it.




The meat here is also extremely fresh. It is not uncommon to run into the local farmer that raised the animal at one of the many markets, delivering freshly cut chicken, pork or beef.

There are also several restaurants in the area, and more are popping up every day. Most of them source their ingredients locally, so you know the food you are eating is as fresh as possible.




Compared to living where fast food restaurants litter the landscape, and most of the produce is irradiated and shipped in weeks before they are ripened, this place encourages good health and vitality...naturally.








This platano tree fell down, so we will use these fruits for barter or to feed the toucans in the area. Not to worry, there are hundreds of trees just like this one still standing on the farm. And when one falls down, a baby one sprouts up immediately to take it's place.

And then, of course there's the organic coffee....





If you'd like to break away from the hectic lifestyle predominant in the big cities, come take a tour of our farm. You might just like it enough to stay!







Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Top Ten Reasons to Make the Move to Panama



So, maybe you're still considering several places to move to, and Panama is one of the countries on your 'short' list.

As we have pointed out before, Panama is home to some of the happiest people on earth. And why not?

Here are some of the reasons we chose Panama, and this particular spot, to call home:

Reason #1

Low cost of living

The cost for most things people buy regularly (gas, food, housing, energy, etc) are generally lower in many parts of Panama than in the states or in the Eurozone. Of course, the cost of housing and restaurant food in the big cities like Panama City and David are about the same as in the states, but if you can tolerate a little inconvenience and live a little more remotely, the costs can be dramatically lower. Just stay away from the well-known expat areas (Coronado, El Valle, Boquete and Volcan), as prices there tend to be higher than in the rural agricultural areas.

Reason #2

Weather

Yes, you read that correctly. Contrary to many people's beliefs there are some very comfortable places to live in Panama, despite the fact that this is a tropical region that gets a lot more rainfall than many places in the States or Europe. The temperature and humidity are very different at higher altitudes than down by the ocean. In the area we located our farms, the weather stays a comfortable 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit nearly all year, day and night. And, there's just enough rainfall to keep the plants happy without irrigating.

Reason #3

Location out of harms way

Nobody knows what is really going on behind the scenes, but it does seem to be getting a little 'sketchy' in and around the big cities in the US and Europe these days. Violence, drug abuse and social problems are rampant and acts of violence against innocent people are on the rise. Natural weather related events also seem to be occurring more often, such as drought, flooding and fires all over the US, and all are on the rise in recent years. Why this is happening is debatable, but it is clear that things are changing and not for the better. Being remote and surrounded by fewer people who are not dependent as much on others may be a safer bet than near a big city, if things continue to accelerate.

Reason #4

The economy is vibrant

The Panamanian economy has been in a boon since the early 2000's, and is expected to continue along that course for the foreseeable future. The Panama Canal recent expansion, which is now able to accommodate larger ships and charge higher fees has helped fuel this increase in revenue. And, the leaders of the country seem to be putting that money to good use, expanding the infrastructure, enhancing and improving water distribution and encouraging self reliance by promoting agriculture.

Reason #5

They use the dollar

For Americans living in Panama, conducting business is much like doing it at home for the simple reason there is no need to convert the currency. Although they use the dollar, as a backup they also have their own currency (the Balboa), which is pegged to the dollar and circulates alongside the dollar. If there ever were to be a rapid drop in the value or acceptance of the dollar, one could simply spend Balboas instead.

Reason #6

Neutral stable government

The government of Panama doesn't seem to be eager or willing to become entangled in the politics or social affairs of other countries. And, they seem to be willing to trade with other countries, even going as far as visiting them to set up trade Agreements, like the recent one between Panama and the United States. They are also high on the scale for peace.

Reason #7

Panama is on the 'way up', rather than on the way down

Panama is still several decades behind the US and European countries socially, economically and business wise. That means there is a lot of opportunity to grow in these areas, learning from the mistakes of the more developed nations.

Reason #8

Low and fair tax system

Unlike some other countries, Panama does not tax residents on the income they receive from countries outside Panama. And, if you are a dual resident and citizen of the US, the US gives you a break on your US taxes for income that is generated in Panama, up to a point. Property taxes are also quite low, and as of this writing, only collected when a property is sold.

Reason #9

Close proximity to everywhere

Whether you live in the US, the Eurozone, South America or Asia, Panama is centrally located and a hub of travel to anywhere in the world. Several new airports have been built and the main airport in Panama City (Tocumen) is undergoing a large scale redevelopment, and is sure to be Central America's main travel destination for residents from all over the world.

Reason #10

It's a great place to retire

Panama gives more than just lip service to retirees, both local and expats. As a "pensioner" you are treated to special discounts on food, hotels, entertainment and airline tickets. Discounts range from 20 to 40% or more in some cases. Citizens also get a monthly stipend, so there is very little homelessness, which is a welcome change from what one sees in the states nowadays.

Buying land or a home in another country and starting over can be a little scary and intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. The world is changing rapidly, and some places will fare better than others when those changes take place. Rural Panama is like the US was back in the 80's or maybe even the 70's, and the pace of life is much slower and people are more down to earth. Sure, they still have smart phones, internet services and TV's but they don't seem to be as caught up in the latest technology as everyone in the US seems to be.

If simpler, safer and slower is what you are looking for, take a look at what we are doing here at Finca Cazador. For a limited time, we are offering (1-5 acre) plots of organic bio-diverse land in our community to like minded individuals and families who want to live a clean, self sufficient (but not alone) lifestyle.

If this sounds interesting to you, contact us by email using the form at the top of the page, or email us at info@fincacazador.com


Sunday, January 14, 2018

State Dept Travel Advisory Updated for Panama



As if you needed another good reason to consider moving to Panama to enjoy the great weather, lush vegetation and low cost of living (at least here in the Chiriqui province)...Panama is one of the safest destinations for travel according to the most recent update to the State Department information website.

The US State Department updated their travel advisory program, and Panama is listed as one of the countries with the least amount of worry for travelers abroad.

The site also contains links to other helpful resources such as maps showing how safe different regions of the world are, a travelers checklist to assist in planning before you go and how to enroll in the step program offered to travelers to help ensure their safety while traveling abroad.

The new levels of travel advisories are:

  • Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.
  • Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution: Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
  • Level 3 - Reconsider Travel: Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
  • Level 4 - Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or leave as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Plastic Shopping Bags Soon to be Banned by New Law


Plastic Shopping bags will soon be banned in Panama, if a recent bill which just passed the first debate becomes law.

The assembly has approved law 492, during their first debate on the matter, that will ban stores from giving out plastic shopping bags to end users, and promote the use of more eco-friendly alternatives.

This is an attempt to begin to curtail the litter problem, and it is hoped that the new law, if passed, will create awareness of the problem these types of plastic bags cause in the environment, and curb their use nationwide.

According to the President of the Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs, this law should result in a reduction of around 20% once the bill is enacted and enforcement begins.

According to reusethisbag.com, there are currently somewhere between 500 billion to a trillion bags used in the world every year, but many countries are making an effort to ban them or tax their use.

The law was designed to promote the use of re-usable and biodegradable bags, by specifically banning the use of polyethylene bags.

Many other countries already have a ban in place, including France, who as of September 2016 banned the use of plastic plates cups and utensils.

Ireland, in 2002, began charging a 37 cent tax to the consumer for the use of the bags, reducing their numbers by 90% over a ten year period.

According to Greenpeace, “At least 267 different species are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of marine debris including seabirds, turtles, seals, sea lions, whales and fish. The scale of contamination of the marine environment by plastic debris is vast. It is found floating in all the world’s oceans, everywhere from polar regions to the equator.”

The new proposal still needs to pass two more debate sessions to become law.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Cultural Differences Between the US and Panama


Looking to relocate to Panama and not sure about the cultural differences?

I'm often asked what the cultural or social differences are between the people of the US and the people of Panama.

The Latino culture here in Panama and in general is typically very polite. For example, if you and I were in a theater and I wanted to walk between your knees and the seat in front of you, I would be using the phrase, “Su permiso,” which means “With your permission, may I pass in front of you?” 
 
Another example is when people get onto a bus or on any form of public transportation, they will look at everyone and say “Buenos días” to everyone. Panamanians are very amiable and very polite. 
 
The Spanish language as a whole isn’t offensive or direct, unlike how English can be. English is great for math and businesses, but some people in other parts of the world are almost offensively direct. 
 
Spanish isn’t that way. Spanish goes up around the bend and out the back door. People here in Panama will typically never tell you anything you don’t want to hear, and that is something I don’t really like. The Panamanian culture is a culture of non-offense. 
 
Here in Panama, when somebody comes to your property, it’s considered very offensive to walk up to the door. You have to stand on the road or at the yard and say, “Hola! Hola!” to get permission to enter into the yard.  
 
The rural culture that came out of the ghettos of East L.A. is a culture that is seen throughout the world. When I was in Eastern Europe, I could see that culture there. It’s what you and I call the culture of rap, or the gangster mentality, and it’s here in some parts of Panama. It’s everywhere in the world and it’s a very loud, abrasive, in-your-face type of culture typically involving younger people with loud music that I don’t resonate with. It’s something that’s come in the last 10 or 15 years through music. Fortunately, in this agriculture based area, local residents are too busy trying to make a living to take up that urban ghetto mentality.

By American standards, the driving of Panamanians is aggressive. They use the horn too much, but it’s because there are too many people. Their traffic flow is superior to ours in the United States because they’re always inching forward, and when you have a lot of cars in a small space, nothing moves forward if everybody waits for everybody else. That is most evident in the larger cities; not so much of a problem in the rural towns around here.
 
In general, Panamanians don’t stand in lines well. They don’t get the concept that you take your turn. It’s really a mixed bag: on one side they’re very, very polite and almost non-contact, and on the other side, it’s what you and I take for granted coming out of our culture, like the distance and space. People get closer to each other and talk louder than what normally you and I would see in the United States. It’s a cultural difference.  

Generally, I'd have to say Panamanians in and around this area are pretty well behaved and respectful of everyone else, although they can seem intimidating at first because they may stare at newcomers trying to get a feel for them.

We don't have many gringos in these parts.

 

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Can Regenerative Farming Save Our Food Supply?

Your own Panama land is a great place to practice sustainable regenerative farming!

At Finca Cazador, we only practice regenerative farming. The reasons we opted to not use chemicals on our land are many, and the following story illustrates the importance of using organic regenerative farming methods, such as the methods we use here, to grow food crops in a sustainable manner.

Farming has sustained mankind for millennia. Industrial farming, on the other hand, has managed to create a series of unsustainable situations in less than 70 years, and evidence suggests we will not make it until the end of the century if we continue along the path of degenerative food and farming.



If you’d walked up to a farmer 100 years ago and told him farming would one day threaten life on Earth, he probably would have laughed in your face, saying such a thing simply isn’t possible.

Agriculture is necessary for food production, and therefore for life, the farmer would have said with firm conviction — and farming the land or raising cattle is not going to unduly harm anything or anyone.

Today, however, such an impossible scenario is precisely what we’re facing. Virtually every growing environmental and health problem can be traced back to modern food production. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Food insecurity and malnutrition amid mounting food waste
  • Rising obesity and chronic disease rates despite growing health care outlays
  • Diminishing fresh water supplies
  • Toxic agricultural chemicals polluting air, soil and waterways, thereby threatening the entire food chain from top to bottom
  • Disruption of normal climate and rainfall patterns
The good news is there are viable answers to all of these problems that do not merely scratch at the surface, and the answers hinge on the widespread implementation of regenerative agriculture and decentralized food distribution.

It’s easy to forget that at one point, not so long ago, all food was organically grown in a way that supported the ecosystem and environment as a whole. This all changed in the 1940s when the Green Revolution took hold and industrial, chemical-dependent farming techniques quickly spread to become the norm.


Industrial Farming Has Proven Itself a Failed Experiment

Farming has sustained mankind for millennia. Industrial farming, on the other hand, has managed to create a series of unsustainable situations in less than 70 years, and evidence suggests we will not make it until the end of the century if we continue along the path of degenerative food and farming.

Topsoil destruction, erosion and desertification are exacerbated by tilling, monocropping and not using cover crops. Maria-Helena Semedo of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has warned that at the current rate of topsoil degradation, all the world’s topsoil will be gone in less than 60 years.1

At that point, it’ll be “game over” because without topsoil you cannot grow food no matter how many chemicals you add to it. Closely related problems are the loss of soil fertility and biodiversity, which is directly related to the loss of natural carbon in the soil.

An estimated 80 percent of soil carbon in heavily farmed areas has already been lost,2 due to destructive plowing, overgrazing and the use of soil-destructive, carbon-depleting chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Industrial monocropping has also led to the loss of diversity. Seventy-five percent of the world’s crop varieties have gone the way of the dinosaurs in the last 100 years, and another 20 percent of all plants worldwide are threatened with extinction.3

Toxic contamination adds to the problem. According to studies by the Chinese government, 20 percent of arable land in China is now unusable due to pesticide contamination,4 and important crop pollinators such as butterfly and bee populations have collapsed, thanks to widespread pesticide application.5

Modern agriculture also promotes water waste through use of flood irrigation, destruction of soil quality and poor crop choices.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 80 percent of U.S. consumptive water (and more than 90 percent in many Western states) is used for agricultural purposes6 and, worldwide, groundwater is being used up at a faster rate than it can be replenished.

According to James Famiglietti, a senior water scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the majority of our global groundwaters “are past sustainability tipping points,”7 which means it’s only a matter of time until we run out of fresh water.

Without food or drinkable water, the end of civilization as we know it is pretty well-assured. The question is will enough people have the foresight to change course?

Read more>>>

A Safe Harbor for Uncertain Times

 

Why you should consider building a retreat or bug out location on your own Panama land.


Like the Bob Dylan song from the 60's, the times they are a changing!

It seems with the advent of the personal computer, time has begun to exponentially speed up. Change happens so rapidly now, that before one tech product becomes popular, another one rises to take it's place, rendering the original product useless, often before the original investment is returned to the people who funded it's development. Even the term "state of the art" has become outdated.

Technology surely has had the widest impact on society as a whole, but it's certainly not the only field in which vast changes have taken place in just the last few years.

There is one place change is not coming fast enough, for economists and statisticians, especially. Our consumption based economy, which has fueled our GDP growth over the past 60 or more years, seems to have come to a screeching halt.

Eight years into a recession and we're still trillions of dollars in debt and nobody seems to be able to find a solution to the problem that we are not spending enough. Not driving the kind of growth needed to continually enrich stockholders and the others at the top of the food chain, without pumping in federal tax dollars in alarming amounts. We're spending tax dollars like there's no tomorrow, and it's not helping the economy much.

And monumental events like this are becoming commonplace all over the "free" world. What will happen if France or Italy leave the EU?

There's even been talk about completely doing away with cash, of all things, and replacing it with "digital" money. And now, several countries are requiring banks to charge their customers for the privilege of keeping their money on deposit. Forget earning interest on your checking or savings account. You'll have to pay the bank if you want to keep your money in their "virtual" vaults. And if there's no cash being used, how will you be able to prevent it from being hacked into oblivion?

What about cars that drive themselves? Huh? Seriously? I get it that we're too lazy to look at a map, but do we need that level of simplicity in our lives? Are we that incompetent? Have you made your travel plans for Mars?

The bottom line is change is coming, for better or for worse.

For the sake of the American people, who one could almost say are "innocent bystanders" in the future plans for the world, I can only hope the nightmare scenarios that any number of analysts are predicting don't unfold all at once.

Not to mention what would happen if the electrical grid went down because of a solar storm, like it did in the mid 1800's.

I can only hope that my loved ones and friends all are able and willing to take the necessary steps to prepare a place for them and their loved ones to go if (or when) the stuff hits the fan, figuratively speaking.


That was pretty much the thought process we went through when our own personal situation forced us to decide how to market the organic property here.

We certainly could have taken the "gated community" route, and divided this amazingly revitalized land up into really small pieces (lots) and had what quite a few westerners seem to have been looking for in the past. A place to go where you didn't have to learn the language, and you could live an isolated life with other westerners, without having to really alter your lifestyle that much.

There are a lot of those gated communities out there, and for a price you can live that way. But most of those places have serious drawbacks that become obvious once you think about what could happen in a crisis. Most of them are close to major metropolitan areas, or are known expat establishments which have already become targets for theft and other criminal behavior. Many are in the lower elevations, and would be unbearable without air conditioning.

Or, we could have chosen to just split up the land without going to the expense (twelve years and countless dollars spent) of reversing multiple decades of nutrient-killing pesticide and chemical fertilizer use, and sold it to anyone willing to buy it. We could have sold the land without improving it with a 140 foot well, and a 12,000 gallon holding tank, gravity fed, and electricity from the neighboring town.

But, we wanted to create something special here.

Something not available anywhere in Central America. A community of like minded people living in harmony with the land, so it will continue to provide a rich growing environment, without the use of petroleum based or other dangerous chemical additives, for generations to come.

Something sustainable and lasting.

If you are looking for a unique special place to call home full or part time, "pre-crisis" or no-crisis, where you can easily grow delicious fruits and vegetables without using any chemicals, you have found the place and we welcome you.

Give us a call or email us for more information, pricing and farm configuration details.


Sunday, April 23, 2017

The Many Ways Organic Farming Techniques Improve Bio-Diversity



There is little doubt that organic farming methods improve bio-diversity and long term sustainability.

The benefits to farmers include:

Lower costs
Improved soil conditions
More species of plants
More species of animals
More species of helpful insects

From Wikipedia:

Organic farming and biodiversity

The effect of organic farming has been a subject of interest for researchers. Theory suggests that organic farming practices, which exclude the use of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, may be beneficial for biodiversity.

This is generally shown to be true for soils scaled to the area of cultivated land, where species abundance is, on average, 30% richer than that of conventional farms. However, for crop yield-scaled land the effect of organic farming on biodiversity is highly debated due to the significantly lower yields compared to conventional farms.

In ancient farming practices, farmers did not possess the technology or manpower to have a significant impact on the destruction of biodiversity even as mass-production agriculture was rising.

Nowadays, common farming methods generally rely on pesticides to maintain high yields. With such, most agricultural landscapes favor mono-culture crops with very little flora or fauna co-existence (van Elsen 2000). Modern organic farm practices such as the removal of pesticides and the inclusion of animal manure, crop rotation, and multi-cultural crops provides the chance for biodiversity to thrive.

Benefits to biodiversity

Nearly all non-crop, naturally occurring species observed in comparative farm land practice studies show a preference in organic farming both by population and richness.

Spanning all associated species, there is an average of 30% more on organic farms versus conventional farming methods, however this does not account for possible loss of biodiversity due to decreased yields.

Birds, butterflies, soil microbes, beetles, earthworms, spiders, vegetation, and mammals are particularly affected. Some organic farms may use less pesticides and thus biodiversity fitness and population density may benefit.

Larger farms however tend to use pesticides more liberally and in some cases to larger extent than conventional farms. Many weed species attract beneficial insects that improve soil qualities and forage on weed pests.

Soil-bound organisms often benefit because of increased bacteria populations due to natural fertilizer spread such as manure, while experiencing reduced intake of herbicides and pesticides commonly associated with conventional farming methods.

Increased biodiversity, especially from soil microbes such as mycorhizzae, have been proposed as an explanation for the high yields experienced by some organic plots, especially in light of the differences seen in a 21-year comparison of organic and control fields.

Impact of increased biodiversity

The level of biodiversity that can be yielded from organic farming provides a natural capital to humans. Species found in most organic farms provides a means of agricultural sustainability by reducing amount of human input (e.g. fertilizers, pesticides).

Farmers that produce with organic methods reduce risk of poor yields by promoting biodiversity. Common game birds such as the ring-necked pheasant and the northern bobwhite often reside in agriculture landscapes, and are a natural capital yielded from high demands of recreational hunting.

Because bird species richness and population are typically higher on organic farm systems, promoting biodiversity can be seen as logical and economical.

Highly impacted animal species

Earthworms

Earthworm population and diversity appears to have the most significant data out of all studies. Out of six studies comparing earthworm biodiversity to organic and conventional farming methods, all six suggested a preference for organic practices including a study at the pioneering Haughley farm in 1980/1981 that compared earthworm populations and soil properties after 40 years. Hole et al. (2005) summarized a study conducted by Brown (1999) and found nearly double the population and diversity when comparing farming methods.

Birds

Organic farms are said to be beneficial to birds while remaining economical. Bird species are one of the most prominent animal groups that benefit from organic farming methods. Many species rely on farmland for foraging, feeding, and migration phases. With such, bird populations often relate directly to the natural quality of farmland.

The more natural diversity of organic farms provides better habitats to bird species, and is especially beneficial when the farmland is located within a migration zone. In 5 recent studies almost all bird species including locally declining species, both population and variation increased on organic farmland,.

Making a switch from conventional farming methods to organic practices also seems to directly improve bird species in the area.

While organic farming improves bird populations and diversity, species populations receive the largest boost when organic groups are varied within a landscape. Bird populations are increased further with optimal habitat for biodiversity, rather than organic alone, with systems such as Conservation Grade.

Butterflies

A specific study done in the UK in 2006 found substantially more butterflies on organic farms versus standard farming methods except for two pest species. The study also observed higher populations in uncropped field margins compared with cropland edges regardless of farm practice. Conversely, Weibull et al. (2000) found no significant differences in species diversity or population.

Spiders

Ten studies have been conducted involving spider species and abundance on farm systems. All but three of the studies indicated that there was a higher diversity of spider species on organic farms, in addition to populations of species. Two of the studies indicated higher species diversity, but statistically insignificant populations between organic and standard farming methods.

Soil Microbes

Out of 13 studies comparing bacteria and fungus communities between organic and standard farming, 8 of the studies showed heightened level of growth on organic farm systems. One study concluded that the use of “green” fertilizers and manures was the primary cause of higher bacterial levels on organic farms.

On the other hand, nematode population/diversity depended on what their primary food intake was. Bacteria-feeding nematodes showed preference towards organic systems whereas fungus-feeding nematodes showed preference for standard farm systems.

The heightened level of bacteria-feeding nematodes makes sense due to higher levels of bacteria in organic soils, but the fungus-feeding populations being higher on standard farms seems to contradict the data since more fungi are generally found on organic farms.

Beetles

According to Hole et al. (2005), beetle species are among the most commonly studied animal species on farming systems. Twelve studies have found a higher population and species richness of carabids on organic systems.

The overall conclusion of significantly higher carabid population species and diversity is that organic farms have a higher level of weed species where they can thrive.

Staphylinid populations and diversity have seemed to show no specific preference with some studies showing higher population and diversity, some with lower population and diversity, and one study showed no statistical significance between the organic and conventional farming systems.

Mammals

Two comparative studies have been conducted involving mammal populations and diversity among farm practices. A study done by Brown (1999) found that small mammal population density and diversity did not depend on farming practices, however overall activity was higher on organic farms.

It was concluded that more food resources were available to small mammals on organic farms because of the reduction or lack of herbicides and pesticides.

Another study conducted by Wickramasinghe et al. (2003) compared bat species and activity. Species activity and foraging were both more than double on organic farms compared to conventional farms. Species richness was also higher on organic farms, and 2 of the sixteen species sighted were found only on organic farms.

Vegetation

Approximately ten studies have been conducted to compare non-crop vegetation between organic and conventional farming practices. Hedgerow, inner-crop and grassland observations were made within these studies and all but one showed a higher weed preference and diversity in or around organic farms.

Most of these studies showed significant overall preference for organic farming preferences especially for broad-leafed species, but many grass species showed far less on conventional farms likely because pesticide interaction was low or non-existent.

Organic farm weed population and richness was believed to be lower in mid-crop land because of weed-removal methods such as under sowing.

Switching from conventional to organic farming often results in a “boom” of weed speciation due to intense chemical change of soil composition from the lack of herbicides and pesticides. Natural plant species can also vary on organic farms from year-to-year because crop rotation creates new competition based on the chemical needs of each crop.

Farmers’ Benefits from Increased Biodiversity

Biological research on soil and soil organisms has proven beneficial to the system of organic farming. Varieties of bacteria and fungi break down chemicals, plant matter and animal waste into productive soil nutrients.

In turn, the producer benefits by healthier yields and more arable soil for future crops.

Furthermore, a 21-year study was conducted testing the effects of organic soil matter and its relationship to soil quality and yield. Controls included actively managed soil with varying levels of manure, compared to a plot with no manure input.

After the study commenced, there was significantly lower yields on the control plot when compared to the fields with manure. The concluded reason was an increased soil microbe community in the manure fields, providing a healthier, more arable soil system.

Detriments to biodiversity through organic farming

Organic farming practices still require active participation from the farmer to effectively boost biodiversity. Making a switch to organic farming methods does not automatically or guarantee improved biodiversity. Pro-conservation ethics are required to create arable farm land that generates biodiversity.

Conservationist ideals are commonly overlooked because they require additional physical and economical efforts from the producer. Common weed-removal processes like undercutting and controlled burning provides little opportunity for species survival, and often leads to comparable populations and richness to conventionally managed landscapes when performed in excess.

Another common process is the addition of biotopes in the form of hedgerows and ponds to further improve species richness. Farmers commonly make the mistake of over-using these resources for more intense crop production because organic yields are typically lower. Another error comes from the over-stratification of biotopes. A series of small clusters does not provide adequate land area for high biodiversity potential.


Here is the Wikipedia page

Friday, April 21, 2017

Nearing a Point of No Return




Are we headed for a societal collapse?


I've been trying not to concern myself with things that are out of my control lately. One of those things is the thought that society as we know it could possibly someday collapse. And maybe someday is not that far away.

However, as much as I try to pretend the recent events throughout the world, such as the wars in the middle east, weather related earth changes and the rise of a seemingly different political order are just cyclical, I find myself wondering what a collapse of the monetary systems of the world or a general societal collapse would look like.

Many think a collapse of the financial system started in 2008 and has never fully recovered. The ever increasing stock market seem to signal a recovery, yet why are so many retail outlets closing? If the economy was recovering why would companies be laying off employees and closing branches?

Could this be the beginning of the end for western economies, who seem to survive on consumers making purchases even when it means going into debt to do it? Have people simply stopped buying unnecessary items and are now hoarding cash, or have online sites like Amazon made it so convenient people simply cannot help making their purchases from the comfort of their kitchens?

Could that change in buying habits have happened that quickly?

One recent article authored by the BBC does a great job of explaining how societies have historically collapsed, and what it looked like when they did. Here's an excerpt of that article:

...there are two factors that matter: ecological strain and economic stratification. The ecological category is the more widely understood and recognized path to potential doom, especially in terms of depletion of natural resources such as groundwater, soil, fisheries and forests – all of which could be worsened by climate change.

Under this scenario, elites push society toward instability and eventual collapse by hoarding huge quantities of wealth and resources, and leaving little or none for commoners who vastly outnumber them yet support them with labor. 

Eventually, the working population crashes because the portion of wealth allocated to them is not enough, followed by collapse of the elites due to the absence of labor. The inequalities we see today both within and between countries already point to such disparities. For example, the top 10% of global income earners are responsible for almost as much total greenhouse gas emissions as the bottom 90% combined. Similarly, about half the world’s population lives on less than $3 per day. 
 
Although the man made climate change narrative is still up for debate, the widening income gap is certain and quite obvious to anyone paying attention. Financial enrichment of the folks at the top of the food chain, caused primarily by their ability to participate in a soaring stock market, is well known. Being at the right place at the right time, with resources, has it's advantages. What is not known is how long this rising gap in income will go on, and what will happen when it can no longer be tolerated by the other ninety nine percent.

Whatever causes the collapse, one thing is for certain. There will be many people at or near the centers of government and commerce that will say it came as a total surprise and was totally unexpected.

History tells a different story.

If you want to insulate yourself from some of the troubles ahead, consider investing in a piece of paradise here at our ranch. You can grow vegetables and fruit and live a pretty uneventful life, which might be as welcome a change for you as it has been for me.