Monteverde Institute: Culture, Community, and Health

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  Estudio sobre impacto y oportunidades del sector comercial de Monteverde a partir de la pandemia "COVID-19", December 15, 2020

  Anibal Torres Leitón and Allison Cantor

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  Estudio sobre impacto y oportunidades del sector comercial de Monteverde a partir de la pandemia "COVID-19" (setiembre-noviembre) [PowerPoint], December 2020

  Monteverde Institute

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  Análisis cualitativo, investigación basada en la comunidad y COVID-19 [PowerPoint], August 2020

  Ky Miller

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  Análisis cualitativo, investigación comunitaria y COVID-19, August 2020

  Ky Miller

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  Qualitative analysis, community-based research and COVID-19, August 2020

  Ky Miller

  Taking a community-based approach is important in the context of applied research to address challenges that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as food insecurity and unemployment. Drawing on the results of a 12-week research internship with the Monteverde Institute, this paper explores the growing importance of conducting applied community-based research during the global public health crisis to inform future work in the Monteverde community. Specifically, this paper outlines how qualitative methods and analysis can increase knowledge and understanding of a given issue in order to integrate research findings in policy recommendations or other avenues for social change to benefit community members during times of crisis. In this paper I will outline qualitative methods and analysis and community-based research, their application to the Liaison Commission and the Statistics and Census Sub-Commission Survey of Households, their application to a systematic literature review, and a discussion of the relevance of community-based research during the era of COVID-19. I will conclude with a short description of how qualitative methods and analysis will contribute to my future research surrounding the effects of the pandemic on conservation organizations and local communities’ dependent on ecotourism.

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  Cultivo en viviendas y seguridad alimentaria en West Oakland, CA, April 25, 2020

  Ella Burk

  I am a student of sustainable agroecology and an upcoming sustainable urban farmer. I believe that we should all grow our own food in order to decentralize the industrial food system in America, to reclaim and redistribute American farmland to people of color, and to ensure food security across this country of food-apartheid. Food apartheid is another term for a food desert, which is a neighborhood that does not have access to grocers that sell affordable, fresh, and healthy produce/foods. The term “food apartheid” accounts for the institutionalized racial discrimination present in such neighborhoods, and clarifies that this landscape of food insecurity in human-made, not naturally occurring (Penniman). “More than 23.5 million Americans live more than a mile away from their nearest supermarket, and 2.3 million of them don’t have access to a car” (Doherty). Rather than forcing millions of Americans (predominantly those of color) to eat from local and limited corner stores, we should distribute and grow healthy food with equity, sustainability, and accessibility on the front of the mind. Furthermore, empowering people to grow their own food decentralizes food production, which allows consumers to understand and control the source of their food, as well as creating self-autonomous food security. In 1910, black people in America owned 14% of America’s farmland, but through the Black Codes, the 13th Amendment, redlining, and more institutionalized acts of racism, black farmers today own only 1.5% of America’s farmland (Penniman). I strive to work towards the grassroots reclamation of growing across the nation. I created an instructional manual, or “zine” (name for an informal, homemade mini magazine), displaying how to grow fresh produce at home. The zine, titled “Easy Home Growing,” is designed to support people with limited resources to grow food at home. This manual can be particularly important amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, which makes accessing grocery stores and earning enough money for food even more challenging for those already living in food apartheid. A neighborhood near me in food apartheid is West Oakland, California. I will distribute the zines through the neighborhood in hopes to empower my community to grow organic, fresh, and healthy produce at home.

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  Easy home growing, April 25, 2020

  Ella Burk

  Easy home growing on how to cultivate your own garden at home

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  Home growing and food security in West Oakland, CA, April 25, 2020

  Ella Burk

  I am a student of sustainable agroecology and an upcoming sustainable urban farmer. I believe that we should all grow our own food in order to decentralize the industrial food system in America, to reclaim and redistribute American farmland to people of color, and to ensure food security across this country of food-apartheid. Food apartheid is another term for a food desert, which is a neighborhood that does not have access to grocers that sell affordable, fresh, and healthy produce/foods. The term “food apartheid” accounts for the institutionalized racial discrimination present in such neighborhoods, and clarifies that this landscape of food insecurity in human-made, not naturally occurring (Penniman). “More than 23.5 million Americans live more than a mile away from their nearest supermarket, and 2.3 million of them don’t have access to a car” (Doherty). Rather than forcing millions of Americans (predominantly those of color) to eat from local and limited corner stores, we should distribute and grow healthy food with equity, sustainability, and accessibility on the front of the mind. Furthermore, empowering people to grow their own food decentralizes food production, which allows consumers to understand and control the source of their food, as well as creating self-autonomous food security. In 1910, black people in America owned 14% of America’s farmland, but through the Black Codes, the 13th Amendment, redlining, and more institutionalized acts of racism, black farmers today own only 1.5% of America’s farmland (Penniman). I strive to work towards the grassroots reclamation of growing across the nation. I created an instructional manual, or “zine” (name for an informal, homemade mini magazine), displaying how to grow fresh produce at home. The zine, titled “Easy Home Growing,” is designed to support people with limited resources to grow food at home. This manual can be particularly important amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, which makes accessing grocery stores and earning enough money for food even more challenging for those already living in food apartheid. A neighborhood near me in food apartheid is West Oakland, California. I will distribute the zines through the neighborhood in hopes to empower my community to grow organic, fresh, and healthy produce at home.

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  Composting project: Practical applications and social implications, April 25, 2020

  Shepard Campbell

  I will be researching the practical application of creating and implementing composting into different production processes. I will be working with Justin Welch to understand the composting business that he has successfully begun. Additionally, I will be furthering my understanding by looking into how his business makes their compost and what are the best “cocktails” of micro-organisms to make different kinds of compost for different kinds of production systems. My goal through this research is to understand how compost is created, implemented and can be profitable for a business. This will allow me to be able to create educational materials for small-holder farm owners and show them the environmental, social and economic benefits of creating and using their own compost. Abstract Social Implications: I will be researching the history behind the topic of composting. Spanning back to the use of composting in indigenous cultures, into the industrial era and the rise of fertilizers and agrochemicals, and concluding in the green revolution era where the focus is back into encouraging composting and other ‘green methods’ of farming and waste disposal. I will use my knowledge in the history of composting and through my practical application in a composting business to ask the question, ‘why is composting so important’ and take a critical approach of why I will argue it is one of the most important methods of combating climate change, food insecurity, and other issues.

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  Proyecto de compostaje: Aplicaciones prácticas e implicaciones sociales, April 25, 2020

  Shepard Campbell

  I will be researching the practical application of creating and implementing composting into different production processes. I will be working with Justin Welch to understand the composting business that he has successfully begun. Additionally, I will be furthering my understanding by looking into how his business makes their compost and what are the best “cocktails” of micro-organisms to make different kinds of compost for different kinds of production systems. My goal through this research is to understand how compost is created, implemented and can be profitable for a business. This will allow me to be able to create educational materials for small-holder farm owners and show them the environmental, social and economic benefits of creating and using their own compost. Abstract Social Implications: I will be researching the history behind the topic of composting. Spanning back to the use of composting in indigenous cultures, into the industrial era and the rise of fertilizers and agrochemicals, and concluding in the green revolution era where the focus is back into encouraging composting and other ‘green methods’ of farming and waste disposal. I will use my knowledge in the history of composting and through my practical application in a composting business to ask the question, ‘why is composting so important’ and take a critical approach of why I will argue it is one of the most important methods of combating climate change, food insecurity, and other issues.

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  Biking CORCLIMA, April 25, 2020

  Eleanor Yeomans

  Corclima is an organization that works closely with the Monteverde Institute and the Monteverde community to promote climate resilience and to help people make significant sustainable actions within their own homes. They help the community in lots of different ways with different plans and actions. Mostly they help facilitate action and motivate people to help out in those actions (Corclima). Originally, I was hoping to work with them and interview members of the community about biking and Corclima’s biking initiatives specifically. When did they begin cycling, what got them interested etc. However, due to the Coronavirus, this no longer became an option. I continued to work with Corclima creating a powerpoint and information graphics for them. From making these graphics and talking to Katy, my supervisor at Corclima in this endeavor, I was able to learn about why Corclima is promoting biking, and how they are doing it. I also learned about what they view as the primary reasons people choose to start cycling as well as reasons why people may be hesitant to do so. Most of my work for Corclima during this time, along with my own personal research, was to create materials for the programs they currently have and to enhance the knowledge they currently have through my research. While looking at their website, I discovered that there are not many materials surrounding biking, even though it is something they are trying to encourage in the community. They have many different bullet points as to how you can lower the amount of emissions you produce by making changes to your methods of transportation, but they don’t explain why they are recommending these actions besides the assumed ‘it will help to lower emissions’ (Corclima).

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  Ciclismo CORCLIMA, April 25, 2020

  Eleanor Yeomans

  Corclima is an organization that works closely with the Monteverde Institute and the Monteverde community to promote climate resilience and to help people make significant sustainable actions within their own homes. They help the community in lots of different ways with different plans and actions. Mostly they help facilitate action and motivate people to help out in those actions (Corclima). Originally, I was hoping to work with them and interview members of the community about biking and Corclima’s biking initiatives specifically. When did they begin cycling, what got them interested etc. However, due to the Coronavirus, this no longer became an option. I continued to work with Corclima creating a powerpoint and information graphics for them. From making these graphics and talking to Katy, my supervisor at Corclima in this endeavor, I was able to learn about why Corclima is promoting biking, and how they are doing it. I also learned about what they view as the primary reasons people choose to start cycling as well as reasons why people may be hesitant to do so. Most of my work for Corclima during this time, along with my own personal research, was to create materials for the programs they currently have and to enhance the knowledge they currently have through my research. While looking at their website, I discovered that there are not many materials surrounding biking, even though it is something they are trying to encourage in the community. They have many different bullet points as to how you can lower the amount of emissions you produce by making changes to your methods of transportation, but they don’t explain why they are recommending these actions besides the assumed ‘it will help to lower emissions’ (Corclima).

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  Cyclist safety workshop [PowerPoint], April 25, 2020

  Eleanor Yeomans

  Cyclist safety workshop on how to prevent bicycle accidents

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  How biking is environmental, April 25, 2020

  Eleanor Yeomans

  Biking is environmental

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  Taller de seguridad ciclista [PowerPoint], April 25, 2020

  Eleanor Yeomans

  Cyclist safety workshop on how to prevent bicycle accidents

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  Guía de supervivencia en cuarentena: Explicación, April 16, 2020

  Amelia Meier

  I began my guide during my first week of quarantine, and as time went on I only got more ideas on what I could add. As time went on, the internet also became rich with quarantine tips and tricks, but I made sure to keep a balance of internet tips, and stuff that I thought of and had been a source of peace and entertainment during this time for me. I also used the internet to make sure the advice I was giving was legitimate and at least had some evidence of working or being true. Additionally, for topics like ‘immune boosters’ I had my nurse practitioner mother to turn to, which was a huge help, as she is up to date on all things coronavirus. It was important that in sharing my fun ideas, I was also always able to weave in that this is a serious time in which you must stay home, maintain social distancing, and all of the other suggestions we’ve heard. I did not want to make it too similar to the news, because we’ve all heard that stuff. I wanted my guide to be a breath of fresh air, something people could read and get excitement from.

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  Guía de supervivencia en cuarentena [PowerPoint], April 16, 2020

  Amelia Meier

  Quarantine survival guide

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  Quarantine survival guide: Explained, April 16, 2020

  Amelia Meier

  I began my guide during my first week of quarantine, and as time went on I only got more ideas on what I could add. As time went on, the internet also became rich with quarantine tips and tricks, but I made sure to keep a balance of internet tips, and stuff that I thought of and had been a source of peace and entertainment during this time for me. I also used the internet to make sure the advice I was giving was legitimate and at least had some evidence of working or being true. Additionally, for topics like ‘immune boosters’ I had my nurse practitioner mother to turn to, which was a huge help, as she is up to date on all things coronavirus. It was important that in sharing my fun ideas, I was also always able to weave in that this is a serious time in which you must stay home, maintain social distancing, and all of the other suggestions we’ve heard. I did not want to make it too similar to the news, because we’ve all heard that stuff. I wanted my guide to be a breath of fresh air, something people could read and get excitement from.

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  Quarantine survival guide (PowerPoint), April 16, 2020

  Amelia Meier

  Quarantine survival guide

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  Producción lechera sostenible, April 11, 2020

  Amelia Ayers

  Farming is a vital adaptation humans have made to support large populations of people. It is an ancient practice constantly changing over time. Today, up to 70% of water taken from rivers and groundwater goes to farming irrigation, and farming animals accounts for 65% of nitrous oxide emissions (Lenntech.com). With all of this unsustainability, it is important to look for other ways of farming that are less harmful to the environment. In talking with Sara Stucky on sustainability at her dairy farm, a few small changes can make a huge global impact.

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  Sustainable dairy farming, April 11, 2020

  Amelia Ayers

  Farming is a vital adaptation humans have made to support large populations of people. It is an ancient practice constantly changing over time. Today, up to 70% of water taken from rivers and groundwater goes to farming irrigation, and farming animals accounts for 65% of nitrous oxide emissions (Lenntech.com). With all of this unsustainability, it is important to look for other ways of farming that are less harmful to the environment. In talking with Sara Stucky on sustainability at her dairy farm, a few small changes can make a huge global impact.

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  La revolución verde, la agricultura sostenible y la seguridad alimentaria, April 2020

  Helix Bins

  This essay provides an in-depth synthesized examination concerning the complicated relationship between sustainable agriculture and food security. In doing so, this analysis describes the history of the green revolution and its connection in pushing, what is now considered conventional yet harmful, agricultural methods and the impacts it has. While the evidence will have a concentration on Costa Rica, it will draw comparative examples from other developing countries, mainly India in order to offer a more thorough and nuanced perspective. This will demonstrate that the ideology of the green revolution failed to properly adapt to the needs of its country regardless of place or population and will reveal the commonalities that thread them together. Finally, this paper will provide evidence linking food security and sustainable agriculture while offering brief hypothesized solutions that mitigate the negative environmental and social impacts, and that reshape the practices of conventional agriculture using sustainable methodology as the main vehicle for this. In doing so, it will provide a well-rounded argument that encapsulates the importance of change in tradition. A collection of sources were gathered through Google Scholar and Research Gate with Google Scholar as the primary search engine. Using the aforementioned search engines will help insure the likelihood of finding valid and trustworthy sources that can strengthen my paper. I acquired sources by typing in a series of general key words relating to my topic such as: sustainable (in Costa Rica), green revolution (in Costa Rica/India), food insecurity (in Costa Rica/India), conventional agriculture (in Costa Rica/India).

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  The green revolution, sustainable agriculture, and food security, April 2020

  Helix Bins

  This essay provides an in-depth synthesized examination concerning the complicated relationship between sustainable agriculture and food security. In doing so, this analysis describes the history of the green revolution and its connection in pushing, what is now considered conventional yet harmful, agricultural methods and the impacts it has. While the evidence will have a concentration on Costa Rica, it will draw comparative examples from other developing countries, mainly India in order to offer a more thorough and nuanced perspective. This will demonstrate that the ideology of the green revolution failed to properly adapt to the needs of its country regardless of place or population and will reveal the commonalities that thread them together. Finally, this paper will provide evidence linking food security and sustainable agriculture while offering brief hypothesized solutions that mitigate the negative environmental and social impacts, and that reshape the practices of conventional agriculture using sustainable methodology as the main vehicle for this. In doing so, it will provide a well-rounded argument that encapsulates the importance of change in tradition. A collection of sources were gathered through Google Scholar and Research Gate with Google Scholar as the primary search engine. Using the aforementioned search engines will help insure the likelihood of finding valid and trustworthy sources that can strengthen my paper. I acquired sources by typing in a series of general key words relating to my topic such as: sustainable (in Costa Rica), green revolution (in Costa Rica/India), food insecurity (in Costa Rica/India), conventional agriculture (in Costa Rica/India).

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  Home gardens report, April 2020

  India Fleming-Klink

  Having conducted research on food insecurity in the Monteverde Zone prior to this class, it then became the foundation for a practical approach to help mitigate food insecurity. The purpose of this project is to create a manual on how to build home gardens in the Monteverde Zone.