COMMUNITY / ENVIRONMENT / ANIMALS
COMMUNITY
Being ourselves with each other. Our philosophy at Genesis is based on principles of economic, social and political equality rather than those of charity, gifting or philanthropy. We are a bridge between locals and diverse non-governmental, faith based and secular organizations, private interests, and social justice societies. Genesis also attracts a diversity of professionals including veterinarians, climatologists, water experts, engineers and many with medical and paramedical expertise who are willing to share. Overwhelmingly, our guests are caring, respectful, generous, curious, aware, well travelled, humanitarian and open-minded. Integration with the community occurs easily, on an equal footing. Through interactive tours and intercultural exchanges, we promote local skills and the gift of friendships and partnerships. We provide stable and meaningful employment which allows workers to stay in the community instead of leaving for jobs at Cancun resorts. We provide on the job training for those who have not been able to finish high school or even elementary school. For 8 years we have worked with the "Dream" social justice and literacy program and hosted cultural exchanges for Catholic, Indigenous, Mormon and Evangelical youth. Ninos y Crias has trained youth naturalists here. Sierra Club and Four Winds Shamanic groups have visited as well as womens' activist groups. This year we hosted for the first time the University of Cincinnatti field studies for International Water Justice. We were particularly thrilled to host an intercultural exchange between Atikamekw First Nations Canadians and local Maya families.
VOLUNTEERS
Genesis guests and volunteers have shared a range of skills including plumbing and electrical repairs, English language, basic first aid and theatre games. They have taught classes in making jewelry, clay pots, simple furniture, bread and mosaics. They've exchanged songs in their native language and simple gifts of friendship. Contact us to let us know if you would be interested in volunteering.
Close to the Earth
Sustainability Profile
There is no correct formula to sustainability that can be universally applied. Every ecosystem is different, with its own strengths and vulnerabilities. Being “eco-sensitive”, therefore, starts before building, even before buying a property. It is so important to live on the land in order to observe everything from dominant winds and hot spots to favorite nesting places for birds and best soils for planting.
Most every detail at Genesis has been recycled or extracted, harvested or produced locally. We use rock wedged out of the soil for foundations; palm thatch for roofs and recycled wood for doors. We make our own sun dried adobe and grow bamboo for construction purposes. We find new life for salvage and use plastic bottles–that would otherwise be burned–as fill for stucco walls. Please ask for more information about our approach to sustainability.
From Watering the Rocks in 2002 to Productive Gardens in 2014
More than a decade of building soil through composting, soil management and applied permaculture, has resulted in a lush, productive, organic garden which provides foods like coconut, wild greens, ginger and taro, and examples of indigenous medicinal plants and trees. From a rocky, abandoned plot of land, the property is now an oasis of life with its own micro-climate. We like to exchange with others what we are learning about traditional indigenous food production and permaculture and will often provide food and accommodations to people who want to practice and exchange ideas about sustainable agriculture and organic farming.