Projects:

We have a new project put before us that needs funding. Due to the economic crisis in the U.S., a member of the San Buenaventura community has found himself unemployed. He worked for a concrete company here in Costa Rica with U.S. ties. Walter, and his wife, Ely, have access to some family land. They propose to start their own hydro organic produce business and provide food for Costa Rica. Here is Walter's proposal in his own words:

INTRODUCTION

The Hydro Organic Center Walely is an idea that our family has been developing little by little over the last five years, and to date we have not been able to do more than small plantings of tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumber and lettuce among other products. The truth is, that I find myself unemployed and in need of a way to support my family in these difficult times. My family and I want to take this unfortunate situation and use it to finally develop a way for us to be self-sustaining within the much in demand, and fairly recession-proof, area of food production. Even in difficult times, the need for good, nutritious food, is ever present. Our desire is to provide healthy, reasonably priced produce for our local community and with time for the general market here in Costa Rica.

We have three and a half hectares (about eight and one half acres) that can be dedicated to this project which has prompted the idea to ask for financial assistance from Project Benjamin. With this money we can construct a rustic green house, (made from wood and built with our own hands), and can thereafter manage our own family business. In addition, it is expected that this business can offer jobs to others, both in our extended family and the local community, providing a great benefit to more and more people as it grows.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

• THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE GREEN HOUSE WOULD CONSIST OF AN AREA OF 550 M2 TO GROW SWEET PEPPERS AND TOMATOES WITH ORGANIC FERTILIZERS.
• IN ADDITION WE WOULD UTILIZE THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA TO GROW CORN, FRUIT TREES AND OTHER PRODUCTS TO SUBSIDIZE THE PRIMARY CROP AND PROVIDE CONVENTIONALLY GROWN FOODS WITHOUT HARMFUL CHEMICALS.
• WITH THE INITIATION OF THIS PROJECT WE WILL HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF MANAGING OUR OWN BUSINESS AND TIME. THIS WILL STABILIZE OUR ECONOMIC CONDITION AND ALSO PROVIDE WORK AND FOOD FOR OTHER FAMILIES.
• AT FIRST GLANCE, THE UP-FRONT INVESTMENT SEEMS HIGH, BUT THERE IS A SOLID OPPORTUNITY TO RECOVER THE INITIAL INVESTMENT BOTH MEDIUM AND LONG TERM BEING THAT THE GREENHOUSE, THE MAJOR PART OF THE INVESTMENT WILL HAVE A LONG, USEFUL LIFE.

If you would like more information on this project, including the complete cost and repayment proposal, please contact Angie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it