Volunteering at Totoco

With the facilities in the bottom section of the property now slowly coming into use, we have our first adventurous volunteers working with us. Melissa (see picture below) from Baltimore was here for a week and Matt from Wisconsin hopes to be here for a couple of months.

Totoco offers room (meaning a tent) and board (meaning meals) in exchange for 25 hours of work a week but both Melissa and Matt have been putting in extra time voluntarily. Matt has been lending his welding skills which is invaluable as it allows our German all-rounder Jan to focus on important carpentry work.

Soon we will also be joined by Kata who is an Ethno Botanist with dual American and British citizenship and with extensive experience on Ometepe. She will help develope the plant nursery with a view to the coming rain season.

Facilities for our guests are still missing details but both the toilet and shower are in use and we plan to start occupying the communal kitchen in the coming week. On the road project we are now in sight of the end and this past week saw the large delivery truck that brings sand and rocks make it past the forest for the first time. This will help speed-up the delivery of materials to the masons working on the road.