Costa Rica Day 4 - Cow Milking, Zip-lining, and Rancho de Lelo

Today was a very full day.

1) We woke up at 6AM to milk cows and get a tour of the stable and biodigester. UGA Costa Rica uses the milk in the cafeteria each day. I didn't assume that milking cows would be easy...and it's not.

2) We learned about the biodigester. Think of it as a large stomach. Organic matter (i.e. waste) + bacteria = methane, used to fuel the campus kitchen. Clean, organic fuel. The technical term for the process is anaerobic fermentation. U Wisconsin Oshkosh has a good explanation here.

3) We went zip-lining over the Monteverde canopy. The weather was great, the views were spectacular, and our guides were fantastic. I don't particularly like zip-lines (jaded from working in the challenge course industry), but I have to concede that this was a pretty awesome experience.

4) Came back to campus and took another neature walk while the students were in GEO class.

5) Visited El Rancho de Lelo. Aurelio (known affectionately as Lelo) has spent the last 20-or-so years building this incredible facility. His goal was to create a fully sustainable, organic farm/ecolodge to teach others how small-scale farming is possible and worthwhile. In fact, Lelo's farm uses a biodigester much like the one on UGA's campus. The ranch is a family effort. Everyone has a job. Additionally, this farm works in collaboration with other local farms, rather than in competition. For example, Lelo grows coffee but doesn't have the machinery to grind or roast the beans. He exchanges coffee beans for the use of machinery at another farm. On our tour, we learned about the process of farming tilapia, and later that evening the family caught some tilapia and grilled it fresh for our dinner.

6) Before dinner, we played soccer against members of Lelo's family (and Lelo himself, who is a BOSS on the pitch) and another very nice family who was on vacation and wanted to have a real Tico experience. Dinner, as I mentioned, was fresh (literally right out of the pond) and delicious. After dinner, we had a dance lesson from Lelo's wife, who taught us the bachata, merengue, and salsa.

Getting to communicate through sports, food, and dance is a really special experience. It transcends language barriers. Tonight's festivities made our group truly feel like members of Lelo's family. Lelo's family is a prime example of why Ticos are so special. Their generosity and kindness is unmatched.

Okay, I'm wiped out. Here are some pictures to summarize the day:

Cross this off my bucket list.

UGA Costa Rica's biodigester. Anaerobic fermentation in the lower bag leads to the production of methane, stored in the bag above.

About to zip-line over the Monteverde canopy.

My view from the zip-line.

Rancho de Lelo

One of the tilapia ponds at Racho de Lelo. Not a bad view.

Learning about the process of tilapia farming.

I just really liked this photo.

I ate one of these fish shortly after this photo was taken.

These snails help keep the water clean in the tilapia ponds.

Rancho de Lelo also has a biodigester.

Soccer with the Ticos.

View of another tilapia pond. The tent in the background is where the family grows some of its produce.

My pictures don't do the beauty of this ranch justice. Not even close.

Another tilapia pond.

I will probably never eat another fish as fresh as this in my lifetime.

Dance lessons. After learning several Latin dances...we taught them the Running Man. Yep. Sure did.