internships

2312, 2013

a commitment to real food

December 23rd, 2013|

One of the things that make RDS so drastically different than any other place is our uncompromised attitude towards the food we eat and serve. It costs a lot to provide real food to a group of hungry mouths! Yet we’re not willing to compromise on this incredibly basic and important aspect of life which is why you’ll never find commercial vegetable oil at RDS, or any processed packaged food. We use raw butter and locally pressed coconut oil as our cooking oils. There’s always some kind of chicken or beef broth simmering on one of our wood fired stoves. Fresh fish, real chicken and real eggs from our truly unique flock, raw cow and goat milk as well as kefir, cheese, and yogurt, raw honey, etc. These are some examples of the food that make up our delicious meals. Great efforts and constant work is required to maintain this commitment, so far from what is usually available everywhere under the names of “food”, “organic food”, “natural food”, “local food”, and many other combinations, somehow always ending with the word “food” but rarely having anything to do with what the human body needs.

Our understanding as to what food actually ought to be in terms of nutrition and impact is the result of many years of uninterrupted and multi-sided research, work, and experience.

tropical squash soup with raw sour cream

Tropical squash soup with raw sour cream

We have never bought any commercial feed for any of our animals and we have never offered industrial food to anyone coming to RDS. This is something we are absolutely committed to. We believe this attitude is so essential it ought to be understood by anyone more or less thinking without any wiseacring or excuses. Yet I have never found a place, despite years of traveling on most continents during my intentional searches, where this very basic integrity was carried through.

wood fire cooking

Cooking with wood is an irreplaceable pleasure. RDS intern Caitlyn is cooking a chayote crisp on our cast iron pot.

In the same way, at RDS you won’t find the typical cramped bunk-bed setup covered with foam mattresses. Simply because we are not interested in purchasing foam while teaching about natural building, homesteading, integrative farming, and all around real living. We put in the extra effort so that our mattresses are made up of either natural latex or simply cotton (futon mattresses).

When we first decided to run internship programs to further some of our educational and outreach aims we had to determine an economically feasible way to accept interns who are interested in acquiring the uniquely well rounded real-life skills we offer here at RDS, and who are seeking a different experience of communal living and personal growth in this very special place. Being a non-profit organization with no aims of monetary profits whatsoever we devised the lowest possible price that would cover some of the basic program’s expenses. Except for the satisfaction we get from our work and its impact we don’t make any profit from the program. We never considered compromising on the principles of food and nutrition that are so important to us in order to offer lower rates and/or make profits.

Part of our mission is to provide skills – and participants in our programs leave transformed by their experience, having acquired a whole new realm of possibilities, real-life skills, and a renewed sense of self-understanding, purpose, and freedom. We require a 3-month commitment and accept only up to 10 interns per program. Our communal meals follow nutrition principles of traditional foods. Principles that have been established by life itself over millenniums of evolution but aren’t easily available in today’s world. Certainly not cheap to get or produce.

1112, 2013

what a day looks like for interns

December 11th, 2013|

Life at Raices del Sol is full of unpredictability and plans get switched around but here’s what a typical day may look like as an intern →

912, 2013

quick hike to RDS waterfall

December 9th, 2013|

Some photos from a recent quick hike to our famous waterfall with fall interns. Why not become an RDS intern this winter and enjoy it yourself? It’s sunny here.

interns at the waterfall

RDS famous waterfall

waterfall sign

512, 2013

Two wrong turns

December 5th, 2013|

Caitlyn writes about some of her experience interning at Raices del Sol on her blog Two Wrong Turns.

2909, 2013

Create a new realm of possibilities

September 29th, 2013|

The registration for our upcoming summer internship (set to start on January 30, 2014) is now open! We’re excited to continue to teach and practice the unique skills we offer here at Raices del Sol – particularly in the fields of natural building, integrative farming, and alternative lifestyle. More than anything we’re inspired by how RDS interns make possibility a reality and are transformed by their experience.

Given the high demand for the summer internship and our continued commitment to quality and smaller groups we’ve decided to open the high season program on a “first come first served” basis. So hurry! Space is limited.

Register online

wood construction costa rica

1408, 2013

Redefine what’s possible this fall in Costa Rica

August 14th, 2013|

In 3 months, get the skills and experience to build a natural home, grow your own food, and live with others in a community. raicesdelsol.org/internship →

2706, 2013

Nested among trees

June 27th, 2013|

Fall 2013 interns stay in our newest accommodations: “The Nest”. Set in one of the most idyllic spots anywhere and nested among incredibly tall trees, the big house is a truly unique display of natural building construction methods and design.

The Nest features private and semi-private comfortable rooms, a communal area, and a whole lot of hammocks all around.

2606, 2013

Become a farm intern this Fall in Costa Rica

June 26th, 2013|

There are a few spots still available for this Fall’s incredible internship program. Apply online today and become a farm intern this fall!

Some highlights of the program include:

Participants in the fall program will join in a fascinating and unique natural building project. Learn to build your own natural house from the ground up! Learn more →

Biodynamic, permaculture, agroforestry, and organic farming is covered in this incredible 3-month program. From natural animal care, to field cultivation, gardening, composting, food processing & preparation, farm management, and so much more. Learn more →

Related posts:

1506, 2013

Why is RDS’s internship opportunity different than most farm internships

June 15th, 2013|

One of the reasons why RDS’s integrative farming and natural building internship program differs from any other internship out there is because it is a full educational program with an established curriculum. Interns aren’t just left on their own and set to work on the farm’s projects while getting so-called “hands-on” experience. Part of our commitment to integrity is to offer an internship with real value.

On the other hand we do expect interns to give back to RDS throughout the program as they become more skilled and knowledgeable. This exchange is why food and room is given free. In addition, since RDS is a non-profit educational organization we aim to offer the lowest possible price for tuition. These factors combined allow us to make our unique internship a true educational program while at the same time keeping it extremely affordable – less than you’d pay for simple day-to-day living most anywhere in the world!

Learn more about this Fall’s 3-month internship program and apply online.

2105, 2013

Curriculum for this fall’s Natural Building and Integrative Farming internship

May 21st, 2013|

Curriculum for this fall’s Natural Building and Integrative Farming internship

This fall join our professional internship program and live a truly unique experience of intense learning and growth. This multifaceted program was intentionally created to provide participants with a detailed, whole-system skill-building curriculum in Costa Rica’s most stunning private wildlife refuge.

We teach using a whole system approach so interns learn more than just how to farm naturally or how to build a wooden house. They approach these questions from many different angles and live them daily at RDS. Interns’ abilities and understanding progress throughout the program so that they can carry them on no matter what they choose to do afterwards.

Read the full curriculum →