Nicaragua 2009 - Finca las Nubes .. June 14, 2009
Posted by jennie on June 14th, 2009
I decided to spend 4 weeks in Nicaragua this Summer, helping two American public health practitioners on a project here. I will be staying at Finca Las Nubes, an organic farm just inland from the Pacific coast town of San Juan del Sur. My hosts are Dr. Federico Cruz-Uribe and his lovely wife, Alden, who is a nurse practitioner. Federico and Alden moved to Nicaragua last year to live on the farm and decided to build a small health center to serve the finca employees (about 80) and their families. The clinic is in the process of being built and are in the process of hiring staff.
I will be helping with whatever start up tasks I can assist with, as well as helping Alden to do some community research related to Diabetes. We will be meeting with members of MINSA (the National Health ministry) as well as community organization leaders, and community members to find out about local attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge on the topic of Diabetes, which is a growing problem in Latin America. We will also be planning some prevention interventions. I am excited to meet the newly hired Dr. who we will have a meeting with tomorrow.
I arrived Friday and my hosts have been incredibly kind and generous. I am staying in a room in their large and beautiful house, where I have my own bathroom and a patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is stunning here- we are at about 1,500 ft. elevation, with an amazing view, and as I type this I am listening to the sounds of frogs, howler monkeys, and various insects and creatures! I have been trying to do some background research (which I didn’t have time for at the end of the quarter!) on Nicaragua’s health status, the health care system, and the issue of Diabetes. But so far, no real work has started and my hosts have treated me to wonderful food (mostly fresh from the grounds) and lots of relaxation.
The Finca has 4 houses on it, each with its own garden. The houses are rented out by a very selective process (usually people who want to come and learn and work). So many fruits and veggies are grown here it is hard to name them all. Federico and Alden are learning all about farming as they go, and their knowledge so far is really quite impressive! They are very committed to sustainable farming. The guy who runs the whole place is named Chris. I have yet to meet him but he is an aging hippie from San Francisco who sounds very interesting! Federico gave me the tour today and I also went on a compost run with Marcelino, one of the farm workers (and a big surfer I’m told– hope he takes me for a lesson!!).
Last night after dinner I enjoyed the sight of lightening storms in the skies and listened to the sounds of monkeys, frogs, and various insects.. I’m trying to make friends with the insects that share my room with me. I am oh so slightly squeamish about them. It’s like that book Goodnight Moon.. Me: “Good night spiders, good night preying mantis, good night beetles and mosquitoes.. You stay in your part of the room and I’ll sleep over here on my bed and we’ll all get along just fine…”.. Ha Ha.