Skills
Here's just a small sampling of the skills you could learn at Finca588 Permaculture Farm in Panama.
A selection of raw milk cheeses, made and aged on the farm
Cheesemaking
Learn how to make cheese with beautiful fresh milk from just down the road. Together we will learn the basics of how to make cheese. We will participate hands-on in transforming fresh milk into delicious fresh cheese and ricotta cheese, and will understand the fundamental concepts and science associated with cheesemaking. Of course, at the end we will get to taste our hard work! Advanced workshops will learn about aging and affineur of aged cheeses.
Aerobic Compost tea being enjoyed by our flock of free range heirloom ducks
Bioferments
Microbes – What ties every element of the farm together? Microscopic organisms, in the soil, in the plants, and in us. Delve into why microbes are so essential to life, and how we can get them working for us. Weekly we use a number of different homemade fertilizers and pest repellants which are key to economically and organically keeping the farm running. Learn how to make your own, using what you have in abundance in your area
A Permaculture Panorama: Fruit trees, bushes, and soil story crops coming together for an edible landscape
Permaculture Planting Principles
Learn how to design and think about a garden using permaculture principles. Using locally sourced materials, students will design and get their hands dirty constructing terraced garden beds on a sloped hill, bringing together the design challenges of water flow, erosion, and leveling, as well as testing the benefits and detriments of different types of local materials
Homemade sausage, with both homegrown pigs and herbs from the farm.
Charcuterie
Okay so you love meat, but how much do you know about where it comes from and how to cook the whole animal? Learn how to break down a whole hog into the primals and butchers cuts. Learn about ancient methods of meat preservation using salt and time. Discover why grass fed meat tastes better and is healthier on a chemical level. Learn to make sausage, salami, coppa, proscuitto, and so much more!