Regeneration Nation Costa Rica

27/03/2026

Thanks for following my work!
We've arrived at the final installment of the Community Seekers Handbook series, and I want to be honest with you: this one is personal. 🌱

When I drove our veggie-oil school bus from the United States to Costa Rica over 15 years ago, loaded with two kids and hopes to find a community to move into and contribute to, I held ethical immigration as a value, but had no framework for going about it. I had enthusiasm, a few ideals, and a lot to learn.

Part 7 is what I wish someone had handed me back then. In this final post, I move from recognizing the problem we explored in Part 6 to practical strategies for living into the solution - things like:
- Learning the language not as a convenience but as a form of respect
- Showing up at local events & supporting local businesses and fundraisers
- Facilitating rather than leading
- Designing our efforts to include the voices of neighboring communities.

None of this is about being perfect. It's about being present, humble, and genuinely committed to reciprocity.
The most resilient communities I've visited are the ones that understand their wellbeing is inseparable from the wellbeing of the region around them.

Thank you for reading this series. I hope it's shifted something for you.
👇 Read Part 7 at the link in the comments.

20/03/2026

Hey all,
This next topic is one that’s grown in importance for me the longer I do this work 🌍

In Part 6 of the Community Seekers Handbook series, I address what I believe is the most underexamined issue in the ecovillage world: the impact that a wave of foreign-led community projects has on the people already living there.

As one seasoned community founder said to me plainly: ""We aren't building community as much as we've moved into one that's been here for generations.""

That realization changes everything.

I've lived in Costa Rica for over 16 years. I've watched prices rise, I've seen project developers come in and establish their version of Utopia as they wish, with no communication with (let alone consultation from) their new neighbors. I've also seen foreign-led projects that genuinely strengthen their regions through intentional bridge-building.

The difference between the two isn't usually intention - there’s usually plenty of that. It comes from intention, paired with awareness, connection, and action.

This post explores how gentrification can unintentionally manifest in ecovillage development, what neocolonialism looks like on the ground, and how some communities are using intentional dialogue, economic reciprocity, and collaborative mutual aid programs to move toward something more equitable.

It's not a comfortable read. But I believe it's a necessary one if you're serious about this path.
👇 Read Part 6 at the link in the comments.

13/03/2026

If you’ve been following, you’ll know that in Parts 1–4 of the Community Seekers Handbook series, we've built up a solid foundation: broadening what this word ""community"" even means, exploring ownership and governance models, understanding how diverse communities serve their members, and assessing your own readiness before reaching out.

Now it's time to actually evaluate the communities themselves. 🔍

In Part 5, I share a practical framework for doing that with confidence — not just a list of questions to ask, but how to listen to the answers.

Here's something I've noticed across dozens of community visits and hundreds of consultation calls: most people ask about the amenities. Far fewer ask about governance evolution, conflict resolution track records, or what has actually changed since the community was founded.

There's a reason for that gap — and it has everything to do with what we're really hoping to find when we go looking for community.

The way a community responds to hard questions is often more revealing than what they say. Are they building trust through transparency, or giving you a sales pitch?

Ready to vet with intention?
👇 Read Part 5 at the link in the comments!

08/03/2026

In Parts 1-3 of the Community Seekers Handbook blog series, I laid out a landscape, indicating what 'community' means in different contexts and how different models are structured.

Part 4 shifts the focus to something fundamentally critical, yet often overlooked: Assessing Your Readiness for Community Living. 🧐

I've seen too many seekers jump into visiting communities without first asking themselves the tough questions. It's like trying to find the perfect business partner without knowing your own strengths and weaknesses! This journey of self-inquiry will help you navigate around the common pitfalls of unrealistic expectations, thinking you'll find a utopia, or confusing a vacation with daily life.

Before reaching out to your favorite communities, I encourage you to take an honest look at your own inner work. What are your non-negotiables? How much privacy do you really need? What are you truly willing to contribute? And how well do you understand the local culture and context?

This isn't just about finding the 'right' community; it's about understanding yourself better so you can approach the search with intention and wisdom.

Ready to vet yourself before you vet them?
👇 Read Part 4 of the series at the link in the comments!

05/03/2026

"Regeneration" isn't just a trend – it's an imperative! 🌍

In my latest blog, I explore its place in our lives, actively healing and restoring our mindsets, cultures, businesses, and communities. I share how Regeneration Nation CR embodies these principles, supporting impactful projects and fostering cultural bridge-building.

Every choice we make is a chance to bring more life to the world. We don't need to be experts; we need to be solutionaries.

Ready to dive into why regeneration is at the core of everything I do?
👉 Read my full reflections at the link in the comments!

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20/02/2026

Hey,
Have you read Parts 1 and 2 of my blog series, yet, where I explored the evolving definition of 'community' and the foundational structures of ownership and governance?

We'll, now, in Part 3, I'm diving into something a bit more personal - how diverse community models attend to member needs and integrate with their surroundings. 🌳 🏘️🌳

I've traveled to dozens of communities throughout Costa Rica, and what stands out is their unique intentional focuses. From retreat centers to family-friendly designs, and even those consciously preparing for senior members, each model offers distinct advantages and challenges.

However, these are the "consumer" aspects of community seeking. In my work, I challenge clients to look deeper and move beyond "What can my community do for me?" to "What can I do for my community?"

This means embracing mutual aid and cultural bridge-building with the people that have been living in the region for generations, rather than just creating isolated eco-bubbles.

I also touch on the reality of rentals and visitors – communities aren't tourist attractions, they're neighborhoods where people live. Genuine connection takes time and contribution. That pertains to relationships within and beyond the project's property lines.

Ready to discover the nuances of these diverse models and how they serve their members and neighbors?

👇 Read Part 3 of my series at the link in the comments!

12/02/2026

Hey all,
I've got another blog ready for you. In Part 1 of the series, we started redefining what 'community' truly means.

Now, in Part 2, I've described some of the foundational frameworks that build and sustain these experiments in collaborative living: ownership models and governance. 🏡⚖️

I've seen a huge spectrum of approaches, from tight-knit collectives where land is owned by a trust and decisions are made collaboratively (think Sociocracy) to sovereignty-focused neighborhoods where individual ownership meets shared ecological agreements.

These structures shape everything from daily interactions to long-term resilience.

As my understanding has evolved, there was a time I used to dismiss some models, but I've learned that the true essence of community isn't just in the legal structure; it's the people, plus interactions, over time, that truly constitutes community. There's no 'one size fits all,' and understanding these nuances is crucial for finding your fit.

Explore some of the diverse ways communities are built and governed.

👇 Read Part 2 of my series at the link in the comments!

03/02/2026

Hey all,
I'm excited to announce my new blog series 🥳
It's an evolution of content that's become very close to my heart. Over the years, guiding Ecovillage Tours and diving deep into countless intentional communities, my perspective on what 'community' truly means has evolved immensely.

In ""Broadening Perspective on Community and Ecovillage Living"" (Part 1 of 7), I share how the community you're seeking might exist, just not in the form you've imagined.

What too many people tend to forget is that ""community"" isn't a thing you can buy or join. At their core, communities are social fabrics of intradependance woven together through interactions. I've seen a huge spectrum of models, from tight-knit collectives to ecological neighborhoods, and I've learned there's no single ""right"" way to build one.

This first part of the series is all about challenging our assumptions and starting to redefine what's possible. I'll introduce you to the diverse world of intentional communities and ecovillages, and why understanding your own priorities beyond surface preferences is absolutely crucial.

Ready to expand your understanding and begin your journey with fresh eyes?
👉 Read Part 1 of my new series at the link in the comments 👇

27/01/2026

When you hear 'permaculture,' do you immediately think of gardening and food forests?

🌱 While that's a huge part of it, I've discovered that permaculture's true power goes far beyond the garden gate.

In my latest blog post, ""Permaculture Design for Business and Beyond,"" I share how the foundational ethics and principles that Bill Mollison and David Holmgren articulated can be applied to organizational design, community building, and even your personal life. I've used these principles to navigate tough times at my own permaculture education center, and now I'm sharing how you can too.

Discover how permaculture can transform the way you interact with your lifestyle and livelihood.

👉 Dive into my new article here:

Discover how the permaculture design method revolutionizes business and community building, fostering sustainable, mindful practices for a regenerative future.

19/01/2025

It's really a shame that I tend to have such a resistance to social media and sharing details of my life publically. Today is thankfully a day I've pushed through that. The magic I'm living is SO worth sharing!

Today is Day 6 of 12 in our Ecovillage Tour and it's going as wonderfully as I could ever hope for.

After months of planning and countless hours of communications with dozens of service providers, the art project is set and the 18 of us on the trip have been more than enjoying the adventure laid out for us.

So far, we've visited Rancho Mastatal and Verdenergia, along with a deeply restorative day at the beach and Las Brisas Resort. Today we head for San Mateo where we'll visit La Ecovilla, Ecovilla San Mateo, Tacotal, and Alegría.

The sense of community forming amidst our tour group, alone, has been a phenomenon worth leaving the house for. I hope you enjoy the photos. If you ever get inspired to join Ecovillage Tours for an eco-adventure of a lifetime, you can use the code RNCR to save a couple hundred dollars off your trip.