Ionizer Our recycling activities include a complete recycling of food waste to fertilizers by using two systems: 1] Feeding and fertilizing our coffee plants and vegetable gardens directly. 2] The composting of solid food wastes in drums which we invented for this purpose. They include organic waste products from the kitchen, ashes from the fireplace, earth from our property and sometimes calcium to neutralize the acids. Vermicomposting

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Recycling Shed We also recycle all of our waste products that are non-organic; glass and bottles, plastics, cardboard, metal and newspapers and have a complete recycling zone for this purpose located below the horse stables. Please ask if you would like to visit this facility. We chose the brand of many of our products based on the provider company’s commitment to recycling their own products. Solar Panels for Heating the Water

Five percent of the gross profit for the bar and restaurant sales at Finca Rosa Blanca go directly to projects for the local school in Barrio Jesus and to the Children’s Food Bank and two new recycling centers. This has allowed the hotel to help the community in critical and key areas of community development; the education and health of their youth. Through this practice we have built two classrooms for the educationally challenged, a new director’s office, a new library and books, a new roof for the whole school, a computer room with 12 computers and a network server, and established a recycling program and awareness at the school which is still being implemented with great success. Through our assistance, Jesús Elementary School and the community have won the Bandera Azul (Blue Flag) in 2006 with the highest standing in the province. Recycling Bins on the Grounds

The Blue Flag program is an environmental, social and community effort involving the entire community, including schools, municipal security, water and waste management, clinics, scouts, senior centers etc. to achieve the highest sustainable and environmental level. We are embarking on the same project with Santa Barbara, our neighboring pueblo to the west. The hotel has helped to implement a recycling center in Barrio Jesus and a community-wide recycling program with the cooperation of the municipality, the local Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture and the local schools, scouts and senior citizen center. Other communities in the area are following suit with small recycling centers and school programs.

Since 1985, when we began our project at Finca Rosa Blanca, we have always had one important goal in mind: to leave the minimum possible trace of our existence. Since the beginning of our adventure on this property, we have concentrated on an ambitious plan of recycling and regeneration, social consciousness and education.

School kids with trees Organic Vegetable Garden  “Glenn is an artist and builder, Teri is an excellent chef, culling from her garden organically grown strawberries and asparagus”. Mary Heebner, Conde Nast Traveller

Evaluation Result: 5 levels Areas of Evaluation PM Si EG PG   PT % Physical /Biological  39 37 0 2   105.00 Hotel Facilities 103 90 0 2   99.03 Clients/Customers 21 16 3 3   100.00  Socio-Economic 56 56 0 2   97.00 Minimum PT:  97.00 Because of these efforts, we have been awarded the maximum five green leaves from the Costa Rican Tourist Board for our compliance with the CST (Certification for Sustainable Tourism), a new program to encourage Ecological and Sustainable Tourism in this country. We are proud that we have obtained the highest score of all participating hotels in Costa Rica.