🌀 March 2026 – Cycle of Life

Posted March 20, 2026

March has been full of surprises and many of them have reminded me of the seemingly-endless cycle of life. Births have occurred and we're preparing for others. Death has also been present. How we choose to live each day shapes the future and the legacy we are creating. The world is in deep need of healing and restoration, humanity even more so. Embracing nature and working together is one way we can make a change for the better.

In plant life alone we’ve witnessed growing harvests (births) of ice-cream beans (Inga edulis), surinam cherries (Eugenia uniflora), sundrops (Eugenia Victoriana), lemon-drop mangosteens (Garcinia intermedia), the custard apples (Anona mucosa), and black raspberries (Rubus occidentalis) keep rolling in!

In the animal world we’re expecting puppies. Our farm dog, Lali, is a rescued German shepherd who’s going to give birth for the second time in under six months! She’s a beautiful dog who we were hoping to cross with another Shepard. The first two times she’s been in heat she managed to escaped the farm—nature did it’s thing on the other side of the mountain. My dad’s building a puppy shelter as I write this.

The birth that’s most causing waves is the child we’re expecting. We’re unsure if it’s a boy or girl, and so we haven’t decided a name yet. We have some we’ve entertained for boys because most speculations have gone that way, but let’s see if we’re in for a surprise.

On the flip side of the coin, people we cherished recently moved on to the other side. It’s shocking how death can appear so suddenly. Roni Chermin, a resident of Coto Brus, and prominent person in the area, passed away from one day to the next, almost casually. We saw her at the San Vito farmer’s Market and our final, “see you next week!” was just as nonchalant as any other.

Our neighbor, and one of the last of her generation, Apolonia Espinoza, passed away a day later. Pola was our landlord and we rented a house from her for two years. She was probably the most laid-back and caring landlord I’ve ever had. She’s the daughter of the original owner of our farm. A woman who performed a feat nothing short of legendary. Our farm shares a 270 hectare native forest—preserved in large part to Pola’s mother’s efforts. I’d been thinking about visiting her recently to gather more information, such as her mother’s name. I never got the chance, but I still have a photo Pola showed me of her mother.

The dance between life and death is something we need to cherish and take hold of. When we least expect it life can come and go. We never know exactly when our time is due. Honoring and respecting the process is the best we can do. Working to create a better world for those who are coming after us is the most lasting legacy we can hope to make. We feel blessed to live surrounded by a forest where working with nature brings about a better future, and also fills our bellies with delicious harvests. In honor of Roni and Pola who were both stewards of this planet and who knew the value of taking care of earth.