Living a Healthy Lifestyle in Costa Rica’s Organic Communities

June 9, 2010 - PRLog -- Long-time San Ramón residents and community developers Andrew Mastrandonas and Preston Gitlin from CR Communities have turned their full attention toward organic living.  Organic Properties of Costa Rica sets a new direction, which aims to utilize the talent of their Costa Rican partner, Efraín Sanchez, also known as “The Green Man.”  Efrain is one of Costa Rica’s foremost experts on organic farming, coffee and food production.  The small, ocean-view communities of Organic Views, Pacific Hills, and Organic Heaven are situated on rolling hills known for having perfect soil and climatic conditions that foster agricultural abundance.  

Andrew Mastrandonas, co-founder of CR Communities, discusses the foundation of their business and their future direction: “After we sold most of our first community, Pacific Hills, based on the great value of large, ocean-view lots, we met Efraín Sanchez.  His knowledge of agriculture led us to look for additional properties where his talent would add value.  An increasing number of people who contact us are interested in self-sufficiency, healthy living, and food and water security.  We realized our ability to offer all of that by partnering with Efraín.  Now our communities are heading toward self-sufficiency by offering residents fresh produce and coffee grown on site.  Combine healthy living with ocean views and close access to San Ramón, and we believe we are offering something unique in all of Costa Rica.”

San Ramón is a mid-size town of roughly 70,000 people and is ideally located in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, 35 minutes to the international airport and 35 minutes drive to the Pacific Coast.  It is the agricultural center of the western Central Valley, producing sugar cane, and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables; its weekend farmers market is one of the largest and most diverse in the entire country.  At an elevation of 3,400 feet, it offers warm days and pleasant evenings.  It was with this natural capital in mind that Organic Properties was born.  San Ramón also boasts a modern shopping mall, modern movie theater, cultural center/museum, and many large supermarkets and fine restaurants.  The city presents a wonderful blend of the old world and new, which provides extraordinary opportunities for community involvement.

Andrew and Preston continue to create profitable endeavors that embrace the social responsibility that comes with establishing a successful local business.  They have supported the greater San Ramón area where they live through initiatives such as education, sports, and community building.  They have worked with local school officials to provide additional classrooms for teaching, music instruction, and to serve a dual purpose as a community center.  Other initiatives included the donation of laptop computers for teachers and students to use; providing legal services to form a non-profit school program where expats work side-by-side with teachers and students in schools throughout the San Ramón area.  Donation of school supplies and shipping costs for computers and other educational aids are ongoing, as well as the donation of new uniforms to a local soccer team.  

Preston Gitlin is a young entrepreneur and co-founder of CR Communities who emphasizes the importance of strengthening the local community.  “Many foreign investors neglect this key aspect of integrating successfully into Costa Rican culture,” Preston says. “In many cases, municipalities do not have the money for basic services.  We live in San Ramón full-time, so we believe that by helping the local neighborhoods meet their needs we will forge lasting bonds with our neighbors.”

Organic Properties of Costa Rica, as a division of CR Communities, seeks to support environmental protection, and introduce the correct type of progress to the San Ramón area.  Their newest projects will be fully organic, or will convert existing land from chemically maintained to organic methods.  Through the employment of local farmers to cultivate these communities and the surrounding areas, Organic Properties of Costa Rica will provide organic produce both to community residents, as well as to the greater San Ramón area.  These small communities ranging from 8 to 17 lots offer peace, security, and progressive development for individuals interested in living a sustainable lifestyle with an active and integral role in enhancing the greater community where they reside.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR9SmoWGuv0



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We are based in San Ramon, Costa Rica. We are creating communities that are focused on organic farming and healthy living. Our partner is an expert in organic farming in Costa Rica, which enables us to offer something truly special.