The Farm The Monkey Farm can be toured for a donation of any amount, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., every day.
The Monkey Farm is non-profit organization run by a group of international volunteers who are turning an old farm into a monkey and wildlife rescue center. In addition, we are creating an organic sustainable farm using permaculture methods while living and learning on site. Volunteers from all over the world come and live at the farm and are just now planting food to feed themselves, care for the farm animals and care for the wildlife that we rescue. We currently have volunteer guided horse tours through the jungle to the beach to bring in some funds to move the project forward. Come and play with our baby animals, see the wildlife, learn about aquaponics, and see what we are doing! We love visitors! The Monkey Farm is in its infancy, having just been established in December 2013. The farm is run by volunteers from all over the world who come and live and learn on site, while sharing their own knowledge and skills with the others while in an idyllic tropical environment near thebeach. International volunteers connect with the farm via websites such as wwoof.net, workaway.info, and helpx.net, which list farms in which volunteers can go live and work for free. Our live-in volunteers must commit to stay at least a month and be at least 21 years old. We also LOVE our local volunteers who come and help for a few hours whenever they have time. Our local volunteers are invaluable in helping with animals, repairs and special projects. If you are staying nearby, and would like to come and help us for a few hours, . We will set up a time to show you around and talk about what is needed and how you can help. Then, you’re free to come as you please whenever you have time. Equally important are our long-distance volunteers. If you can’t come and see us (yet!), you can get involved by helping us with projects like fund raising, article writing, promotions and possibly translating promotional materials into other languages. If you would like to help us in this way, please about how you’d like to help. It’s not only monkeys and wildlife we aim to help. We research and develop ideas that can be shared with the surrounding community. These solutions can be concepts such as aquaponics or forest gardening, helpful systems such as composting toilets and solar food dehydrators or beneficial superfoods such as Moringa, Noni, Soursop or Red Reishi mushrooms. Aquaponics systems use 95% less water than conventional farming, and it seems our whole world is in a drought and needs to conserve water. We hope to help our planet by teaching people how they can have their own small scale, or even large commercial aquaponics systems, thereby conserving water for everyone. In addition to teaching the solutions we’ve found, we also have a program in which we feed the poor and homeless of nearby Playas del Coco every Tuesday evening. We begin cooking each Tuesday at 3:30, preparing healthy, protein rich food. We then take the dinners to the beach in Playas del Coco andserve them at 7:00. The poor adults and children gather there every week to eat our delicious meals complete with cookies and juice. The backbone of our operation is a constantly renewing team of volunteers. Our approach is very much based on hands-on work and taking initiative. We wish to equip all of our volunteers with skills and understanding so that they are able to relay the torch to newcomers as well as represent the farm in the community. We are a growing team of enthusiastic volunteers and professionals from all over the world working together to complete The Monkey Farm vision. We are creating a revolutionary “think outside the box” new model for how to live sustainably and self-sufficiently in the tropics, and best practices to run a monkey and wildlife rescue center. The Monkey Farm received it’s non-profit 501(c)(3) status in the United States under a fiscal sponsorship on June 22, 2015 and also has it’s Costa Rican non-profit status, so all donations are tax deductible.Our Board of Directors and Staff Ismael, (center) helping Dr. Tom (right) examine a monkey for teaching purposes. Ismael Carranza Ortiz, Our Biologist and Regent in Charge Ismael began working with The Monkey Farm in December, 2014. He is licensed by the Costa Rica University of Biologists. Dr. Thomas Lester, DVM “Dr. Tom” has his Masters degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, with a PHd. in Veterinary Microbiology. He is Board Certified in veterinary microbiology with subs in virology and specialties in bacteriology, mycology and immunology. Dr. Tom loves to teach, so we often have him give classes on checking stool samples and things like that. Andrea Arce Chinchilla, Wildlife Biologist Regent Bióloga Regente en Vida Silvestre Consultora Ambiental Código 2082 Vicki Conley, Executive Director, Co-Founder Vicki, from Southern California, is one of our founders. She has been rescuing wildlife ever since she was a young child, and has worked in the animal industry “forever”. Shecame to Costa Rica in 1999 and has no plans to leave. Vicki also speaks Spanish. Dr. Ariel Arias Dr. Arias became involved with The Monkey Farm in 2014. He is a graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine in Costa Rica. John Burke, Ministry and Feeding the Poor Judy Gross Norvin Mejias, Architect Denise LaFrance Larry Rivest Dr. Maria Jose Coronado Miranda Dr. Coronado also became involved with The Monkey Farm in 2014. Dr. Kim Thabault Dr. Thomas L. Lester, Instructor Heather Padilla, Fundraising Manager and Systems Manager Heather graduated from Imperial Valley College in 2013 with an Associate in Arts degree with Honors in University Studies- Her emphasis was in Science and Mathematics. She also earned an Associate in Science with Honors in Mathematics. Heather then graduated from San Diego State University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Science- Mathematics with honors. She was also part of San Diego State University’s Student Research Symposium.Her research was to “Introduce Hatching and Rearing Mallard Ducks to Increase Students’ Academic Interest and Performance in Mathematics and Science”. Heather oversees the raising of the funds required to create the vision for The Monkey Farm. She also creates, facilitates and manages the systems required to operate the farm and rescue center on a daily basis to eliminate errors, especially in the areas of animal care. Pete Johnson, Marketing and Advertising Manager Dani Gazzeny, Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Dutot, Wildlife Conservation Biologist, Wildlife Manager Melissa Chase, Manager of Visitor Tours Permaculture Farming Manager Construction Manager (Searching) Domestic Animal Manager Manager of Equine Activities Vincent Cornorotte, Transformer Insulating Project Manager and Photographer Jonathan Becker, Film Producer © Copyright 2016 The Monkey Farm Our farm in Playa Ocotal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica is a natural habitat for both howler and white face monkeys, parrots,toucans, deer and other wildlife. We understand what permaculture and sustainability are all about. Therefore, we welcome the monkeys and cherish them as part of the natural environment we live in. However, there is an ever increasing demand for a monkey rescue and rehabilitation center in this area. Most commonly the monkeys fall victim to the un-insulated power lines we humans have built across their land. They also are victims of attacks by dogs or other monkeys, falling and breaking bones, and sometimes babies get abandoned by their mothers for various reasons. Furthermore, every year during the dry-season (January-March) violent human-initiated wildfires destroy the trees the monkeys feed on and force the monkeys to flee from their homes. A unique feature of our farm will be our tree cabins and animal enclosures connected by hanging sky bridges in our wildlife sanctuary. Our volunteers will live in the tree cabins, among the tree canopy. Our “village in the trees” will treat andcare for arboreal wildlife in their own environment, rather than treating them on the ground in our environment. This will encourage natural habits from the start. All recuperated wildlife will be free range, not kept in cages. This will enable them to return to the wild when they decide they are ready rather than have the decision forced upon them or worse, holding them captive long after they are ready to be free. The monkeys we rescue will be fed the absolute best substitute for their own milk, which is fresh raw goats milk. We obtain this nutrient rich liquid gold from our own goats, which we milk twice daily. We also grow fresh lettuce, spinach, moringa, purslane and other fresh organic food for the monkeys to supplement the leaves and fruits they harvest themselves from the trees growing on our farm. We will soon create a monkey food forest to supplement the naturally occurring monkey food that is growing on the farm. Drinking electrolytes from a bottle The fire and cowsdestroyed the habitat It’s not only monkeys we care about Dead adult monkey Electrocuted baby monkey The vet putting her to sleep If you are interested in hearing how we plan to tackle this invigorating long-term challenge, take a look at . If you like what we do, please support us with a donation: © Copyright 2016 The Monkey Farm Developing a new model for monkey rescue and organic farming combined Our vision at The Monkey Farm is to eventually become a combined monkey and wildlife rescue center and an organic farm, run entirely by volunteers. We currently have both and coming from all over the world to help us reach our goals. The plan is that the volunteers will grow food using sustainable permaculture methods to feed both the volunteers and animals. The volunteers care for the farm animals which also feed them with eggs, dairy products and meat. In addition, the long-term volunteers will care for the monkeys and wildlife that we rescue. When we produce enough organic foodproducts, the excess will be sold to support the project. Until then, we are dependent on donations. Here is a simplified overview of a plan that outlines the actions that we are planning, as well as the estimated cost of implementation for each phase: Phase 1 Needs: Acquire the land. Take immediate action to protect the monkeys on the land from electrocution. Actions: Acquire part of the land. Shield the cables so monkeys can’t climb them to get to the transformers. Prune the trees so monkeys can’t reach the transformers. Install a monkey bridge for safe travel. Get an infrared motion-activated camera to follow the monkeys’ movements. Spread awareness of the issue in the community. Timeline: 2013 Cost: $26,000 Status: COMPLETED Phase 2 Needs: Secure the habitat from wildfires in the dry season. This will be accomplished by constructing a perimeter fence around the property, and a second fence approximately 30 feet inside that one. Then we will purchase livestock to graze thisperimeter strip, creating a natural fire break to protect the land from fires. Create a structure and plan for future volunteer-based rescue activities. Begin cultivating produce to feed the volunteers and the farm animals. Plant trees the monkeys like to eat from. Gain community awareness and support for our project. Actions: Bring in the volunteers. Start planting food for the volunteers and animals. Plant trees to attract and feed the monkeys so that they feel safe and welcome. Buy animals (horses, goats, sheep and a milk cow) to graze the perimeter to build a natural fire break, plus provide additional food for the volunteers through eggs, dairy products and meat. Build additional pens for the animals and improve existing ones. Create infrastructure for the volunteers to live on the farm, including improving the volunteer houses, and creating a temporary communal kitchen, a composting toilet and additional sleeping quarters. Carry out an ongoing public awareness campaign andgain community support for our project. Timeline: 2014 Cost: $25,000 Status: INITIATED Phase 3 Needs: Save the land that is the monkeys’ natural habitat. Create the infrastructure for the future rescue center. Create sources of income to support the entire operation. Actions: Acquire more land for the monkeys and safeguard the new expanded area. Build a community kitchen for both the volunteers to use, and to process cheese and organic food for sale. Create natural style enclosures for the monkeys and other wildlife that we will rescue. Carry out a major public awareness campaign. Timeline: Early 2015 Cost: $200,000 Status: PLANNED Phase 4 Needs: Become an official Monkey Rescue Center that caters to the needs of orphaned and injured monkeys, in addition to other wildlife. Continue to create infrastructure to support the volunteers. Continue to expand the amount of land we have for our use. Actions: Complete the government permit process. Build additional structures for both therescue animals and the volunteers that care for them. Acquire more land. Timeline: Later 2015 Cost: $100,000 Status: IDEA LEVEL If you want to help us reach our goals: © Copyright 2014 The Monkey Farm HELP SAVE THE MONKEYS! The Monkey Farm shared Fly Free Photography's post — in Playa Ocotal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Melissa... 10 hours ago The Monkey Farm shared Fly Free Photography's post. Thank you Krystal Shuhyta for your interview of Pete Johnson at The Monkey Farm. April 03 Please Share! Awesome, fun, experienced horse person needed to be Equestrian Activities Manager at in Costa Rica. We are creating a monkey and wildlife rescue center and sustainable permaculture farm ½ mile from the beach on the Northern Pacific Coast. Live in the great outdoors, with volunteers from all over the world. Learn other languages, customs and cultures while sharing yours. Explore Costa Rica on your days off with the awesome friends you will meet here. We have nearby beaches for snorkeling, diving,surfing, fishing, camping, spear fishing and swimming. Excellent home cooked meals and rustic primitive housing provided (with outdoor jungle showers!), along with commission based pay, fast wi/fi and lots of hugs. Results you will be responsible for producing are: Coordinate volunteer led horse tours through the jungle and on the beach Oversee the volunteers’ care and maintenance of our 13 horses Provide special training for some horses as needed using Natural Horsemanship Methods Train volunteers in the care of our horses and teaching the riding trails for horse tours Develop new ways of utilizing our horses to bring in additional revenue for the rescue center such as: Day camps for children to learn about horses Day camps for adults Riding classes Exercise classes with the horses Overnight camping trips with the horses Horse carriage rides (we have two horse carriages and harnesses) Although low paid (commission only) this is an incredible resume building opportunity for anyoneworking towards a career in horse management of any type. You will have the experience of a lifetime, create lifelong relationships and love living here in paradise with us, your new adopted family. April 02 The Monkey Farm with Tyler Devilbiss at Playas Del Coco. Tyler, our live-in volunteer Construction Manager from Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. Tyler has a bachelor's degree in structural engineering with a minor in construction management. His specialty is sustainability with natural building materials and environmentally friendly and sustainable structure design. I'd say he's qualified to help us build our tree cabins and our "village in the sky" for our monkey rehabilitation center. He’s been here a month so far and has no plans on leaving any time soon as his favorite part about it so far is how much everyone cares, and is there for the same purpose, to improve the quality of life for both domestic and wildlife animals. He’s been enjoying learning more about the wildlife and mainlyabout the Howler Monkey’s themselves and what care they need to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. If Tyler could tell you one thing about the farm it would be, “It’s a must try opportunity, you’ll never find anything like it. Where else can you go to a farm that’s run just by volunteers?” April 02 The Monkey Farm at Playas Del Coco. Volunteer at The Monkey Farm! April 02 Great! Amazing! A few questions though… Help us build this magical place! Donate Today! The Monkey Farm in Costa Rica is a volunteer-run non-profit that combines organic farming and permaculture with monkey rescue activities