Life in Harmony
In keeping with the Harmony’s ecological mission, we apply the practice of permaculture throughout the hotel’s operations. This approach works in synch with nature and the local community and as a result, fosters a deeply satisfying sense of life in harmony for our guests.
The following describes this practice through examples of our landscape design, water and recycling waste management systems, the carbon neutral program, and our community building efforts. For resources on permaculture, please see La Tiendita-- the little bookshop by reception.
In cultivating the Harmony landscape, we base our choices according to the benefits for the guest experience and ecological biodiversity as well as adaptation to the local climate.
Native plants, which make up 50% of the species, preserve local character and survive both the dry season and the wet season. They also provide food and shelter for the local animal population. The non-native portion is also climate appropriate and attracts birds, butterflies, bats, iguanas, humans and other local fauna.
We have strategically planted tree species that monkeys favor in a way that, when their branches grow and intertwine, will recreate canopy trails. These trails will connect with the surrounding green zones. Please see the “Help the Howlers” under Community Building for more on the challenges that the monkeys of Nosara area face.
The once leaky, old pool next to the healing centre now provides a vibrant habitat for herons, egrets, fish, turtles, iguanas, coati and more. To aid water clarity, a bio-filter cleans and maintains the pond. Aquatic plants also create a habitat for microorganisms that increase water quality and attract insects and animals that prey on mosquitoes.
Using organic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers increases the soil’s fecundity, protects healthy bacteria necessary for soil balance and prohibits inorganic chemicals from leaching into plants that feed insects and animals.
Greywater & Blackwater Systems
In order to protect the community´s valuable water table and guarantee that all wastewater produced is properly treated on-site, the hotel´s entire water treatment system was re-designed and retro-fitted to meet and exceed purification requirements. This new system minimizes the consumption of electricity by using gravitational flow to channel the wastewater from different parts of the property to one specific collection point. Once collected, the wastewater is treated in an enclosed system safely isolated from exposure to both humans and animals. The system uses natural bacteria to purify the wastewater without the addition of chemicals and then re-uses the purified water for irrigating the hotels lush tropical gardens.
Recycling
The Harmony has created a center that recycles 85% of the hotel’s own waste as well as materials brought by other hotels and businesses. Alongside Earth University, the Harmony is participating in the creation of a waste management plan for the community at large.
In each guest room, there are cans for separating plastic, paper, glass, and aluminum. We also welcome our guests to join the regular beach clean-ups organized by Harmony staff.
The restaurant and juice bar also compost raw food waste to make organic fertilizer for our landscape.
The Carbon Neutral Program
In an effort to become a carbon neutral operation, the Harmony has taken actions to calculate, reduce, prevent and compensate for the hotel’s carbon emissions.
Central to this program is the “Plant a Tree” project, where volunteer Harmony guests and staff will plant 1,000 trees around the Harmony and among the local community.
Additionally, solar panels provide a renewable energy source that heats hot water for all of the guest rooms. With each solar panel, it is possible to avoid the emission of 30 tons of CO2 and other harmful gases that contribute to the atmospheric greenhouse effect.
Community Building
The Harmony looks carefully at how daily choices and operations can support the local community and economy. For instance, we hire and train 90% of our staff from the surrounding area
The Harmony also uses local suppliers whose practices are aligned with ours. The Harmony also serves 100% organic coffee that we purchase from an organization of regional small farmers. With each bag of coffee beans purchased, $0.25 goes to improving children’s education in Guanacaste’s rural zones.
The Harmony is also involved with the following projects that promote the sustainable development of the community without compromising the environment:
Turning Hope into Reality is an effort to improve the local schools’ infrastructure, equipment, and learning aids while addressing issues of sustainable practice and environmental awareness. Harmony staff volunteers offer mentorship, experiential learning, and career exploration in areas ranging from language to computer literacy.
Plant a Tree gives guests the chance to help offset the hotel’s carbon emissions by planting a regionally native tree with the assistance of the Harmony garden staff.
Help the Howlers addresses the positioning of Nosara electrical lines in order to prevent the electrocution of Howler monkeys, who try using them for access to habitat that has been isolated by roads or cleared land. To learn more or donate, please see reception.
Blue Flag is an eco-sensitive label that recognizes sustainable beach development through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and management, safety and more. Playa Guiones has received it for three years now thanks to the the Nosara Civic Association and participation of the businesses residing on it.
Volunteering
Reception will happily connect you with current volunteer opportunities in connection with the Harmony’s programs. We welcome your ideas for guest participation and taking our sustainability program even deeper as well.