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We endeavor that our life and activity in Nicaragua continually respects and benefits our local community and environment.

As one of the few foreigners living out here we are a continuously asked for help including
medical expenses, school and education costs, building assistance, event participation and calls for emergency aid. The revenue from our Rides help us to respond favorably to these requests. We couldn’t do it without your help. We thank you… and this little corner of Nicaragua thanks you as well. Gracias Adios.
Recent Projects (January – April 2012) – The busiest time of the year for riding kept us in the saddle so most of our projects were direct donations to the 3 nearby schools and those in need of emergency help. Kids were back in school the first week of February and we were able to donate new shoes and back packs to over 50 children.

One of our fellow employees Eddy passed away at home when he was diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer and as the only employed family member we made a direct donation to his family to help them get through this tragedy. We’ve had several calls as an ambulance this past few months including a little girl who had fallen off a water tank stand where she was checking the water levels for her mother who was filling the tank from the well below. What originally appeared to be a badly broken arm has now had complications with limited feeling in her arm indicating spinal/nerve damage. We await to hear the outcome and have helped family members be with her in Managua where she is getting attention.

Recent Projects (December 2011) – It was so busy for us here at the ranch that I have not been able to update our blog on activities in the community. Many of you know.. and so generously donated to the our Christmas Bucket program. It took us 5 trips to deliver all 130 buckets. Here’s some photos: CLICK HERE

Recent Projects (October/November 2011) -

It’s rainy season this time of year in Nicaragua. We used some of our fund this month to purchase children’s rainboots. It’s pretty tough going in the clay based mud here. We also assisted financially with the installation of toilets at the local schools. The kids still need to use buckets of water to flush, but it’s a step up from an outhouse. Blue also did her personal share this month and took school photos of each student in the community. Two schools down… one more to go.

Recent Projects (August/September 2011) – Our shuttle for the local dogs to the World Vets Clinic in San Juan del Sur was met with great enthusiasm. Twenty dogs were transported in our truck – with 15 surgeries and 5 consultations. All were treated for parasites and ticks and the fund purchased additional meds and food for all dogs who were operated on.

We also started the school photo project again for this year. Each student is photographed and provided with an 8×10 sheet that includes a 5×7 portrait, two 3×2′s and a row of 5 little ones to give friends. The students love them… the parents even more!

$100 was given to a family whose little 2 year old who lost her eye by accident when out macheting with her dad. They raised half the money but needed help with the rest to prepare her socket for a false eye. A sad tragic accident for someone so young.

Recent Projects (June/July 2011) – With the generous help of St. Vincent Martyr School in New Jersey, more school uniforms and school supplies were provided to the 3 local schools in our area – Las Parcelas, Las Brisas and Escamequita.

The Rancho Chilamate Community Fund also provided medical assistance for 3 families – two requiring medical procedures and one with need for medicine that they could not afford. There were also 1 deaths in our community during this time and we supplied cement and sad so that they families could prepare proper burial sites.

Recent Projects (May 2011) – As the dry season gives way to some rain we assisted a handful of families in desperate need of roof repairs. The locals have been working hard on their church lately and when they came to ask for assistance in buying cement for the floor we bought and delivered the bags with the financial help of our two neighbors owning lots near Rancho Chilamate: Peter and Rahni from Victoria, B.C and Greg and Deb, Oregon. The community is very excited about this project nearing completion. They go to church Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Recent Projects (March/April 2011) – Semana Santa (Holy Week) is very important to the people in our community. We worked with the 3 local churches out here to distribute new clothes and shoes from our clothing drive. There were also requests for monies for 2 burials (cancers) and our continued commitment to feeding the school children. Thank you for all your help! Clothing Drive Photos: CLICK HERE

Projects (January/February 2011) – It’s back to school time and the poor families have to come up with money for school supplies and uniforms. Rancho Chilamate and donations from our recent riders proudly provided uniforms (shirts,pants, socks, shoes and skirts) to three schools our here and some basic pen/paper supplies. Our fund also paid for 2 major dental operations. Dental care will be our next focus… introducing dental hygiene to the students.

Projects (December 2010) – Annual Christmas Buckets and Machete gifts for the poorer families in our community. Thanks to everyone for your generous donations. Here’s a few photos of the distribution: CLICK HERE

Recent projects (Oct/Nov 2010) included: Tin for a home in need of repair, medicine for the Alvarez family, student photos for 3 schools in the area, paint for the cemetery clean up for All Saints Day and the end of school year event at Escamequita and Las Parcelas…..

Donation:

$15 per Family Hamper

Our hampers last year were in plastic tubs that included food basics such as rice, cooking oil, soap, toothbrushes, soup mix, flour, salt and when possible a gift for each child in the house. We purchase all items locally so that the money impacts the area on several levels. It was suggested that 5 gallon buckets with lids would be very useful to the families so we hope to find enough of them to use.
Our commitment again would be to volunteer our time and truck to purchase and distribute the ‘buckets’ to the families here over the holidays. We hope you can help us make a difference.
With much gratitude, Blue and Jamie and the families in Escamequita

This little boy David lives with his extended family (I think there’s 10 people) on our trail to the beach. Many families in our community live on less than $4/day. Sadly the unemployment rate continues to be high in this part of Nicaragua and most of the families live as subsistence farmers growing their own rice and beans. Although education is free the families have to pay for school uniforms. An extended family typically lives in two of three small rooms with a dirt floor; some have electricity; most don’t – David doesn’t. Like most Latin American countries Christmas is one of the most important times of year and this little corner is no exception.

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FROM THE BEGINNING…….
The first decision was to buy land from someone of like-mind with a significant
level of commitment to Nicaragua . Nica Dev is Nicaragua’s first solar-powered
community, has over 140 acres of green space between the lots, a 450 acre
private reserve, a committed reforestation project (over 90,000 trees to date) and
a Fund that gives back directly to the community we live in.

Thank you Donn and Juan :)

We were also very conscious of the environment during construction of the ranch, and with our ongoing operation.

In Our Hood…

• 100% of our employees are from the immediate local communities.
• Rancho Chilamate sponsors local sport teams to support efforts to keep locals involved in productive activities.
• We make financial contributions to numerous requests for assistance with medical costs.
• Support local efforts to clean up and beautify the area.
• Co-ordinate and co-fund the security personnel on Yankee Beach.

During Construction

• The entire construction crew was hired from the two villages nearby.
• We used recycled roof tiles.
• All building materials were sourced in Nicaragua, including flooring, electrical and plumbing.
• Local wood and sand was delivered by oxcart whenever possible.
• Wood was purchased with permission from the local authorities to be harvested, cut and pulled out of the forest by oxen.
• All iron work was supplied by a local fabricator in our village.
• Doors and windows were supplied by a local carpenter.

Ranch Operation

• Electricity for Rancho Chilamate is provided by solar energy.
• We burn our own paper trash and participate in the plastics recycling program in San Juan del Sur.
• Clothes are dried on a line… direct solar power.
• Rainwater management includes the use of trenches to channel heavy amounts of rainfall thereby reducing soil erosion.
• Gardens and landscaping maintained without the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides with the use of homemade natural solutions to combat certain insects (garlic, onion, chili pepper solution).
• Where possible, we buy products directly from the local community.
• Rancho Chilamate is developing its own organic vegetable garden with fruit trees expecting to bear fruit in the next 2 years (well, we do currently have one producing lime tree!).

It is our goal that the longer we live here, the greater our involvement in, and commitment to, our community will be.