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Oct 10 2014
Servando Avila Gaona: A Man on a Mission in Sayulita
While many Sayulita residents are undoubtedly familiar with Costa Verde International School, most are probably unaware of a man working predominantly behind the scenes, but whose work and philosophy are central to the beauty, creativity, environmental and ecological responsibility that goes into the school. Servando Avila Gaona originally came to Costa Verde as his sister was running the ESL program there. Though he holds a teaching degree in English, he taught Spanish and helped coordinate the middle school.
However, after awhile he asked to be more involved in the grounds, taking an active interest in the plants and garden, which at that time was minimal. He began to study and learn about horticulture, and in time started teaching ecoscience. He has been instrumental in the continued expansion of the overall environment at the school, responsible for constructing buildings, fencing, composting (including the pages of old textbooks that previously had been thrown away), and the proliferation of the gorgeous plants that both decorate and provide food. Whenever possible, he uses materials found in nature, such as bamboo, and is a master of upcycling items into new and useful things, perhaps far removed from their original purpose. For example, he has painted an old tire and made it into a planter, used the rotten fibrous innards of a palm tree as ground cover, and turned the exterior into another whimsical pot for plants, used old pallets to construct a fence, and is now contributing to the creation of cigarette butt receptacles made out of plastic water bottles that, with the help of the children, will soon be placed on the main beach in Sayulita. In addition to reducing waste, he wants to show that much can be accomplished with limited funds.
As a strong proponent of ecological sustainability, he is now focused on permaculture, a way of producing food which in essence replicates the processes found in nature. All inhabitants in an ecosystem, e.g. the trees, plants, flowers, insects, animals, contribute to and are essential in its’ overall ability to thrive. No part of nature should be discarded or killed. This message is passed along to the children who attend classes here, and who are involved in the upkeep of the garden. He believes, “we are all teachers in life, we all contribute”, and dismisses the notion that an individual alone cannot create change, believing instead that the seeds start with each individual, and that efforts will spread and in time, a huge difference will be realized. While recycling is better than nothing, it is expensive and utilizes a lot of resources. A better solution is to avoid purchasing such items in the first place.
He has a goal of producing enough food on site to eventually feed the 160 children who attend the school in Sayulita, with dreams of creating a roof garden, among other ideas. Given the limited resources of any school, he is doing what he can to raise funds so he can continue with all the projects he has in mind to create the best possible environment for the students and visitors of the school. Plants grown on site will be available at the upcoming Mercado del Pueblo, and there are plans to sell nutrient rich soil and tea (for plants not people) made from red worm compost. He is also considering a donation box for those who would like to tour the Costa Verde International School and grounds, which are continually being enhanced by his strong initiative, commitment, and creativity. He is truly a remarkable individual.
If interested in volunteering or donating to his vision in Sayulita, you can contact Servando at intensivespanish1@gmail.com.
Lastly, he is working with family to build cabins on their land in Uzeta, which is about 2 hours away, where he plans to host individuals or groups interested in learning (Spanish, ecology, etc) and/or sightseeing, as there are nearby Aztec ruins, hot springs, and the El Ceboruco volcano to name but a few.
However, after awhile he asked to be more involved in the grounds, taking an active interest in the plants and garden, which at that time was minimal. He began to study and learn about horticulture, and in time started teaching ecoscience. He has been instrumental in the continued expansion of the overall environment at the school, responsible for constructing buildings, fencing, composting (including the pages of old textbooks that previously had been thrown away), and the proliferation of the gorgeous plants that both decorate and provide food. Whenever possible, he uses materials found in nature, such as bamboo, and is a master of upcycling items into new and useful things, perhaps far removed from their original purpose. For example, he has painted an old tire and made it into a planter, used the rotten fibrous innards of a palm tree as ground cover, and turned the exterior into another whimsical pot for plants, used old pallets to construct a fence, and is now contributing to the creation of cigarette butt receptacles made out of plastic water bottles that, with the help of the children, will soon be placed on the main beach in Sayulita. In addition to reducing waste, he wants to show that much can be accomplished with limited funds.
As a strong proponent of ecological sustainability, he is now focused on permaculture, a way of producing food which in essence replicates the processes found in nature. All inhabitants in an ecosystem, e.g. the trees, plants, flowers, insects, animals, contribute to and are essential in its’ overall ability to thrive. No part of nature should be discarded or killed. This message is passed along to the children who attend classes here, and who are involved in the upkeep of the garden. He believes, “we are all teachers in life, we all contribute”, and dismisses the notion that an individual alone cannot create change, believing instead that the seeds start with each individual, and that efforts will spread and in time, a huge difference will be realized. While recycling is better than nothing, it is expensive and utilizes a lot of resources. A better solution is to avoid purchasing such items in the first place.
He has a goal of producing enough food on site to eventually feed the 160 children who attend the school in Sayulita, with dreams of creating a roof garden, among other ideas. Given the limited resources of any school, he is doing what he can to raise funds so he can continue with all the projects he has in mind to create the best possible environment for the students and visitors of the school. Plants grown on site will be available at the upcoming Mercado del Pueblo, and there are plans to sell nutrient rich soil and tea (for plants not people) made from red worm compost. He is also considering a donation box for those who would like to tour the Costa Verde International School and grounds, which are continually being enhanced by his strong initiative, commitment, and creativity. He is truly a remarkable individual.
If interested in volunteering or donating to his vision in Sayulita, you can contact Servando at intensivespanish1@gmail.com.
Lastly, he is working with family to build cabins on their land in Uzeta, which is about 2 hours away, where he plans to host individuals or groups interested in learning (Spanish, ecology, etc) and/or sightseeing, as there are nearby Aztec ruins, hot springs, and the El Ceboruco volcano to name but a few.
