Monteverde : Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest

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organic fertilizers and composted coffee pulp in lieu
of chemical fertilizers and rely on organic foliar
feedings, which improve productivity and resistance
to disease. They do this by soaking organic fertilizer
in a barrel of water and spraying the resultant brew
directly onto the bushes.


11.4. Other Crops

Other crops are grown in Monteverde for family con-
sumption and diversification, including sugarcane,
citrus, bananas, vegetables, and medicinal and other
herbs. Many farms also raise poultry and hogs. Some
crops are used for a combination of livestock feed and
human consumption. In general, these crops are only
marginally suited to the Monteverde environment
because of low productivity, pests, the limited local
market, and difficulties of gaining access to larger
markets. However, they may use resources that would
otherwise remain underused. Many households have
a "kitchen garden" (see VanDusen, "Monteverde's
Kitchen Gardens," pp. 412-413).


Table 11.5. Monthly demand for produce, eggs, and
chicken in the Monteverde-Santa Elena area during
the low season.
Product
Cauliflower
Bell pepper
Onion
Potato
Beet
Cabbage
Tomato
Green bean
Carrot
Cilantro
Cucumber
Lettuce
Chayote
Ayote
Celery
Eggs
Chicken

Quantity
472 units
3040 units
680kg
1883 kg
550 units
957 kg
140 crates
580kg
688kg
1290 bunches
520kg
900 units
1580 units
230 units
178 units
1074 kg
2295 kg
Demand roughly triples during the tourist season, November-April.
Source: CoopeSanta Elena, R.L., "Estimacion de la Demanda de
Productos Horticolas en la Zona de Santa Elena de Monteverde,"
1992.

11.4.1. Commercial Vegetables, Fruits,
and Herbs
Truck farming has been attempted several times in the
Monteverde area with mixed results. Some farmers
have produced vegetables in quantities that they were
not able to market effectively. Those who tried mar-
keting outside the area faced high transportation costs,
the loss of perishable products, and competition from
better situated producers. The local area has tradition-
ally relied on imports of small amounts of produce
from other parts of Costa Rica. However, the growth
of tourism in the 1990s considerably enlarged the
local market. Local producers produce a greater share
of the fruits and vegetables consumed in the area
(Tables 11.5, 11.6). More farmers are experimenting
with organic production to meet a growing local
demand.

11.4.2. Sustainability of Other Crops
Vegetable and fruit production in the Monteverde area
is generally carried out on such a small scale that
environmental impacts are minimal. However, a study
by local high school students on pesticide use in the
area identified deficiencies in pesticide handling that
could result in negative environmental impacts (see
Griffith, "Pesticide Use," p. 414). Other studies in
Costa Rica confirm the results of the Santa Elena study
(Hartshorn et al. 1982, Hilje et al. 1987, Thrupp 1988).
Since the late 1980s, the Coope, the Dairy Plant, and

the MCL have improved on-farm management of pes-
ticides. Safety equipment is now sold locally, safety
information is available, and some training and pub-
lic education efforts with environmental and safety
messages have been undertaken.

11.4.3. Organic Vegetable Production
In 1992,12-15 producers from Monteverde, Cabeceras,
and La Cruz joined the Small Organic Producers As-
sociation of Costa Rica (Asociacion de Pequenos
Productores Organicos de Costa Rica). They have
taken field trips to organic farms, experimented on
their own farms, and sought technical assistance.
They produce commercially, but quantities are small.
Irrigation is a problem for which they receive techni-
cal assistance. They have learned to make organic
fertilizer and have found that powdered charcoal pro-
vides potassium, helps aerate the soil, and improves
moisture retention. They have found that rabbit ma-
nure, Impatiens, and the liquid produced in the pro-
cess of making charcoal are effective fungicides and/
or nematocides. Madero negro (Gilricidia sepium)
is an effective insecticidal tree, and intercropping
(planting several crops in the same bed) and crop rota-
tions help reduce pest and disease problems. Colos-
trum (milk produced in the first days after the birth
of a calf) is an effective fertilizer for foliar feedings.
Some farmers plant windbreaks to reduce mechani-
cal damage to the crops. This reduces disease since

403 Agriculture in Monteverde: Moving Toward Sustainability
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