In Kalu Yala, Bad Press Can’t Stop A Sustainable Mission

Kalu Yala is a sustainable community providing students an opportunity to work, study and live with social and environmental responsibility. These students work together to form a tight knit community and work towards building an oasis where nothing bad ever happens. The town is in the Tres Brazos Valley and is not far from Panama City. The site began as an incubator for a sustainable community but has become so much more. Only twenty homes are built each year and the streets and town square are peaceful and safe.

Moule & Polyzoides Architects were responsible for a lot of the town's design. By the summer of 2010 The Kalu Yala Institute was able to offer students across the globe the chance to research projects regarding sustainable living. The town has been subject to bad press for no apparent reason. This has been detrimental to all the good things that are being accomplished by these students. They attend classes and learn about biology, agriculture, health, wellness, design thinking, outdoor recreation, farm to table culinary arts, community development, education and business. These students represent the future possibilities for sustainable communities.

The community is constantly growing and by autumn of 2015 there were individuals from 48 states, 150 colleges and 25 countries in the community. The programs are unique and specifically tailored to enable students to decide what contributions they will make, set their own research agendas and decide on their class project. The area is beautiful with warm temperatures during the day and nice, cool evenings. These students are creating their own tropical frontier in a community that is both sustainable and good for the planet. The founders of this thriving community are Jimmy Stice, Kimberly Hall and Scott Romsa.

The community is proving sustainability can include beautiful architecture, a healthy environment and a community that works together. The homes are built from natural materials and keep the residents happy and comfortable. The business model has been well planned and good work is happening here. Kalu Yala is a memorable town with streets and homes planned by award winning planners and architects. Nearly everything is interconnected in some way and will organically develop as time passes.

The community has taken into account the importance of supporting the local businesses instead of international conglomerates. Whenever possible the community provides what they need and most meals are brought right from the farm to the kitchen. When the community requires something they are not yet able to provide, it is sourced locally. Imports have been minimized as much as possible while the exports have been maximized. This community has become part of an important movement and built a place where people can work together. The town may have started out as a project but it has become a way of life.

This is a place where so much good is accomplished and the stresses of the outside world have ceased to exist. This is a representation of what is possible and what can be accomplished with potential and hard work. The culinary education is superb and the students have tested and retested countless recipes. This begins with harvesting fresh, natural and healthy ingredients from the farm. The nutrients and flavor have been maximized and waste has been drastically reduced. The food is part of what brings these people together and make them feel loved and special. The community grows organic food at a much lower expense and teaches other communities how to do the same. These proper methods are critical to success.

When food is locally grown and sourced, emissions and transport costs are decreased and community networks can be effectively created by the farmers. Most of the meals are vegetarian but chickens are raised for consumption. Any additional meat comes from local farms. Refrigeration is provided with coolers and the power comes from solar panels. Stone grills are common and plants are often used as substitute ingredients. A good example is cranberry hibiscus. It contains essential vitamins including vitamin c and antioxidants. Natural nutrition is far healthier than vitamin supplements.

The people who have visited this community are mystified. This community works together to provide sustainable living, teaches important skills and has become a home to so many. This community has the right idea.