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History

The Yantza Farm was established in May 2016 through the purchase of about +75 hectares (180 acres) at the edge of the great Amazonas Rainforest in Ecuador. As you can see with this history we have been more than busy around here…

Our focus at GaiaVerso is about Holistic Regenerative Ecosystem Design.

Finca Yantza Farm Activity Log

Recordkeeping is an essential part of good organic farming practices

2015 – Two Thousand And Fifteen

1st November 2015 – Arrived in Esmeralda from Cali in Colombia, and started exploring Ecuador…


2016 – Two Thousand And Sixteen

21th March 2016 – 1st time exploring the to-be PermaTree property in Zamora-Chinchipe

18th May 2016 – Signing the legal contract for the PermaTree property (60 days after the 2nd visit)

22nd May 2016 – Installing water catchment system high up (2km water pipes) in the mountain directly from the creek

27th May 2016 – Harvesting giant bamboo during the morning hours in good moon

31 May 2016 – Building the main access road, about 800 meters of distance

4th June 2017 – Installing 500m of electric cables from the road (currently solar is very expensive in EC and batteries are not yet sustainable)

10th June 2016 – Starting to build the natural Bamboo House

11th June 2016 – Transporting all of the harvested bamboo from the river to the finca

20th June 2016 – Planted 1st batch of 15 bananas (5x Ceda, 5x Plátano, 5x Maqueño)

29 June 2016 – Bamboo house structure with temporal roof build – no floor & walls yet

20th July, 2016 – We transplanted first batch of 500 vetiver tropical clump grass.

26th July 2016 – We “transplanted” our 1st plant nursery/greenhouse from “El Pangui” to the finca PermaTree.

27th July 2016 – Shipment with 1,000 fruit and bamboo plants arrived today.

30th July 2016 – The 145m fence on the national road: “Troncal Amazonico E45” was finalized

31th July 2016 – We moved full time to the finca – bamboo house had a roof & some temporal walls

7th September 2016 – Started building the 103-recycled-tire-stairs to the natural pond

9th September 2016 – All external house walls where build with double guadua bamboo layer

21th September 2016 – We received Pulga our new puppy dog from our neighbors

22th September 2016 – Our very first volunteer “Nico” from the US arrived to help

25th September 2016 – Started building the recycled shower beer glass bottle wall

16th August 2016 – Transplanting 10’000 vetiver grass to improve soil and fight erosion

26th October 2016 – Improving the water catchment system with a big additional 2500L tank

11th November 2016 – The compost toilet is now almost finished surrounded by bamboo walls

1st December 2016 – Created a new structure for experimental vine-type of plants with bamboo

14th December 2016 – Opened an additional road access to the top of the farm

25th December 2016 – Finalization of the natural swimming pond & water reserve


2017 – Two Thousand And Seventeen

16th January 2017 – Started the new bigger vegetable garden below the big shady guava tree

26th Januar 2017 – Final improvement of the stairs from the house to the shower/toilets

24th February 2017 – New chicken house was build

1st March 2017 – Started with the ground structure for the new volunteer bamboo cabin

20th March 2017 – Minga: Start of 6 days, planting 1’000 Guanabanas fruit plants on over 3 hectares of hill

26th March 2017 – Minga: Transplanting 50’000 vetiver grass to fight soil erosion and more

6th May 2017 – Beehives project started – painting the new wood boxes soon

9th May 2017 – Just finished the new volunteer bamboo cabin roof

13th May 2017 – Minga: Planting 50 new banana “ceda” type above the main bamboo house

16th May 2017 – Existing chicken house was moved and improved

17th May 2017 – Improving the existing kitchen functionalities

18th May 2017 – Discovered a producing chonta palm and harvested 1st peach palm

21th May 2017 – Improving the main farm entrance gate with name and roof

3rd June 2017 – 1st check on the Beehives. Population are growing. Almost no issues with ants or other insects.

15th July 2017 – Got back to the farm after Btina gave birth to Violetta 2 weeks ago in Cuenca.

22th July 2017 – Transplanted some Vetiver grass.

27th July – planted more Yellow Pitahaya Cactus aka dragon fruit.

Aug 2017 – Improving the fence with barb wire on one with of the farm about 150m

4th Sep 2017 – Transplanting 6x mature bamboo culms giant bamboo and bicolor

15th Sep 2017 – Planted a Pili Nut fruit tree (Canarium Ovatum)

22th Sep 2017 –  Harvesting our 2nd corn

23th Sep 2017 – Cleaned the area for “5in1” greenhouse, plant nursery, drying, fended area and compost area

29th Sep 2017 – We got 2 ducks for our pond

1st Oct 2017 – Improved the fencing of the chicken coop – wood had rooten…

2nd Oct 2017 – 2nd experiment planting 4x fresh Chaya sticks

5th Oct 2017 – Discovered about 600 Cacao Nacional 15y old fruit trees further up

6th Oct 2017 – Minga: planting – 25x Guineo ceda, 25x plantains

14th Oct 2017 – As of now we are Member of APEOSAE (Federación de Pequeños Exportadores Agropecuarios Orgánicos del Sur de la Amazonía Ecuatoriana)

21th Oct 2017 – Finalized the main farm entry with the name: Finca Yantza

24th Oct 2017 – Minga: Planting 300 endemic Guayusa plants

8th Nov 2017 – Harvest first ripe “maqueño” banana from the 1st batch of x15 planted in June 2016!

13th Nov 2017 – Started preparing for own “BIOL” production on the farm. To have organic liquid fumigation to keep the leaf healthy of the fruit trees.

14th Nov 2017 – Transplanted batch of 200 vetiver grass

17th Nov 2017 – Experiment: poroto(beans) with Soursop – polyculture

20th Nov 2017 – For the Guanabana plantation we just installed new insect traps

25th Nov 2017 – Measuring and planning new “5in1” greenhouse, plant nursery, drying and compost area.

30th Nov 2017 – Opened an additional / final road access to the farm

2nd Dec 2017 – Got x3 Pili Nut (Canarium ovatum), x3 Nuez de artenton (Arthertonia diversifolia) and x15 del Snake fruit (Salak Bali) palm fruit plants

3rd Dec 2017 – Checking on the beehives with Apis mellifera which are having a hard time because of global warming

4th Dec 2017 – Got x40 new Dendrocalamus Asper aka Giant Bamboo plants

12th Dec 2017 – started planting new batch of x200 ceda banana

17th Dec 2017 – finalized our adobe oven for bread and pizza cooking

17th Dec 2017 – got 2 additional ducks so now we have 4 ducks in our pond 🙂

20th Dec 2017 – Mid construction of the bamboo structure for the new “5in1” greenhouse, plant nursery, drying and compost area


2018 – Two Thousand And Eighteen

… Finalizing the greenhouse part of the “5in1” project

27th January 2018 – Transplanting 3x giant bamboos aka dendrocalamus asper

4th January 2018 – 1st test fire with the brand new adobe oven

13th January 2018 – 1st jump in the natural pool of the year 2018 🙂

5th February 2018 – Planting Ginger and Curcuma

5th February 2018 – 1st batch of “mani forrajero” aka Arachis pintoi seeds.

9th February 2018 – 1st batch of liquid fertilizer aka biol making

16th February 2018 – 2nd batch of liquid fertilizer aka biol making

20th February 2018 – 1st use of the adobe oven to bake fresh bread

24th February 2018 – building the bamboo tables for the tree nursery within the “5in1” project

5th March 2018 – “5in1” project greenhouse & tree nursery structures is  finalized now

9th March 2018 – Transplanting Vetiver grass within the Soursop plantation for the access.

12th March 2018 – Building access path in the Soursop plantation

14th March 2018 – Planting lots of pineapple – again – around the house

15th March 2018 – Building and improving many access paths from and to the main house

16th March 2018 – Massive improvement of the main water intake from the source

29th March 2018 – Successful experiment with giant bamboo culm Nr.2 transplanting

10th April 2018 – Cleaning 200m path around the creek and plant more bamboo

7th April 2018 – Successful experiment with giant bamboo culm Nr.1 transplanting

15th April 2018 – Cleaning and pruning the 2has of cacao plantation

17th April 2018 – Planting lots of new #ManiForajero aka #ArachisPintoi forage plant

5th May 2018 – Transplanting new ground cover ArachisPintoi

8th May 2018 – Planting a few new trees also a #NuezDeArtenton or #ArthetoniaDiversifolia which is commonly known as #AthertonOak

17th May 2018 – Started planting avocado seedlings from seeds today.

17th May 2018 – Harvesting cacao or cocoa pods all day long

3rd Jul 2018 – Pruning the avocado trees.

6th Jul 2018 – After harvesting cacao we make our first 15kg “raw” chocolate bar

21 Jun 2018 – Another day planting Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) for soil improvement

25 Jun 2018 – Transplanting more vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) again today

13th Aug 2018 – Transplanting more Guadua aff. angustifolia Kunth bamboo

20th Aug 2018 – Experiment applying sugar to increase #microbial activity in the soil. Using local sugarcane diluted in water in different plots.

30th Aug 2018 – Failed greenhouse “5in1” project – the bamboo material we bought was cut in bad moon and quickly deteriorated into powder… we built the next roof in metal.

6th Sep 2018 – Transplanted more vetiver grass within the crop access path

7th Sep 2018 – Building more access path in the Guanabana plantation

21th Sep 2018 – Harvesting rice 1st time – lots of work…

23th Sep 2018 – First fruits of the Yellow Pitahaya Cactus aka dragon fruit starting to grow now.

29th Sep 2018 – Rice harvesting for the first time.

1st Oct 2018 – Terracing of the 2has of cacao CCN51 into “MachuPichu”

1st Oct 2018 – Harvesting lots of own cherry tomatoes

2nd Oct 2018 – Experiment reproducing 40 giant bamboo with root hormones

13th Oct 2018 – Purchased 250 Peach Palm seedlings

30th Oct 2018 – Harvesting Ginger and Curcuma

21st Oct 2018 – Harvesting for the first time our beehive honey. We left 50% for the bees.

1st Nov 2018 – Experimental: mini plot (2x2m) with vetiver mulch for the vegetals 

7th Nov 2018 – Experiment: terraced plot, planted rice 3 weeks ago now sprouting

17th Nov 2018 – Terracing of 2has “MachuPichu” finalized.

20th Nov 2018 – Transplanting lots of vetiver grass and here into the new 2has terraces.

22nd Nov 2018 – Planting 3x 50kg rice on the new 2has terraces. First experiment with 1kg rice was successful after 3 weeks.

22nd Nov 2018 – Transplanting 6 new bamboo plants in the top part of above the “Lago Negro”

23rd Nov 2018 – Re-Planting some Ginger

23rd Nov 2018 – 1st time trimming of 10x Guadua Angustifolia bamboo plants

24th Nov 2018 – update: Experiment reproducing 40 giant bamboo with root hormones 80% success so far 🙂

29 Nov 2018 – Since 3 month now we have been harvesting tons of cheery tomatoes!

7th Dec 2018 – Transplanted: Salak, Starfruit, Membrillo within one of the food forest

11th Dec 2018 – Clearing zone-G for additional Fruit Tree PolyCultures. Size 1ha

14th Dec 2018 – Prepared a new big structure – plant nursery

15th Dec 2018 – 1st vetiver grass trimming 100 meters test

16th Dec 2018 – Successful Experiment : Bamboo propagation 

18th Dec 2018 – pruning bamboo

19th Dec 2018 – new plants arrived: Dendrocalamus Asper x300, Guadua Angustifolia (brava) x300, Guadua Angustifolia (mansa) x300, Breadfruit x50, Rambutan x8, Starfruit x8

27th Dec 2018 – Published a blog post about monitoring biodiversity in regards to the fauna at PermaTree


2019 – Two Thousand And Nineteen

Wednesday, 2nd Jan 2019 – First time pruning the vetiver grass

Thursday, 10th Jan 2019 – Transplanting 75x BreadFruit plants

Thursday, 17th Jan 2019 – Preparing new BeeHive for the Melipona Stingless Bees (“Catana” –  Scaptotrigona ederi Schwarz)

Friday, 18th Jan 2019 – Harvesting one of the very first Giant Soursop (Annona Muricata) fruit

Thursday, 24th Jan 2019 – 6kg soursop harvested.

Friday, 25th Jan 2019 – Transplanting many local Heliconia flowering plants to attract more Hummingbirds

Friday, 1st Feb 2019 – Planting fresh asian bamboo seeds : Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens), Fargesia robusta campbell, Black bamboo (Phyllostachys Nigra)

Tuesday, 5th Feb 2019 – Controlling the (Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari) aka broca, the important plague in our soursop plantation.

Sunday, 10 Feb 2019 – Adding 5kg fertilizing soil for every Soursop fruit tree

Tuesday, 19 Feb 2019 – 5kg soursop harvested.

Wednesday, 20 Feb 2019 – First bamboo seeds are sprouting after only 20 days.

Wednesday, 20 Feb 2019 – 4kg soursop harvested.

Friday, 22 Feb 2019 – Finalized planting Arachis Pintoi seeds over a area of about 8Has including the soursop plantation.

Tuesday, 26 Feb 2019 – 5kg soursop harvested.

Thursday, 28 Feb 2019 – Transplanted new Pico Pico Tree (Acnistus arborescens – Family Solanaceae) in 4 different locations of the Fruit Forests.

Monday, 4th March 2019 – Started building Adaptive Contour Access Path in the G-Zone between Zone-5 and Zone-4. 1st remove pasture grass. Then plant the fruit tree seedlings. 

Tuesday, 12th March 2019 – Finalized building the Adaptive Contour Access Path

Thursday, 14th March 2019 – Transplanting Bamboo from seeds into bigger containers

Thursday, 14th March 2019 – Harvesting our first “Sangre de Drago” blood.

Friday, 15th March 2019 – Finalizing the latest Food forest extreme polyculture zone in conjunction with the Adaptive Contour Access Path (ACAP).

Monday, 18th March 2019 – 6kg soursop harvested.

Monday, 25th March 2019 – Transplanting vetiver grass for G-Zone soil enhancement. Check out the sheer size of how huge the vetiver grass grows in our tropical climate

Thursday, 28th March 2019 – 4.6kg soursop harvested.

Tuesday, 2nd April 2019 –  4.5kg soursop harvested

Wednesday, 3 April 2019 – Improving tropical rain flow on terraces – final hack. Controlling the water flow.

Thursday, 4th April 2019 – Improving the main access road to the farm.

Friday, 12th April 2019 – Transplanting Giant Bamboo (Dendrocalamus Asper) and Guadua Angustifolia. Agroforestry tropical polyculture.

Tuesday, 16th April 2019 – Harvesting another giant soursop.

Wednesday, 17th April 2019 – 5.6kg soursop harvested.

Tuesday, 23 April 2019 – 5.5kg soursop harvested.

Thursday, 25th April 2019 – Controlling the (Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari) aka broca, the important plague in our soursop plantation.

Monday, 29th April 2019 – 3.6 soursop harvested.

Thursday, 2nd May 2019 –  Harvesting mature Golden Hawaii Bamboo (Bambusa Vulgaris Vitatta)

Monday, 6th May 2019 – 6.2kg soursop harvested.

Wednesday, 15th May 2019 – 2.6kg soursop harvested.

Thursday, 16th May 2019 – 7.4kg soursop harvested.

Monday, 20th May 2019 – 8kg soursop harvested.

Wednesday, 22nd May 2019 –  Harvesting mature Golden Hawaii Bamboo (Bambusa Vulgaris Vitatta)

Saturday, 25th May 2019 – Replaced our 2500L water tank which got crushed by a falling tree during the last tropical rain storm.

Friday, 7th June 2019 – Started building a biodigestor to create humus, liquid humus and gas.

Sunday, 9th June 2019 -8.25kg soursop harvested.

Saturday, 15th June 2019 – 5.25kg soursop harvested.

Thursday, 20th June 2019 – Adding 3kg fertilizing (chivo) soil for every Soursop fruit tree

Friday, 28th June 2019 – 4.9kg soursop harvested.

Tuesday, 9th July 2019 – Reforestation with Guadua Angustifolia on over 500 meters with a total of 169 guadua plants.

Monday, 15th July 2019 – Cleaning all the Perennial Peanut (Arachis) so that it will continue to grow and cover all the ground with flowers. Best tropical ground nitrogen fixer.

Friday, 2nd August 2019 – Massive Reforestation with Giant Bamboo total planted 73 Dendrocalamus Asper.

Wednesday, 21st August 2019 – Cleaning all of the Perennial Peanut (Arachis) so that it will continue to grow and cover all the ground with flowers. Best tropical ground nitrogen fixer.

Sunday, 1st Sep 2019 – The biodigestor is producing the very first methane gas and liquid biol. Also this structure has a double use. We use it to dry guayusa and soursop leafs.

Sunday, 8th Sep 2019 – Creating a new mini “huerta” beside the biodigestor for vegetables and herbs.

Monday, 9th Sep 2019 – Controlling the (Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari) aka broca, the important plague in our soursop plantation.

Monday, 9th Sep 2019 – Planting seedlings of “Mexican Sunflower” (Tithonia diversifolia) flowering bush with high protein content.

Tuesday, 10th Sep 2019 – Checking on the 2x Apis mellifera beehives which are having a hard time because of global warming.

Monday, 16th September 2019 – Soursop control (broca) and pruning of guadua angustifolia (bamboo)

Tuesday, 17th September 2019 – Area “MachuPichu” controlling the graminea with nitrogen

Wednesday, 18th September 2019 – Pruning fruit trees. First Jackfruit fruit growing !!!

Wednesday, 25 September 2019 – Planting Curcuma near the Pitahaya

Thursday, 26 September 2019 – Planting Curcuma near the Pitahaya

Tuesday, 1st of Oct 2019 – Harvesting sugar cane ash, 40 bags of 25kg. For soursop 3has soil plantation improvement.

Wednesday 2nd Oct 2019 – Cleaning the soursop areas: A,B,C and D

Thursday, 3rd Oct 2019 – Planting seedlings of “Angels trumpet” (Brugmansia candida) to enhance biodiversity.

Friday, 4th Oct 2019 – Planting seedlings of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Friday, 4th Oct 2019 – Obtained the Good Agricultural Practice, GAP or BPA (Buenas Practicas de Agricultura) from the Ministry of Agriculture with the registration Nr. EC-Z-05-53-PA-G-2019-067 for Soursop, Bananas, Guayusa and Turmeric

Wednesday 30 Oct 2019 – Transplanting Turmeric and Ginger

Thursday 31 Oct 2019 – Creating fresh soil with organic matter from the farm

Tuesday 12 Nov 2019 – Reforestation with big Breadfruit plants

Monday 18 Nov 2019 – Pruning clumping tropical bamboo

Thursday, 21th Nov 2019 – 8.5kg soursop harvested.

Monday 2nd Dec 2019 – Pruning of vetiver grass during entire week

Saturday, 7th Dec 2019 –8kg / 17.3lb soursop harvested.

Saturday, 7th Dec 2019 – Transplanting 29 giant bamboo (dendrocalamus asper) in the Machu-pichu zone.

2020 – Two Thousand And Twenty

10 Feb 2020 – Reforestation with bamboo! Here goes another giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper)

23 Feb 2020 – More Guadua angustifolia “caña brava” transplanting 

24 Feb 2020 – 14 bamboo transplanted in degraded cattle farming land

18 March 2020 – Transplanting more Guadua angustifolia kunth brava

29 March 2020 – Another day transplanting bamboo(s)

29 April 2020 – 10 bamboo plants

7 May 2020 –  Total 9 plants: Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), Phyllostachys nigra, Fargesia robusta campbell (Umbrella Bamboo)

10 May 2020 – 6x plants: Dendrocalamus asper, Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), Phyllostachys nigra, Fargesia robusta campbell (Umbrella Bamboo)
11 May 2020 – 6.25kg soursop harvested.

14 May 2020 – Reforested with a total of 9 bamboos 
17 May 2020 – Pruning vetiver grass for mulching

21 May 2020 – 8 bamboo plants transplanted of the following species: Fargesia robusta campbell (Umbrella Bamboo), Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), Phyllostachys nigra

22 May 2020 – Another 8x bamboo plants of the following species have been transplanted today. Phyllostachys nigra, Fargesia robusta campbell (Umbrella Bamboo), Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)

23 May 2020 – New Record for 2020 a total of 43 bamboo seedlings have been transplanted of the following species today: Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), Phyllostachys nigra, Fargesia robusta campbell (Umbrella Bamboo)

28 May 2020 – 10 bamboo plants transplanted

3rd June 2020 – 46 Guadua Angustifolia kunth species transplanted.

11th June 2020 – 10x Jackfruits transplanted in the food forest area below the house

12th June 2020 – 13x Jackfruits transplanted in the G-zone

18th July 2020 – Transplanted 2x Dendrocalamus asper and 28x guadua angustifolia kunth mansa

25th July 2020 – Transplanted bamboo seedlings – 44x guadua angustifolia and 5x Dendrocalamus asper and 8x Phyllostachys

5th Sep 2020 – Transplanted 89x bamboo (Guadua angustifolia brava) within the MachuPichu zone

27th Sep 2020 – Transplanting 4x Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) y 4 Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)

9th Aug 2020 – Harvest lots of Jackfruit

6th Oct 2020 – Harvesting papayas 

11th Oct 2020 – Harvesting papayas 

27th Oct 2020 – Harvesting papayas 

30th Oct 2020 – Harvested Banana Guineo tipo seda

3rd Nov 2020 – Harvested Banana tipo Filipino

18th Nov 2020 – Harvested sweet potato, yuca/maniok and papaya

24th Nov 2020 – Harvest 30x avocados

4th Dec 2020 – Harvest Banana Guineo tipo seda

7th Dec 2020 – Harvest Banana Guineo tipo seda

9th Dec 2020 – Harvested Jackfruit

10th Dec 2020 – Harvest avocados

24th Dec 2020 – Harvest Banana Guineo tipo seda

29th Dec 2020 – Harvested Membrillo fruits and limon agrio (orange bitter lemon)

2021 – Two Thousand And Twenty One

6th Jan 2021 – Harvesting Limon agrio (orange bitter lemon)

8th Jan 2021 – Harvesting Katuk (Sauropus androgynus) shrub, for salad

11th Jan 2021 – MachuPichu clearing and pruning one terrace with Guadua angustifolia mansa bamboo type

13th Jan 2021 – Harvesting Banana Guineo tipo seda and clearing and pruning fruit forest Nr.3 below house

16th Jan 2021 – Harvesting 4x big Jackfruits and borojo

20th Jan 2021 – Harvested Borojo fruit

23th Jan 2021 – Transplanted a local tree – “Maria Pelada” into the food forest above the house

26 Jan 2021 – Transplanted x45 Guadua angustifolia in the zone of the Y-road bordering the soursop-zone

8 feb 2021 –  Transplanted x27 Guadua angustifolia in the zone of the Y-road bordering the soursop-zone

13 feb 2021 – Transplanted 1 dendrocalamus asper

14 feb 2021- Transplanted x9 Guadua angustifolia in the zone of the Y-road bordering the soursop-zone

2022 – Two Thousand And Twenty Two

1 jan 2022 – Cutting down elephant grass within Food Forest.

1 feb 2022 – Plantain/Bananas pruning.

15 feb 2022 – Jackfruits Tree pruning.

9 April 2022 – Transplanting 2x Dendrocalamus asper (giant bamboo) and 1x Guadua angustifolia mansa