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Medicinal plants from Ric's Farm
A Costa Rican Garden of Eden: Ric's Farm in Costa Rica. Organic regenerative agriculture for maximum vitality and quality
With over 25 years of experience Ric Scalzo in the field of medicinal plants is now world-renowned. He stands for new, outstandingly advanced standards in the herbal medicine industry and dedicates his efforts to educational projects that teach children healthy and sustainable lifestyles. In 1987, after Ric became increasingly well-known and sought after as a doctor of medicinal herbal medicine in North Carolina, he founded Gaia Herbs. The company has about 300 acres of land where about 40 different medicinal plants are grown and then sold on the worldwide market. The term Gaia represents the interconnectedness of all being on Mother Earth, interdependence and co-evolution. From the beginning until today, Ric and his team align themselves with this mindset in all their activities.
In the United States, Ric is a renowned and one of the most valued herbalists and botanical researchers. In the name of co-creation; of learning, growing and laughing together, he networks leaders in the field of botany such as ethnobotanists, natural health practitioners and students. On a personal visit to Costa Rica, we immediately felt his openness, interest in the other person, and joy in sharing his knowledge. We came to know Ric as a gentle, thoughtful and sympathetic person. His openness and hospitality made us feel right at home. We have enjoyed the mutual exchange greatly and feel very enriched in various ways by his manner, his work and the considerable wisdom he has shared with us.
Already in his youth Ric recognized the significance of the co-evolution of the human and the plant world
Driven by curiosity and inquisitiveness to better understand the forces of nature and to study selected medicinal plants and their ideal habitat in more detail, he emigrated to evergreen, fertile Costa Rica after selling the Gaia Herbs company. Here, about 2.5 years ago, he purchased a 43-acre farm where 8 different medicinal plants are grown and researched organically and regeneratively. After years of formal study in naturopathic plant medicine, Ric wanted to get right into the action. He wanted to be in direct contact with nature and learn through his own observation about the organizing power of nature and the role of plants of its metabolism. He set out to understand the wondrous alchemical processes of his medicinal plants; how they synthesize the power and wisdom of nature into their very own structure. Even in his youth, Ric recognized the significance of the co-evolution of the human and plant worlds. His progressive understanding of the cosmos of plant lore also drove his personal, inner growth ever forward. Accordingly, Ric titles this process of research and development, driven by his inner curiosity, as a spiritual journey rather than a business with primarily economic intent.
Discover the Suyana (medicinal) plants from Ric's Farm
Ashwagandha
Turmeric
Ginger
Mucuna
Passion flower
Join us on a journey to Ric's medicinal plant plantation in Costa Rica. Self-regulation of nature and balance between activity and passivity
Starting from Uvita, located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, we drove a good half hour through jungle-like, incredibly fertile-green nature towards the inland. The region seemed very quiet and peaceful to us, withdrawn from the livelier coastal towns. We especially liked the very authentic character of the area; we met local residents and school children from time to time, but there was no trace of tourist infrastructure here. Arriving at Ric's Farm we were overwhelmed by the natural power and beauty of this place. The sap green fields are surrounded by mountains and dense jungle with huge trees from which vines climb down and a river meandering through. It touched us to see how connected Ric is to nature and his work, with what passion and wisdom he told us about his plants and their healing powers. With all our senses we felt the purity and vitality of this place and absorbed it deeply.
Organic regenerative agriculture for maximum vitality and quality
Ric explained to us that the outstanding biodiversity of the land and the abundant rainfall in this region provide optimal conditions for the cultivation of his medicinal plants. All the important indicators for cultivation had been met here from the outset, with the exception of the anaerobic soil structure, which still requires a great deal of attention today. However, this never left Ric in any doubt that he could make his farm truly regenerative and a fertile place. The majority of Ric and his team's efforts are therefore focussed on implementing regenerative farming practices, where the regeneration of the soil (soil life and biodiversity) is a key priority. Heavy rainfall often leads to soil compaction, which in turn can result in erosion, where important microorganisms are washed out of the soil and eroded. Ric and his team have therefore set themselves the goal of loosening the soil and improving its structure, which in turn benefits the soil's microorganisms.
Ric's way of farming is therefore far more than organic; it is about establishing the integrity of the soil and bringing it to a level of vitality that has not existed before. Together with his team, he experiments and researches how regenerating the soil and repairing its microbiological structure can improve the integrity of a plant through the biochemistry of the nutrients it absorbs.
In order to activate soil life and ensure soil stability, regenerative agriculture enriches the soil with organically bound carbon (humus) by applying it to the soil surface.
This provides the soil with various valuable microorganisms that support the essential bacterial cultures in the soil. Although this soil enrichment procedure is a long and complex process, it pays off. Another special feature of regenerative agriculture is that the soil is planted all year round, primarily with undersown crops or catch crops, which are then worked shallowly into the soil through the so-called surface rotation. The aim is to reduce nutrient losses through nitrate leaching, suppress weeds and improve plant health without resorting to pesticides. Furthermore, the soil is enriched with a so-called compost tea; a mixture of compost with warm molasses and water, which enables the microorganisms it contains to multiply. As loosening the soil using technical aids such as a plough would destroy the soil structure and reduce the build-up of humus, Ric and his team have decided against using such tools. All efforts are aimed at achieving a state in which the food web of the soil (including all fungi, bacteria, nematodes, protozoa, arthropods) is in balance, the soil can regulate itself and it provides the plants with a high level of important nutrients. If such a state is achieved, the soil is more resistant to external influences such as the climate, pests and weeds. An imbalance in the microbiological soil structure, on the other hand, is usually due to inadequate soil management.
'Our soils are way out of balance, generally around the world. And we got to change this. - Ric Scalzos
Further, Ric clarifies the specificity of the role of fungi in the soil, dubbing them 'magical elements'. Having a healthy population of fungi in the soil, he says, enables some plants to develop an amino acid profile that can support the body in a variety of ways and promote human longevity. However, most plants in the world lack the necessary conditions to do this.
Nature always creates from calm, a state of consciousness in which all potential forms of expression are already contained.
A global movement of positive change
Ric believes that everything that influences the body eventually influences the mind. He describes it with the metaphor of a light poster drawing our body and mind: only when all our lights are turned on and the connection points in our poster are activated, are we complete and with a clear transmission of information. All his medicinal plants figuratively offer the potential to make all the lights on our poster shine brightly (again).
Even if criteria of sustainability and quality are becoming more and more conscious to many people, Ric still sees a lot of work to be done. Educational measures are needed to make people aware of the potential of medicinal plants and to sensitize them to a healthy and mindful lifestyle. At the same time, he suggests that he is concerned with much more than a product or education alone. He strives for a holistic movement that creates new perspectives, interests, and pathways, generates animating conversations, and brings about a whole new level of narratives and standards of living.
Everything that influences the body also influences the mind
Ric's selection of medicinal plants is based on several factors. Through his previous business, he has already gained a lot of experience in working with these species. Furthermore, the climate in Costa Rica offers ideal climatic conditions for their cultivation. A third major driver is the strong demand, both from various large companies in the U.S. and from end users worldwide. While the homelands of these medicinal plants are originally in India and China, the quality of products from these areas is often very low. While Ric stands for quality and integrity in his organic regenerative growing methods, he wants to establish new standards in this market and create a 'movement of positive change' for all humanity.
'How can we do what we do and begin to establish a movement around change, around positive change for the world and for all of us? And you know we have to do it, right? No one else is gonna do it, to restore the earth, restore the way we use the forces of our planet and use it in harmony with nature. It is really up to us, to have ambition, to have an impact.' - Ric Scalzos
"Restore the earth, restore the way we use the forces of our planet and use it in harmony with nature"
- Ric Scalzos