New Chapter’s home in the rain forest, Casa Luna, nestled high on our organic farm-Luna Nueva
Picture the garden of Eden. Imagine a place where it is always warm, and where colorful waves of birds and butterflies brighten the sky. Hear the rumble of the nearby Arenal volcano, gently erupting daily, and surrounded by inviting thermal pools where you can rest and rejuvenate. That is Luna Nueva, New Chapter’s version of paradise. Nestled on the edge of the beautiful, pristine Children’s Rain Forest in Costa Rica, Luna Nueva, New Chapter’s 74 acre organic ginger estate, radiates a lushness and vibrancy that reflects our commitment to environmental preservation and nutrient-enhancing growing practices. Luna Nueva is not simply an organic farm, it is a farm that embraces permaculture design and biodynamic practices. While establishing a farm of this kind was challenging, we felt it was essential to the quality of our product. Because most commercial ginger is heavily sprayed and fumigated, we needed a consistent, superior-quality supply of organic ginger that exploded with flavor and phytonutrient benefit.
New Chapter’s ginger fields are interspersed with areas of natural growth. This planting method both increases the farm’s biodiversity and protects the natural environment. In the forested areas, we have introduced understory species and extended the quantity and quality of the native vines such as sarsaparilla and vanilla. These lush natural areas also provide habitat for the abundant wildlife, including anteaters, that help protect the ginger from pests. Each field is also bordered with herb plants, including thousands of echinacea plants, gotu kola, turmeric and green tea to enhance soil conservation. These herbs will be harvested for our products as well. Into this vibrant community of herb plants, vines, trees, and animals, we introduce Biodynamic formulas and methods that improve the vitality of the soil and enhance the active compounds in our ginger.
Independent research has found New Chapter’s special “blue ring” ginger contains the highest concentrations of proteolytic (digestive) enzymes found in any variety of ginger. Because we value our ginger so highly, we carefully maintain and protect our own seed bank at Luna Nueva to assure its quality and vitality well into the future.
No permaculture farm would be complete without animals. At Luna Nueva, gentle oxen allow us to avoid the pollutants created by tractors and other farm equipment while goats happily clear rested fields for planting. Three to four hundred varieties of butterflies and numerous monkeys provide endless entertainment for the “kids” of all our co-habitating species.
Luna Nueva Farm Manager, Steven Farrell, began organic farming twenty-five years ago in California. His passion for organic farming spurred him to co-found The National Association of Organic Growers in Costa Rica. Our farm has reciprocal certification with Oregon Tilth.