Reflections from La Flor

From our very brief time at La Flor, I have found myself reconsidering, adjusting, and expanding on a few of our ideas and preconceptions. One aspect that I had been interested in pursuing, though we had not yet had the opportunity or the resources, was the local community. The health and success of a university is dependant upon numerous issues, however, the relationship with the local community is one that can sometimes go unnoticed.
Through discussions, I have come to understand that the demands from Guanacaste which would be attainable by Earth, would include jobs, the establishment of a main transportation corridor to increase land value as well as provide further opportunities for employment, and further educational facilities, whether it be technical training schools or local elementary and high schools. There are also further issues that the surrounding community will look to Earth for leadership with Land planning, waste management and resource management. These are three issues that are more complicated and potentially too political or too costly for the campus to take on independently, but it is something to be remembered and considered.
The easiest way for Earth to impact these more difficult demands would be to lead by example. In this way, they are removed from the political implications of a more active role as advocate or guardian, but are still working to improve the local conditions. If the focus continues to be an aim at replicable practices, then as Earth shows success of these practices and maintains an open door policy in terms of sharing that knowledge, it will become the people that are empowered. Therefore, as we move forward in our designs, we should continue to push and question every step and every facet of designs under the criteria of financial feasibility, material accessibility, local demand and application, educational benefit, and sustainability over both the long and the short term.