Integra Collective Convergence
July 10-15, 2022
As our first Integra event, the inaugural Integra Convergence was integral to our foundation as an organization.
“I still get goosebumps thinking about how amazing the Convergence was….the people, the Ranch, the women-led businesses we interacted with, and all the naked waterfall swimming!!! Such beautiful kind energy.”
— Layne, 2022 Convergence Participant
Photos courtesy of the amazing Giana Fiola, Integra Collective member and founder of Gaia Compassion Collective juice company.
Rancho Mastatal
Rancho Mastatal
Photos courtesy of Rancho Mastatal
We hosted the first Integra Convergence at Rancho Mastatal, an incredible Permaculture Farm and Sustainability Education Center located in the rainforest of Costa Rica. Sporting 20 years of lush agroforestry systems and gorgeous natural buildings all over the property, Rancho is an inspiration. Much of the Ranch is hundreds of acres of protected land that borders La Cangreja National Park. Walk right on the property to explore waterfalls, natural swimming pools, and rivers dancing in the rainforest. Rancho is also located in the small rural town of Mastatal, a beautiful community with indigenous and Costa Rican individuals working to live off the land regeneratively and sustain their culture in this place. The serene energy, food, and gorgeous living structures make Rancho Mastatal a place people come back to year after year.
Apart from being an inspiring and life changing place, we also chose to host the Convergence at the Ranch to support our Costa Rican friends of the Mastatal community who are extraordinary herbalists, artists, ecologists, chocolate makers, farmers, and Earth tenders. Through our year as apprentices at Rancho Mastatal, we had the opportunity to make deep connections with indigenous and local leaders whose livelihoods depend on visitors. We wanted to honor our commitment to supporting their healing work by continuing to show up for them, and bringing friends!
The Convergence proved to be an amazing opportunity to learn from people with strong cultural roots and deep ecological knowledge. You can read more about Rancho Mastatal’s relationship with the local community and the people of Mastatal here.
Local Partnerships
The Integra Collective deeply values our relationships with the local people and businesses of Mastatal. We were overjoyed to introduce our participants to this community and financially support the work that indigenous producers and educators like Kis Botanicals and La Iguana Chocolate are doing on the ground to build a local economy centered on sustainable stewardship.
Farm to Table Food
Farm to table cooking and fermentation is at the heart of life at the Ranch and was at the heart of our gathering. We shared two seated community meals a day where we savored the nourishment that comes from local, seasonal food and being present amongst friends. Our nightly gratitude circles holding hands and giving thanks were a highlight.
