The Butterfly Farm

My career in Costa Rica began in 1982 while serving as a cooperative's adviser with the U.S. Peace Corps.  Through a serendipitous moment while hitchhiking I became aware of the fledgling butterfly exhibit industry in England.  Inspired by E.F. Schumacher’s well known book, Small is Beautiful, and encouraged by a few local lepidopterists, I set out in 1984 to create what would be the region’s first commercial butterfly farm.  From an early backyard experiment created with my wife, Marjiva, grew Costa Rica Entomological Supply.  Later, in 1990, we opened the farm to the public.  My work over the dacades with  butterflies and the many people involved with the butterfly exhibit industry has been a source of enormous personal satisfaction.

Given the accelerating crises of the modern world, I am devoting ever more time to the pursuit of metaphysical and spiritual studies.  Marjiva and I are involved with others in founding an ashram and self-sustaining permaculture-based community in Costa Rica.

Hello. Since I was 19 I’ve been linked to "the farm.”  Everything started with a tiny advertisement in the newspaper which I never thought was going lead me to so much in life.  I started working at The Butterfly Farm as a tour guide,  working with the butterflies, reading and sharing my new found knowledge with others.  At that moment I had no clue where things where going. I still don’t see the end of this journey.  For 3 years I spent my weekdays studying at University of Costa Rica and the weekends at the farm.  Working at the farm was a student's dream job because the work was so interesting and it took me out of my daily routines. After 3 years I left for a while to finish my degree and focus more on my studies.  Then, because life just takes you to places to where you have to be, the opportunity to  return to the farm appeared….

I have to say that I have always enjoyed the great working environment.  It is like working with family but without being family…much better. 

I am a native of Colombia where I was born and raised.  I pursued my university degree in biology in Hamburg and Mainz in Germany.  Since 1998 I have worked as a biologist in the Garten der Schmetterlinge in Sayn, Germany.   I have been very involved with CRES since I became personally familiar with it during a family trip to Costa Rica in 2004.  I am pleased and proud of my relationship and involvement with CRES and its breeders over the years.  For many years I have served as CRES' European representative. I really enjoy my work for CRES because I know  it from the perspectives of the farmers, suppliers and exhibitors.  This helps very much for the connection between CRES and our European clients.

Having organized the painting of butterfly murals in Sayn after our visit to Bordano during the 2003 ICBES in Italy, it was a logical that our communities sign a sister-city accord. 

I really love Costa Rica.  Every year I lead trips from Germany to share with people the Costa Rican's admirable approach to life.  When not traveling I always stay at The Butterfly Farm working close with the people in the office.  I also visit many of the breeders to see and learn about their lives, passion and knowledge about nature and the butterflies which is always infectious.

For me the farm is more than just a business.  It is an honor to work here as we promote a general consciousness and concern for the natural world, the importance of reforestation, and promoting employment where people have limited options available to them.  I'd like to invite you to visit our country, Costa Rica, and in particular The Butterfly Farm.