Patagonia Catharsis

Permaculture
Course 2007

Chef Martin Crsci falmbè dessert

Carving asado

fiesta!

gauchos drinking mate

Survival in Style

FOOD & LIFE

CATHARSIS FOOD and LIFE AT RANQUILCO

As Ranquilco is striving for self-sufficiency, we endeavor to produce as much
of our own food as possible. We also try to live with what is available seasonably, as befits a country experience. Basic food is organically grown and delicious. Bread is baked daily in the adobe ovens. Chickens provide eggs, orchards fruit, gardens veggies, water trouts, and the herds of cattle, sheep and goat organic meat of the highest delicious quality. We understand vegetarianism; in fact many are vegetarians so there is always plenty of that fare. We also respect the animals which grace the lands and thoroughly enjoy their traditional offerings - the famous Argentine asado.

Chef Martin & Kitchen view

Fresh Goat

Special desires like snacks etc need to be taken care of beforehand. We provide all the basics, which includes yerba mate for example, but not coffee. You WILL be exposed to this delightful tradition, and most come away with a wonderful and friendly interest. Beer and wine will be available for purchase from the Estancia.

Life at Ranquilco is an experience of self-directed flexibility. It is a working livestock ranch, so there are seasonal events which happen as they do, and working with weathers also promotes an easy understanding of flow. Additionally it has a small, high end, eco tourism business: fly fishing in the best waters in the world for rainbow trout and family riding vacations. Participants in Catharsis will be invited to meld in with these energies.

When there is work to be done, we will respect the gaucho hours; four in the morning, with a good long break for lunch and siesta, and then another four in the afternoon. Course offerings will have their own schedules which will be posted. Again, these are optional and participants are responsible for their own curriculum, crafting their daily experience from the various offerings of Catharsis and happenings at the estancia.

Free time is essential to fully imbibe the energy of these lands. We encourage everyone to "get off the shelf" daily, i.e. to go down to the rivers, to hike up the cliffs, to wander the trails, or just find a tree or a rock for quiet meditations and solo time and naps. We also encourage a "vision quest" experience - going off by oneself for a couple of nights alone in Nature (we are never alone!).

CATHARSIS ACCOMODATIONS

Participants will be scattered around the various Estancia dwellings and will be invited to choose in order of signing on. This can be a fun thing as there is a great variety to choose from.

The Volunteer House - this was the original schoolhouse when Ranquilco was a center in the cordillera for gaucho children who would ride in. Two bedrooms, living room with fireplace and kitchen plus bathroom. Adjacent to this is the stone room, with twin beds and bathroom with fireplace.

Annie House: Hippie built wood cabin with a bedroom and loft plus a kitchen. Outdoor shower and toilet overlooking the river.

Studio - scribe wood and adobe cabin, with two single bedrooms, outdoor toilet and shower. This is perched on a hill right over the river.

The Apartment: Three bedrooms, one bath, with two fireplaces. This is anadd-on to the main house, stone built and gracious.

The gaucho house: adobe built, this is in the gaucho quarter and shares a bath and kitchen with them.

Riverside Sauna