THE NEW DAWN CENTER

The New Dawn student center

Truly A New Dawn! For the past 12 years we've invited people of all ages and nationalities to join us in creating ecological health gardens at New Dawn, located in the scenic foothills of the Talamanca mountains, 700 meters above the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. We've been planting fruit and wood trees over 20 years to create a model demonstrating soil conservation and sustainable practices in tropical agriculture.   We offer workshops and apprentice programs. Our organic gardens produce a year-round supply of nutritious food for family and students. A charming cottage and cabins accommodate our students during their stay here. We offer students a work exchange program for room and board. A beautiful mountain stream borders the farm where wildlife abounds and the rural area surrounding our center is ideal for exploring tropical rain forests, hiking  and birding. Only an hour away are the Pacific Ocean and Chirripo National Park, the highest peak in Central America!

A beautiful tropical river borders the New Dawn property

New Dawn Also Offers These Services: Overnight Accommodations... $10 Healthy Meals from the Garden... $5 Garden Tours... $5/person Accupressure Massage... $25/hour Eco-garden Designs for Costa Rican homes and farms... $100 Weekend Workshops (tropical botanicals, gardening, massage)... $200/person New Dawn Product List

Jessica, Erick, Cliff, and Ed with Pinta 1992

The New Dawn Staff Ed Bernhardt, N.D. has been working with tropical medicinal plants & gardens in Costa Rica for 20+ years. He is the author of The Costa Rican Organic Home Gardening Guide and the Spanish translation, Huertas Naturales Para Costa Rica. Since 1987 Ed has been teaching people of all ages the Art of the New Age Shaman at New Dawn. Jessica Benavides is a Costa Rican, shown at left with Ed and their sons. She teaches Spanish and designs nutritious meals made fresh from our organic gardens.