Yachana Foundation Archives - A Home in the Amazon

Black Soldier Fly with efficient self-harvesting brick bin inside chicken run

Raise Black Soldier Flies and Larvae as Chicken Feed. Getting Started Insect Farming.

Written with William. Raising Black Soldier Flies on a homestead has quickly become a favorite way to raise quality high-protein feed for chickens. As an extra added bonus, they quickly turn organic waste into usable compost. At the Yachana, our goal is to raise 80% of our own food- for our family and for the Lodge, […]

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How is Chocolate Made? From Cacao Pod on the Tree to World’s Favorite Treat

History of Chocolate. How was Chocolate first made? It’s mind-boggling to consider just how the process was discovered that takes the seeds of the cacao fruit through such a process as to create the beloved treat we all know and love, as chocolate. Some say it was all accidental and just “happened” to ferment, then

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Where to Stay in the Amazon Jungle, The Yachana Lodge

Where to stay in Ecuador and Especially, Where to Stay in the Amazon Jungle

Experience the Amazon at The Yachana Lodge! The Amazon jungle is the largest rainforest in the world, spanning eight different countries across South America. But where to stay in the Amazon? To experience Ecuador? The Yachana Lodge is nestled in Ecuadorian Amazon jungle, between Tena and Coca and near the Napo River. If you are

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Teaching English Class with Ecuadorian students

English Class in the New Choza, or Jungle Hut, Classroom

One way the Yachana has been involved with education and the local community is in finding and hosting English teacher volunteers. These volunteers attend school and act as an assistant to the English teacher. English class is a required class for students in Ecuador but the chance for our rural local school to have native English

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“Together for the Amazon”- How a we came together to build a new classroom in the Amazon

The main purpose and mantra of the Yachana is “A Place of Learning”. Based on that goal, many projects have been funded, supported and come to pass. This week a big project of a new “chosa” or outdoor, open air classroom, was finished and the opening ceremony was held. Construction of a new “classroom” The

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Continuing Traditions Far From Home

It can be tricky to leave behind your home country, but continuing to celebrate traditions that are near to your heart is one way to feel “at home” wherever you are. As we moved abroad, there were family traditions that I am committed to keep. They are part of what I love about being a

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