Our first full day in Costa Rica was amazing! First, we visited a strawberry farm. There, our guide, the owner, explained the research behind how they farm the products and how Costa Rican methods are different from those in the United States. For example, Costa Rican farmers don’t use pesticides on their agriculture. Instead, the farm uses a natural combination of garlic and herbs to keep bugs away. I believe this farm to exemplify a sustainable interaction between people, land, and commerce.

Another place that we visited today was La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This reminded me of a zoo, but it also had trails to multiple waterfalls. This location was very busy, mostly with tourists. I look at this as a positive interaction between land, commerce, and people because the gardens use the natural beauty of waterfalls to attract tourists that benefit the economy. However, I do see a potential issue in that the site can’t entirely regulate how visitors treat the landscape. This could lead the waterfalls and environment to be harmed.