Cultivating Community: A Day at Casa Kandamy's Permaculture Farm

We recently enjoyed a day that perfectly captured what Casa Kandamy is all about—movement, community, sustainable living, and nature. Our adventure at Casa Kandamy’s permaculture farm was a blend of learning, connection, and enjoyment, embodying our core values in a single, perfect experience.

Our day began at dawn, with our crew squeezing into our 83’ Mitsubishi Montero, driving through Tobia’s scenic country roads, eager to start our adventure.

Wanting to begin the day by getting our blood flowing, we started up the original Camino Real which passes next to Finca San Luis. The path was steep but the challenge brought us together as we encouraged each other with each step. As we climbed, the group was eventually rewarded with breathtaking mountain views and the sweet taste of mandarins plucked fresh from the branches.

Upon arriving at the family farm, Sebas guided us through an immersive introduction to permaculture. He explained the fundamental principles of permaculture and how they are being applied on Finca San Luis. This project, deeply intertwined with Casa Kandamy's vision, focuses on sustainable living practices that we hope will inspire future generations.

During our tour, we delved into topics such as water management, land conservation, waste management, and sustainable economic practices. Sebas also provided an overview of the permaculture design implemented on the farm, which aims to create a self-sustaining ecosystem.

The morning's activities were followed by a hearty campesino Colombian breakfast, featuring caldo de pescado cooked over a woodfire, alongside eggs, arepas, and plantains. This meal, prepared with love and traditional recipes, was a delicious and nourishing start to the day.

After breakfast, we transitioned into a hands-on DIY project led by Sebas. The focus was on transforming food waste into a valuable resource for our chickens through the use of fly bins. This innovative composting method allows flies to lay eggs in the food waste, which then hatch into larvae. These larvae serve as a rich protein source for the chickens, resulting in healthier eggs and a sustainable cycle of waste management.

Following the successful completion of the fly bins, we ended the day with a well-deserved swim at a nearby water hole. The cool, flowing water provided a refreshing respite, a perfect way to rejuvenate after a day of learning and working together.

Reflecting on the day, it was clear that our community had experienced something truly special. There’s an invigorating feeling when a group of people connects through shared values, in this case: movement, community living, sustainability, and a love for nature.

It’s our daily practice of movement that enables us to engage fully with the land, and it’s our understanding and caring for the land that allows us to nourish our bodies with nutritious food to continue moving. This synergy between movement, nature, and community is at the heart of Casa Kandamy.

We are immensely grateful to our wonderful crew, who approached the day with openness and positivity. This day at the permaculture farm not only strengthened our bonds but also deepened our commitment to sustainable living practices. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this enriching experience.

This is what Casa Kandamy is all about: creating a community where movement, nature, and sustainable living come together in harmony. We look forward to more days like this, where we can continue to grow, learn, and thrive together.

Sebas' Story and Casa Kandamy

Hello, I'm Sebas, your host and founder of Casa Kandamy.

I wanted to take a moment and share with you what led me to take on this project and bring it to life. This project blends experiences from my childhood, as a professional Sports Scientist and Movement teacher, as well as my travel journeys in different parts of the world.

- Me in my home country: Colombia -

Born in Colombia, I had the privilege of having the diverse natural and cultural ecosystems of this country as my backyard. This place is my home, where my family has belonged for many generations. My childhood is heavily rooted in this territory, and therefore, I feel a responsibility to take care of it. This is a big reason why Casa Kandamy took place in Colombia.

But before Casa Kandamy, I had come to a few key observations about our healthcare system, the current culture, and the state of our natural environment.

I graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's in Sport and Exercise Science, and with the intention to further my career with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. However, while I completed the prerequisites to enter the DPT program, I noticed a huge problem. I discovered a medical system that was more concerned about making a dollar over the health and well-being of its patients and professionals. Little time was dedicated to educating the patient, and more surprisingly, most patients didn't know how to move their bodies. The rehab process was a nightmare.

Heavily disappointed, I decided to search for other avenues. This led me to discover the work of Ido Portal and his Movement Culture philosophy. His work inspired me to search for the best movement teachers around the world, which took me all the way to Australia.

In 2019, I arrived in Sydney where I would begin this journey. I traveled through this vast country in my camper car, surfing, learning, and practicing Movement from the best Movement teachers and spaces for nearly three years.

Here, I noticed what is truly influential and essential for a person's well-being. And that is: Movement, Stillness, Community, Nutrition, Sleep, and Nature.

I realized this is all influenced by your ENVIRONMENT. Your environment is made up of the spaces you find yourself in, the people around you, and the resources you have access to. They will influence how you behave and what decisions you will make profoundly.

Does your environment incentivize movement?

Does your environment allow you to sit in stillness?

Does your environment cultivate a community of like-minded individuals?

Does your environment give you access to nutritious food?

Does your environment allow you to rest and recover through quality sleep?

Does your environment have access to Mother Nature?

The conclusion I reached was that most people are in toxic environments. Environments that inhibit

movement, that disconnect them from others, which constantly create distractions, and often offer heavily processed food that destroys their body, mind, and the environment.

All these experiences and realizations led me to think about an innovative solution. In 2022, I came back to Colombia where I saw huge potential to create something special.

I found myself in a beautiful house that has been passed down through my family's generations, in a warm climate that incentivizes movement, and in a culturally and environmentally rich space.

- Casa Kandamy-

Here, I decided to create Casa Kandamy, an environment which incentivizes movement and stillness, community living, quality sleep and food, as well as plentiful access to nature.

This makes Casa Kandamy one of the few Movement Co-living spaces that promote overall well-being.

I truly believe Casa Kandamy is special and will provide you with invaluable experiences. I hope this inspires you to take action and perhaps visit us sometime.

For now, explore our website and the details that make Casa Kandamy unique. If you have any questions, please reach out. I'm always at your disposal.

Thank you for your time,

Seb