Nuestra Tierra Aldea Creativa

31/12/2025

Dear beloved family,

As 2025 closes, the world is unraveling.

Humanity is caught in a crisis of disconnection—from the Earth, from each other, from our own true nature. Unprecedented anxiety, depression, spiritual hunger. People medicated, overworked, trapped in systems that extract life force while the living world burns.

Something else must exist. A counterbalance. A place of return.

This is why we are building Nuestra Tierra Creative Village in Ecuador’s cloud forest—one of the most biodiverse and sacred landscapes on Earth.

We are witnessing a global awakening. Through therapeutic approaches and tools, people are remembering. Through land-based connection, people are healing. But awakening needs a container. Healing needs a home.

That's what we're building: the container for transformation.

Imagine arriving fractured by modern life. Within days, the forest slows your nervous system and reveal what you've been carrying. In the ceramics studio, your hands shape what words cannot hold. Movement practice releases trauma from your body. Around the communal table, you remember what it means to belong.
You leave changed. And changed people change everything.

They return home as guardians—of forests, of children, of love itself. This is how we protect 300+ acres of primary cloud forest: by letting it heal people so deeply they become its fiercest defenders.

The creative village doesn't compete with conservation—it creates the conditions for people to fall in love with the forest, and that love becomes the strongest force for its protection.

As 2025 closes and 2026 begins, we're asking: what world do you want to build?
We are funding the literal infrastructure of awakening:
Art studios where healing becomes visible, tangible, real
A kitchen where eating together is medicine
Movement halls where bodies remember their wisdom

Not amenities, but survival tools for a species in crisis.

Our immediate goal: $25,000 to build the communal kitchen and dining hall.

Your year-end donation plants the seeds for 2026's transformation and every dollar builds a refuge our world desperately needs.

Once it stands, everything else becomes possible. Each additional space we build—the ceramics studio, the movement hall, the alchemy lab, the recording sanctuary—will radiate from this gathering place. But first, we need the hearth around which a new world can gather.

Donate here: https://lnkd.in/etctzdfA

For those who know another way must exist—and are ready to build it,
Paulina and Sandra

P.S. We're also protecting the forest through direct land acquisition. But we've learned: you can't save land without saving people first. This work does both.

12/09/2025

Camera traps have already provided invaluable data on the species living in the cloudforests we protect, but one of our most charismatic residents, a spectacled bear, seems to have a personal vendetta against them.

This particular bear has managed to take down three of our traps! While we're happy the equipment wasn't damaged, and we respect its desire for privacy, the ultimate goal of these cameras is to help conserve its habitat. It's a complex concept to explain to a bear, but it highlights the immense value of what we're trying to protect.

The truth is, we have barely scratched the surface of what lives in these forests. Experts who visit still discover new species and believe many more are waiting to be found.

That’s why we urgently need to ramp up our scientific efforts and secure the funding to do so. To build a strong legal case and permanently protect this land, we must prove what is at stake.

How You Can Help: We're shifting our focus to new, less intrusive methods to document the forest's immense biodiversity. Here’s what we need to get started:

1. eDNA Testing: Each eDNA test costs $500, and we need at least three, ideally five, for a total of $1,500 - $2,500. These tests will help us identify every species—from orchids to amphibians—that has left behind genetic material, providing critical evidence of the forest's value. We will be purchasing these tests from naturemetrics UK. Donate: https://gofund.me/3c0e6567

2. Acoustic Monitoring: We need to purchase two AudioMoth microphones (at $170 each) to capture the sounds of the forest's inhabitants. This low-cost, open-source technology will allow us to easily identify and monitor amphibians, birds, and other animals. Donate: https://gofund.me/3c0e6567

3. Field Expertise: We need more biologists, experts, students, and wildlife photographers to visit and log biodiversity in this understudied region. We have the infrastructure to accommodate up to 12 visitors—help us connect with the right people!

We are actively seeking partners, researchers, and supporters to help us with this vital work. Please reach out to us directly if you can help or donate on our gofundme platform: https://gofund.me/3c0e6567

12/04/2025

We're delighted to announce that the second 10-hectare purchase is now official! This brings our total protected cloudforest area to 20 hectares (nearly 50 acres). Thank you to everyone who has made this possible!

We're also excited to share a video of the stunning water feature located on the newly acquired land. This highlights the incredible beauty and ecological importance of the area we're working to protect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yJeSj1TtbE

However, we were recently informed by the 89 year old gentleman selling these lands that there are only 80 hectares left for purchase of the primary forest. The number keeps dropping, unfortunately, but we have hope that we will be able to protect more in the near future.

In gratitude,
Sandra and Paulina

Thanks to your incredible support, we've now secured another 10 hectares of this irreplaceable primary cloudforest. That brings our total protected area to a...

06/04/2025

Here is a long overdue update on our ongoing efforts to conserve the endangered cloudforest! Thank you for your patience.

First, the big win: WE DID IT! We've successfully purchased the initial 10 hectares (24.7 acres) of the cloudforest, and we're soon signing for the next 10, totaling 20 hectares (nearly 50 acres). While it took two transactions, we secured the additional 10 hectares within a month of the first purchase, demonstrating our rapid progress. So much gratitude to our donors / supporters for making this possible.

And... the new 10 hectares has an incredible, unique feature we'll be sharing soon!

Unfortunately, in this same period, an additional 10 hectares of the forest have been sold to an external buyer, further fragmenting this irreplaceable ecosystem. To provide clarity:

20 hectares are now under our protection.
32 hectares have been sold to external parties.
90 hectares remain vulnerable and at immediate risk.

This fragmentation poses a grave threat to the biodiversity of this region, necessitating immediate and sustained action.

Our strategic response includes:

1. Aggressive pursuit of land acquisition grants to secure the remaining 90 hectares. We are currently juggling around 5 grant applications and urgently request any information regarding additional grant opportunities to protect this land.

2. Prioritized scientific study of the conserved areas. This region exhibits a high degree of endemism, yet remains significantly understudied. We have engaged a highly motivated volunteer scientific coordinator, Heather, to establish partnerships with academic and research institutions.

Here's an excellent report I came across in case you'd like to learn more about endangered montane tree species of the region:https://www.bgci.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Red_List_Montane_Trees_Tropical_Andes_2014.pdf

3. We are also now recruiting a limited number of volunteers:

More info: https://www.nuestratierra.community/support/volunteer/

1. Skilled volunteers: Infrastructure and maintenance volunteers for essential site upkeep.
2. Research volunteers (experienced biologists, graduate/post-graduate students) to conduct critical research and foster academic collaborations.

Thank you so much to everyone supporting this project, sending love and warm wishes from Ecuador.

- Sandra and Paulina

26/03/2025

Volunteer Opportunity in Ecuador’s Choco Andino Cloudforest!

Are you passionate about biodiversity conservation and sustainable living? Nuestra Tierra Aldea Creativa, a small NGO near Mindo, Ecuador, is looking for skilled, independent volunteers to join our mission of protecting one of the world’s most biodiverse regions and building a creative village that honors the earth.

What We Offer:
A 3-week minimum commitment (up to 2-3 months) in a remote, off-grid setting.
Rustic housing and basic vegetarian meals (veggies, eggs, staples from town) provided.
Hands-on projects in permaculture, carpentry, renewable energy, and wildlife conservation.
A chance to disconnect, immerse yourself in nature, and contribute to a meaningful cause.

Who We’re Looking For:
Self-motivated individuals with skills in carpentry, permaculture, conservation, or renewable energy.
Comfortable with solitude or small groups, adaptable to limited amenities (solar power, minimal internet, outdoor dry toilets).
Free from active addictions, as our remote location requires a safe, focused environment.

Ready to make an impact in the heart of the cloudforest? Apply today via our website: https://lnkd.in/ec9B2Mj9

25/12/2024

Dear Friends,

The holiday season is upon us—filled with last-minute shopping, shiny bows, and trinkets that may not last beyond January. Did you know that 25% of holiday gifts end up in the trash by February?

What if this year, instead of a gift that fades, you gave one that endures? https://gofund.me/3c0e6567

By supporting Nuestra Tierra Aldea Creativa, you’re not just giving—you’re protecting. Protecting Ecuador’s cloud forest, home to endangered amphibians, hummingbirds, and ancient trees that sustain our planet.

And right now, your impact can be doubled. Two generous donors have pledged to match every dollar you donate—up to $20,000.

That means your $50 becomes $100. Your $100 becomes $200.

No plastic. No waste. Just a gift that lasts for generations: https://gofund.me/3c0e6567

Thank you for your time, attention and support.

Warmly,

Sandra & Paulina

P.S. Want to make it even more special? We’ll send you a personalized digital certificate to gift a loved one, showing they’ve joined you in protecting our precious planet.

20/12/2024

Wow! We just passed the $20k mark, and that's before the matching donations. Our campaign is gaining momentum and bringing us closer to our next conservation milestone. Remember that donations are matched up to $20,000 this holiday season. Please share with your friends and family, whoever loves birds, amphibians, plants, pure air and clean water. We love you, thank you for your support.
https://gofund.me/fda96250