Welcome to the Dragon's Garden Tour!
This tour of our property will take about 30 minutes and will contain 11 different stops. Each stop will share information about our project; what we grow, how we grow it, how we live sustainably and more! Keep an eye out for the numbered markers around the property. Each one corresponds to the numbers listed below. You can use the map below to see where all of the markers are around the property. Going in order from 1 to 11 will take you in a nice loop.
Hope you enjoy!
Our story began in 2020, when we decided to develop a resilience project in our country. However, during the first lock down, we seized the opportunity to leave our city life and settle in Nicaragua. We founded Dragon’s Garden and set to work building the project.
At Dragon's Garden we have a permaculture garden, ecological accommodation, and a farm to table restaurant surrounded by lush vegetation, diverse wildlife, and magnificent views of the two volcanoes of Ometepe. We attach paramount importance to the preservation of the environment and we act to minimize our ecological footprint. Our facilities are as much as possible built with sustainable and local materials such as bamboo, bricks, and palm fronds. We plan to use renewable energy sources and we have adopted environmentally friendly practices in our operations.
Why the name Dragon’s Garden you may ask? First we grow nearly 600 Dragon’s fruit plants in our garden. It is the main crop we grow here. Second, Dragons are often seen as powerful guardians and protectors. Also, in Asia, the traditional dragon’s garden is a dazzling example of landscape art and harmony between man and nature. Inspired by mythology and ancient beliefs, this type of garden is designed to represent an ideal landscape, emphasizing balance, harmony, and beauty. These traditional dragon’s gardens are places for meditation, contemplation, and tranquility. They offer a peaceful refuge where one can reconnect with nature and find inner harmony.
At Dragon's Garden, we want to evoke a garden where visitors can stroll in a paradise where tranquility and beauty reign supreme - a place where dreams and projects can blossom and thrive, where people can feel protected and welcomed, where they can immerse themselves in a world of grace and poetry, and where nature and man coexist in perfect harmony.
Dragon's garden embraces the values and principles of permaculture, a holistic and sustainable approach to designing systems in harmony with nature. The twelve main permaculture principles are shown in the image below. By integrating these permaculture concepts into our facility, we seek to create a diverse and resilient ecosystem. Step by step we practice the principles of careful observation, resource conservation, cooperation with nature and regeneration, from food production to renewable energy systems. Through permaculture we want to create an environment where humans and nature coexist in harmony, allowing our visitors to live an authentic and lasting experience in total immersion with nature.
We design our garden to mimic natural ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and maximizing resource efficiency. That is why a permaculture garden is divided in 5 zones. By incorporating organic gardening techniques, we cultivate a diverse array of edible and medicinal plants. We utilize companion planting to enhance the nutrient cycling and pest control. It also eliminates the need for synthetic chemicals. Water management techniques, such as rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation, mulching, minimize waste and ensure optimal hydration for our plants. We prioritize soil health through composting and mulching, promoting a rich and thriving ecosystem. Through these practices, we create a regenerative and sustainable garden that not only provides nourishment but also serves as a sanctuary for both flora and fauna.
At Dragon’s Garden we divert organic materials, such as food scraps, yard trimmings, animal droppings, dry toilet materials and plant matter, from landfills, reducing methane emissions and promoting a circular economy. Through the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, heat is generated, accelerating the decomposition process. Within 3 weeks we can get compost ready to serve as a valuable soil conditioner, enriching soil structure and fertility while improving water retention and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. It promotes beneficial microbial activity, enhances plant growth, and mitigates soil erosion. Composting is a simple yet powerful way to close the nutrient cycle and cultivate healthy, resilient ecosystems. Composting is a natural and sustainable process that transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendment.
Step into our permaculture garden and immerse yourself in a flourishing paradise where sustainability and abundance thrive. With 580 dragon fruit trees, 50 papayas trees, 60 banana trees, 60 orange trees, and 15 mango trees, our diverse orchard offers a cornucopia of flavors and vibrant colors.
At Dragon’s Garden we grow tumeric, ginger and chaya among others. We also have a yucca plantation, a staple crop known for its versatility and resilience. These hardy plants not only provide nourishing tubers but also serve as natural windbreaks, promoting a harmonious microclimate within the garden.
At Dragon’s Garden we use sustainable practices and natural building techniques when constructing our structures. Natural building, often referred to as sustainable or green building, involves using locally-sourced materials from the surrounding environment to create eco-friendly structures. This practice embraces a harmonious relationship with nature, reducing carbon footprints and promoting resource conservation. Materials like bamboo, clay, palm tree leaves, sand, stone, and even recycled materials are employed to build walls, roofs, and foundations. Utilizing these resources enhances energy efficiency and decreases waste generation during construction. Natural buildings can offer excellent insulation, regulating indoor temperatures effectively and reducing energy consumption. At Dragon’s Garden, by blending modern knowledge with ancient techniques, we provide not only environmentally responsible structures but also spaces that connect guests with their natural surroundings, fostering a sense of well-being.
Locally sourced materials bring numerous benefits to construction practices. Firstly, using materials found nearby reduces transportation-related emissions, minimizing the environmental impact of the project. Additionally, it supports the local economy, creating jobs and promoting community development. Working with local materials also fosters a deeper understanding of regional building traditions and cultural heritage, preserving valuable knowledge for future generations. These materials often possess better adaptability to the local climate and environment, resulting in more resilient and durable structures. The bamboo, palm tree leaves, rocks and bricks used at Dragon’s Garden are from the Island of Ometepe. Much of it comes from less than 1 km from our land.
By embracing locally sourced materials we promote environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
At Dragon’s Garden, Dragon Fruit is the primary crop we grow, with more than 500 plants growing on our property. "Dragon's Fruit" or Pitaya is a unique and exotic fruit that captures the imagination with its vibrant appearance and enticing flavor. Native to Central and South America, the dragon’s fruit we grow here have a pink skin, adorned with scales reminiscent of a dragon's hide, adds to its intrigue. Dragon's Fruit is not only visually appealing, but it also offers a refreshing taste, often described as a combination of kiwi and pear with subtle tropical notes. Packed with antioxidants, fiber, and essential nutrients, Dragon's Fruit is a delicious treat and a healthy choice you can enjoy in our restaurant.
Our team takes care of the dragon fruit cactuses throughout the year – but they get some help from local wildlife. Bats and moths pollinate the dragon fruit flowers during the night, allowing them to bloom into delicious fruits. We rely on the local ecosystem to keep our plants healthy and blooming, so we make sure that our land supports the communities of native flora and fauna that aid us in cultivating our harvests. We support biodiversity on our property by maintaining some wild areas on our land where the plants and animals can thrive without disruption, and by avoiding pesticides or other chemicals that reduce the insect populations that feed local wildlife.
Dragon fruit, is not only visually stunning but also boasts numerous health benefits. This exotic fruit is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber, making it a nutritious addition to any diet. Its vibrant colors, ranging from vivid pink to deep red, add a delightful pop to smoothie bowls, salads, and desserts. The subtly sweet and refreshing flavor of dragon fruit appeals to taste buds, making it a favorite among fruit enthusiasts. Whether you’re seeking a tropical treat or aiming to boost your well-being, indulging in the succulent goodness of dragon fruit is a delightful choice for both your palate and your health.
7a. In Ometepe, water is a precious resource that can be in short supply at certain times of the year. This is why water management takes center stage at Dragon’s Garden, where the emphasis is on sustainability and efficiency. Permaculture principles dictate judicious use of water to maximize production and minimize waste. Our drinking water comes from volcano Maderas, which has a lake at its summit. The rest of our water we collect from runoff from the roof of the main building and store it in auxiliary tanks. We also pump water water from our pond and well. From these tanks we run irrigation lines to water crops and save water. We also plan to create swales (a kind of canal) to slow down runoff and recharge the water tables.
At Dragon’s garden, we use a solar pump to fill water reserves. This technology uses solar energy captured by photovoltaic panels to power a pump which will draw water from the well and store it in tanks for later use (shower or watering). This helps ensure a reliable water supply during the dry season or during city water cuts. It is a sustainable and ecological solution that minimizes the carbon footprint by using renewable energy, and promotes independence from traditional energy sources.
7b. Managing gray water, from domestic activities such as showering and washing, is essential to reduce water pollution. Phytopurification is a sustainable method that uses plants to purify this water. In this context, the banana trees leaving the filter tank play a key role. Their roots effectively absorb nutrients and contaminants from gray water. Phytopurification systems based on banana trees are therefore used to filter and depollute this water, making it suitable for returning to nature without harm. This ecological approach contributes to water conservation and the preservation of the environment while promoting the growth of banana trees. We use also papyrus, vetyver and water irises.
Permaculture is a holistic approach to agricultural and ecological design which is based on the creation of different zones to optimize the management of resources and activities. Here is a description of the main permaculture areas:
• Zone 0: This is the center of life, generally the house. For us it is the main building and the cabins.
• Zone 1: This is a high intensity zone, located near zone 0. This zone includes the most frequently used areas, such as our vegetable gardens, recycling devices, aromatic plant spirals and plants medicinal. We go there several times a day.
• Zone 2: This zone is intended for less intensive crops and fruit trees. It is a little further from the house. We need to go there one or more times a week. Dragon Fruit (Pitayas) or rice fall in this category.
• Zone 3: There are larger-scale food crops, larger trees, and pastures for larger animals, cows or horses. We only go there a few times a month or less.
• Zone 4: This is a semi-wild area, with woods, forest trees and minimal management. We installed the bee hives there.
• Zone 5: This is the wild zone, left completely to nature, where human intervention is limited. It serves as a refuge for local flora and fauna.
The design of these areas allows for judicious use of space, based on accessibility and intensity of use, while promoting sustainability and ecological resilience in a permaculture system.
A Dragon’s Garden; we have a fairly extensive zone 5 which covers the marshy part of the property. It is a refuge for wildlife: birds, monkeys, turtles...to allow wild life to develop and move around, we are planting large trees to form a corridor from zone 5 to the road which borders the land.
We want to expand the biodiversity on our land. We can do this by planting big trees to have more monkeys and biodiversity come to the land.
Biological control is an ecological method of managing crop pests, which relies on the use of living organisms to control pest populations. At Dragon’s garden we are trying to develop the use of Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma which are commonly used biological control agents.
Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus that infects insect pests such as aphids, whiteflies and caterpillars. Trichoderma spp. is a genus of beneficial fungi that has the ability to prevent and combat pathogenic fungal infections by degrading cell walls of pathogenic fungi, thereby limiting their growth and ability to infect plants.
These biological control agents offer a sustainable and effective alternative for agriculture that is more respectful of the ecosystem. thus protecting the environment, human health and biodiversity.
Stroll along the "pick and eat" paths, where you can pluck in season fruits directly from the trees such as bananas, mulberries or surinan cherries. At our restaurant, indulge in the succulent sweetness of dragon fruits, the tropical delight of papayas, and the refreshing tang of oranges. The fragrance of mangoes fills the air, enticing you to savor their luscious flavor.
Intercropping, or companionship, is an agricultural practice that involves growing different plants together to take advantage of their beneficial interactions. At dragon's garden we associate hibiscus, orange trees, banana trees and coffee. There are many other interesting combinations. Hibiscus can be planted alongside orange trees to provide protection against common pests like ants, while citrus can provide light filtered shade beneficial to hibiscus and coffee. Banana trees provide protection from strong winds, retain moisture for orange tree roots, and provide additional nutrients to the soil. So, by combining these plants strategically, one can create a garden where each plant supports each other and promotes optimal health and productivity.
Thank you for taking our tour!
We hope you enjoyed the walk and learned some things about life here at Dragon’s Garden. If you want to learn more, we also offer a beekeeping tour where you can get hands on and learn a ton about bees and honeymaking. Let your host know if you are interested.
