Our story
Our story began in December 2012, when the world was captivated by the idea of the Mayan calendar coming to an end. For our founders, it sparked a curiosity to look beyond the headlines and learn more about the Mayan people, their traditions and their relationship with the land.
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They travelled across Mexico, Belize and El Salvador, researching Mayan culture and traditional farming techniques. In 2014, they brought what they had learned home and opened EcoFarms, starting as a small Mayan-inspired farm.
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Over the years, EcoFarms has grown into much more becoming a café, eco-store and community space, while continuing to find new ways to share Mayan knowledge and promote sustainable living.
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Today, the journey continues. EcoFarms is growing into a place where tradition, sustainability and community come together, while creating opportunities for local Mayan producers to share their knowledge, products and skills with others.
Our Mayan inspiration
Mayan knowledge is at the heart of EcoFarms, particularly the deep connection between the Mayan calendar, nature and farming. For generations, Mayan farmers have used their understanding of the calendar and natural cycles to guide agricultural activities, including when to plant, care for and harvest their crops.
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The calendar reflects a close observation of the natural world: the changing seasons, the cycles of the moon and the rhythms of the land. Farming was not simply about producing food, but about understanding and working in harmony with the environment.
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This knowledge inspired our founders to learn more about traditional Mayan farming and the techniques that have been passed down through generations. At EcoFarms, we want to help keep this knowledge alive by sharing it with visitors and our community through our farm, tours and workshops.
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We believe there is still much we can learn from the way the Mayan people have worked with nature for generations
Our philosophy
At EcoFarms, we believe that something being thrown away doesn’t mean it has no value. We are constantly looking for ways to reuse, recycle and give new life to the things around us.
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From turning empty plastic bottles into plant pots, redesigning old tyres for our playground to finding new uses for materials that would normally end up as waste, we try to make the most of what we already have. Our aim is to create as little waste as possible while showing that being ecological doesn’t have to be complicated.
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We also share these ideas with our local community, teaching people how they can turn recycled and natural materials into useful products and create opportunities to earn an income from them.
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For us, sustainability is not just something we talk about, it is part of the way we live and work every day
Our community
EcoFarms is more than a farm — it is a place built around people. From our local workers and farmers to Mayan producers, volunteers, partners, donors and visitors, everyone who becomes part of EcoFarms contributes something to our growing community.
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We work with local people and farmers, creating opportunities to learn, work and share their knowledge and products. We also welcome volunteers and partners who bring new ideas, skills and energy to the farm.
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Children are an especially important part of our community. Through the children who come to stay and the activities we provide, we hope to create a safe and welcoming place where they can learn, explore and experience something different.
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And of course, our community includes everyone who visits EcoFarms. Whether you come for a meal, a workshop, a farm tour or simply to spend some time here, you become part of our story too.