Some people dream of white picket fences and HOA meetings.
We dream of mountain mist, papagayos, tree frogs, and Grant making a surprisingly terrible pun before handing you the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had.

That’s just the kind of place Estancia Natura is becoming—a quirky, intentional, deeply rooted community in the heart of the Dominican Republic, high in the mountains, where the coffee is strong, the people are real, and life matters.

Our Spirit Mountain story started in 2003. But the truth is, our Dominican story has been 30 years in the making—shaped by bold decisions, unlikely friendships, environmental restoration, and, let’s be honest, more than a few moments of, “Are we crazy?”
(Spoiler: Yes. But it’s the good kind.)

Who Do You Want to Do Life With?

For our family—Krista and me, our daughters Keren and Kate, their husbands Grant and Doug, and our bonus daughter Luz Celena—that’s not a rhetorical question. It’s a guiding one, and we think about this often. We’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that who you do life with is just as important as where you do it. It shapes everything. So, as Estancia Natura begins to bloom within the 335 acres of the Spirit Mountain ecosystem, we’re asking that same question of those of you who are reaching out to us, with interest in what were up to:

Who do YOU want to do life with?

This community isn’t about amenities. (Although, yeah—we have waterfalls, trails, mountaintop views, world-class shade-grown coffee, and a lot of goats with attitude….AKA Chivo Picante!) This is about shared values. So before you book a flight, ship a container, or decide to sell everything and buy a machete, here are a few things to chew on:

Commitment to Loving and Respecting Others

This isn’t just about neighborly small talk. We’re talking real connection, radical hospitality, and celebrating differences while holding each other accountable to love well. No cliques. No fake smiles. Just real people trying to live out something beautiful together.

Commitment to Caring for the Environment

We don’t just talk green, we live green. Spirit Mountain has been reforested with over 100,000 trees since 2003, and we’re still planting. If you love clean water, shade-grown coffee, birdsong, and taking only what you need, we’ll get along just fine.

Environmentally Sustainable Living

Solar power, Spring water, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and low-impact design aren’t trends here—they’re our baseline. And yes, in our version of ‘Off-Grid’ living, you can still take a hot shower and check your email. Balance, people.

Adventure and Many Opportunities for Physical Activities

Mountain biking, trail running, backcountry hiking, wild swimming, waterfall yoga (OK, we made that one up… for now). If you’re looking for a passive retirement village, this ain’t it.

Long-Term Financial Security and Safety

We’re committed to making this a smart investment—for the soul and the spreadsheet. Clean title. Transparent governance. Stable vision. And a community that looks out for each other.

And Let’s Not Forget… Amazing Coffee and morning levity from Carlos Sanchez

Carlos and his wife, Paola, are our friends and are both eco-minded.  Carlos is a part-time philosopher and full-time stand-up comic. If laughter truly is the best medicine, we’re all going to live a long time.

Estancia Natura isn’t for everyone….but maybe it’s for you.

If this vision stirs something in you, if you’re hungry for connection, challenge, peace, and purpose—maybe it’s time we talk. No sales pitch. Just a conversation.

Reach out. Ask questions. Tell us your story. Come visit. And maybe—just maybe—plant roots.

Because when creation, community, and caffeine collide…
Something beautiful happens.