There are more than a couple of ways to judge a book….by its cover, by a quick skim of the content…some people only read the first and last chapters then review the table of contents.  You can actually sit down and read a book as it was intentionally deigned to be read….and then there are those rare literary works that deserve to be studied…to fully understand the compelling reason and appreciate the context behind the author’s story.

As Estancia Natura becomes more widely known by a growing number of people who do not actually know the founders (the Wallace family), it would be easy to judge the project simply by what is posted online, on Instagram or Facebook, or maybe what is on our websites, or perhaps based on the commentary of a friend.

In our social media climate today, image is more often than not everything.  We are judged by how polished we are, by how well-crafted our message is and by how innovative, cutting edge and savvy our presentations are.  What makes us human, special, and unique often gets completely lost in all the noise.   

Estancia Natura is not just another residential project, vacation destination, investment opportunity…call it what you want.  In fact, this property is a magical nexus between a thriving natural environment and a special community of like-minded humans committed to justice, equity, and love.  The 335 acres that is now Spirit Mountain is a spectacular ecological reserve that has been carefully and intentionally nurtured for more than two decades by the Wallace family and their team of stewards…who are family, maybe not by blood, but by choice.  Our staff are way more than employees…they are the daily defenders of the dream and vision.

Even though we moved to the DR in 1995 as young adults, we chose to stay, start our family and raise our girls on this beautiful island with a remarkable history and amazing people.  The challenge we have as stewards of nature is how do we set in place a sustainable model for development, that honors creation, protects the pristine and rare beauty of a place like Spirit Mountain, guarantees that it can be preserved for generations to come, without the danger of losing the ability to maintain the vision.  

Anyone who has tried farming knows the challenges.  There are few vocations as difficult as agriculture…and few more satisfying.  Teaching may be the only one that can compare.  We have quite a few educators in our family!  As founders of the Doulos Discovery School, we know the challenges of both.  As we prepare for the next generations, of our family and the community that enjoys Spirit Mountain, we are committed to sustainability.  There are catch phrases these days used in marketing schemes and sales pitches: “How can we live more green?  How do we need to focus on sustainable development? What is life with a smaller footprint? How can we live more in tune with nature?”

The real challenge is how do we really do this?  Social media is full of quick solutions, images of people living ‘small’, supposedly doing more with less, and so on.  For those of us that actually are trying to create a real and practical path for real people to truly do this, it’s not so simple, straightforward or easy.  Tiny houses are a great idea, and the concept has been around since the beginning of time.  As an architect, helping clients navigate the design process can be really rewarding, but at the same time, really tough, especially when working through the wants / needs list.  So may of us say we want a small house…we want a smaller footprint, but it really is hard to say no to all the things…all the good ideas we see on social media….  Saying yes to less means saying no to so much more. 

When we boil life down to the things that are most important, it is first about the people we love, spending quality time with them…having the time to do that…which means probably working a little less and thus probably having maybe a little less money and stuff…and responsibility.  Having the extra bandwidth to linger with one another, not rush, having time to serve one another, having time to read a book, listen to the birds, watch the sunrise, or sunset for those who don’t like to wake up early….  Luckily the sunsets at Spirit Mountain are insane.  Less is more…it really is! 

How many of us are carrying around way more than is comfortable?   Or even practical…or even possible?  I know for a fact, that my days are often packed with way more than what is reasonable or even heathy.  Anyone who knows me, knows I have an incredible capacity for carrying loads….both physically and emotionally.  But that doesn’t mean it is good.  Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.  I am creating a space on our farm that I know I need.  A place that heals the wounds of too much and too fast.  We humans need one another.  We need time to walk, and talk, and most importantly, listen.  If you haven’t had the chance to listen to the birdsong at Spirit Mountain, you are missing out.

The goal of establishing our small community, Estancia Natura at Spirit Mountain, is mostly about sharing this spectacular vision, that still, in so many ways, only exists in my mind with the world…one person at a time.  We’ve been at it for 22 years, and I hope we can say that we will be still at it in another 22 years, albeit with a much larger family, which includes many of you!

So, if you are trying to compare what we are doing with something else you’ve seen or experienced, good luck.  I’ve yet to see or experience any place like Estancia Natura at Spirit Mountain.  We are far from perfect, so we appreciate your grace.  We are a work in progress, always learning, always growing, always trying to be the better version of ourselves.  I invite you to imagine a life without so much…a life that is a little more equitable with the world around us.  Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.  We all need to be a little more aware of those around us that have needs…and how we can help to meet those needs.  Pay attention to the little beautiful moments each day.  Embrace quiet…lean into relationships, even when its uncomfortable.  We follow Jesus and his teachings.  We don’t expect those around us to agree with our faith beliefs.   For us, Jesus lived a remarkable life.  He was the example of how we can love our neighbors and he told really amazing stories…  We hope, that at Spirit Mountain, you will somehow experience something that resonates with the faith we have in Jesus and the life he lived.