Eco Experience Uruguay build – grow – share

A unique concept of sustainable development,

organic farming and education

We want to give back to the community.

The best way for us to do this is through

teaching sustainable living only using

natural water, solar and wind power.

“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day…

Teach him to fish and feed him for life.”

This is our philosophy and we want to

teach people how to build, grow, cook and

live a sustainable lifestyle.

Combining all our experience in organic farming,

teaching + eco building

Eco-

Experience

Uruguay

Eco - building

Lavender & Olives

Organic Fruit &

Vegetables

Restaurant/Cooking

Retail + Visitor Centre

Teaching & Sharing

Volunteer Program

Why Uruguay?

• Uruguay is politically stable with

continued economic growth and

investment despite the global

economic downturn.

• It has a good climate, an excellent

road system and is close to Buenos

Aires and Brazil.

• These are very important factors for

visitors to the Eco Experience.

The Land: Aguas Blancas

We have been very fortunate to

secure a piece of land in an area

called Aguas Blancas.

It is situated within easy driving

distance of Montevideo and Punta del

Este.

The Land

The stream that runs along side the property

Over looking the property

Grow Organic Fruit and Vegetables

Organic food produce

The main purpose will be to supply

our own restaurant and food needs.

The demand for fresh produce is

very high during the summer holiday

season. We will sell products to

visitors, restaurants and the local

community.

We plan on building a solar

dehydrator to produce products

such as sundried tomatoes and

various dried fruits which we will sell.

Grow Organic Olives

Grow Organic Olives

The olive growing industry is

increasing year by year worldwide and

Uruguay has over nine thousand

hectares under olive trees already. It

is in the Top 10 list of countries

producing extra virgin olive oil.

Profit from organic olive oil is

excellent and currently the demand

exceeds the supply and this will be

our niche market.

Grow Organic Lavender & Other Herbs

Grow Organic Lavender & Other Herbs

Lavender, rosemary, lemon grass,

comfrey, and basil have many uses

and growing them as cash crops will

provide jobs and generate an income.

Lavender and herb products will be

made on site and be sold.

The products will include: Oils, soap,

honey, teas and infusions, creams,

herb sachets and fresh herbs as well

as the plants themselves.

Labyrinth and Meditation

Grow Organic Lavender & Other Herbs

The lavender labyrinth is a beautiful

sight and will encourage people to

visit the farm.

It will provide a relaxing walk or a

meditation.

It will provide the “mother” plants for

propagation of new plants.

Farm Shop and Restaurant

Grow Organic Lavender & Other Herbs

The Restaurant will provide a cash

income as soon as possible as well as

providing meals for visitors on weekends.

It will double up as a teaching kitchen and

a place to feed the staff and volunteers.

The Farm shop will sell the full range of

products produced by the farm and

products supplied by other farms in the

area, for example eggs, cheese, honey,

olives (until own production comes on

line.)

We will start a Farmers’ Market in the

nearby town.

Build Using Recycled Materials

We will build houses, water tanks and a

recreational centre using only recycled

materials.

Our energy will be supplied by solar power

and small wind turbines.

Only eco toilets will be used that require no

water and do not contaminate the local

environment or water system.

The property has a natural water supply. We

will also gather rainwater for watering crops.

So who are we?

Brad and Michelle Raymond

We are a dynamic couple who have been

married for twenty years and are originally

from South Africa where we had experience in

organic farming and the food industry.

Currently we live and work in Buenos Aires,

Argentina and have been here since May

2009. We own the TEFL International Institute

that trains English teachers and we also teach

English to non-native speakers.

With all our combined experience and

knowledge we feel confident that we will make

a huge success of ECO EXPERIENCE.

URUGUAY

Brad Raymond

Some of my work experience includes:

• Working in event catering for businesses, private

parties, weddings and the film industry.

• Worked and lived in Germany, London and Wales as

a chef and event catering manager.

• I owned a small production and retail bakery .

• I had my own restaurant for 10 years.

• When I moved to Buenos Aires, I took a TEFL

course and now teach English and Cooking classes.

• I am currently the Course co-ordinator and

administrator of TEFL International, Buenos Aires

which Michelle and I own and run.”

I have worked in the food industry since 1974 where I trained in a French style

bistro owned and run by Germans. I had excellent training and worked there for

eight years. I studied psychology for three years at university but continued

working in the food business.

Michelle Raymond

My work experience includes:

• Human resource training, developing and presenting

training programmes for personal growth and

development .

• Working in the food industry, restaurants and

production bakery.

• Running my own garden design and landscaping

business.

• Owning and running a retail plant nursery.

• Starting up and running an organic farm with

lavender, herb and chilli peppers

• Lead trainer for TEFL International, Buenos Aires.

• I hold a Bachelor of Social Science with Honours in Social Work (specialising in

Educational Social Work with post- graduate studies and thesis in the area of child/

youth care and development.( South Africa . 1989)

• I studied Horticulture and Landscape Design. (South Africa .1998)

• TESOL/TEFL Certification (Argentina. 2009)

We will raise capital by:

• An Internship Programme.

• English Immersion Programme

• Teacher Training Programme such as TEFL.

• Spanish Immersion Programme.

• Opening a restaurant.

• Producing and selling products.

• Vegetables and Herbs – 3 months from start

• Lavender Products - 18 months from start

• Olive Products – 3 to 5 years from start

• Meditation Workshops and Labyrinth Walks

• Collaborate with the Raw Food Club to open a health

spa & Raw Food healing centre.

Join us and get involved with our project

DONATIONS

• Donations can be made by following the link

on our blog http://ecoexperienceuruguay.wordpress.com

PLANT A TREE

• We want to plant 350 olive trees and develop a small organic table olive

and olive oil business. You can buy a tree for US$100. We plant it and

nurture it. The tree will have your name on it and we will send you

updates on it’s progress.

OWN A PIECE OF THE LAVENDER LABYRINTH

• We need 500 lavender augostofolia plants to create a lavender

labyrinth. You can help us by buying one or more plants.

A donation of US$10 buys you a plant and your name on our donor list.

Investor Options

SMALL INVESTMENT of US$5000.

• The return will be 20%+ depending on the profits we will make once the

olive (3-5 years) and lavender (2 years) projects start producing profits.

• The capital will be repaid after 4 years plus a return of a minimum of

20%.

STRAIGHT LOAN

• You lend us a fixed amount and we pay you 10% per annum for 5 years,

and then repay the full loan amount.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

you can contact Brad or Michelle for more information on: ecoexperience.uruguay@gmail.com