Simplicity is best when it comes to recycle depots

The new recycle depot will be simple and easy to maintain. The local businesses will take a responsible role in making sure that their recycled products get to the depot, a simple task as many remove or compost their garbage already. What the depot will do, is separate and sell the recycled items to help the maintenance costs of the depot and ensure that the recycled items get delivered to companies outside of Tulum who can reuse plastic, cans, glass and more! Tulum’s limitations to recycling were contacts with companies who would take the recycled garbage and a committee to run the depot efficiently. This has been found and local businesses are overjoyed!

Photos of the proposed recycle depot

Thanks to the resident committee of Tulum, a volunteer committee that has donated their time and expertise to this project. It is citizens like these that make Tulum what it is, a community focussed town that cares about its people and its ecology.Follow the development of the new Recycling depot on Facebook!

Guests think they rocked it! We think we rocked it! After learning, eating and drinking their way through three days of classes with Eric, The group settled down to a final dinner at Hartwood that they prepped that day. To compliment the creations of the Oh! Food Workshop team, Ricardo provided a wine pairing and Mexican wine tasting seminar during the feast.

It really was sustainability you can eat!

The next OH! Food Workshop will be held May 24th to 29th, 2013 and can be booked as we write! Demand is high and prices are good, and Eric has hand picked another Tulum chef from Celti Restaurant to share in the culinary experience that guests will have. Chef Claudia will be hosting one evening of the OH! Food Workshop where she will share her family recipes for moles and Mexican desserts, Chef Claudia’s specialty and we have to say…the best!

Photos of the OH! Food Workshop 2012!

Pictures and images speak louder than words! Check out what the OH! Food Workshop had in store for the first guest of this event!

Reserve your space now for the Summer 2013 Workshop!

If you are looking for a sustainable vacation that teaches you more about sustainable lifestyles, this is the vacation that would serve a double purpose.

Photo credit – Diedre and Jorge

Participants in the OH! Food workshop got more than just a great dinner, great cocktails and a great kitchen when they spent the week with James Greenfield, the Director of Sustainable Possibilities and Eric Werner, Chef and creator of Hartwood Restaurant in Tulum. Participants had a view, relaxation, an insiders look at how cook with local foods using sustainable cooking techniques, while cruising around one of the greatest beach cities in the world, Tulum, Mexico. This was 5 days full of sustainable ideas, chilling, flavors and fire as the first group cruised through a wonderful time with two guys who believe deeply in sustainability, so much so that their businesses get deeper and deeper into sustainable practices that nurture not only the earth but hearts as well.

OH! Food workshop in Tulum, Mexico prepared people for the holidays

If you are looking for sustainable holiday recipes or just a new way of looking at how to cook, the OH! Foodworkshop fits the bill. Participants hung at Casa de las Olas for a taste of sustainable living and touring, while they spent time in the Hartwood Restaurant kitchen learning Eric’s secrets to sustainable cooking. Osbaldo, the sous chef joined in on the fun, while the Hartwood bartender served up local potions in his mixology lab to keep people hydrated. Hartwood is the home of the pineapple Habanero margarita so you can imagine the sweet/spicy mixes that keep people on their cooking toes.

Oh! Food Workshop 2013 dates released and ready for booking!

Save the date for the next OH! Food workshop in Tulum put on by Casa de las Olas and Hartwood Restaurant, two sustainable businesses in Mexico that want to share what they do and the joy of living a sustainable life!

Check out the line up for the OH! Food Workshop running May 25th to May 29th 2013 in Tulum, Mexico. Join the Director of Sustainable Possibilities for an overview of sustainable living, James Greenfield and the man all about sustainable cooking, Eric Werner and his staff at Hartwood Restaurant for 5 days of sustainability you can eat in Tulum, Mexico.

Not sure you know Tulum? Check out our Tulum guide that will have you vacationing like a local in this unique historical village just south of Cancun, Mexico.

Time and Space, 2012 Countdown photo credit

December 21,2012 is fast approaching. For those who are not quite sure about the significance of this date in 2012, it is the final day of one of the Mayan long calendar that some people feel represents the end of the world….no continued calendar from the ancient astronomers , the world will end. That is it.

With more and more interviews held with Mayan leaders and elders, the thought is shifted from the end of the world to a significant change in the world as we know it. The world will not end, there will just be a shift, but that shift, what it looks like and what it really means, is not known. The people who thought that the world was going to end have not decided to focus on the theory of Planet X, a theory that we know nothing about nor can we even add to that conversation!

December 21, 2012 activities and events in Tulum

If you are curious or amazed by the end of the world theory and wish to check out what is happening around Tulum and the Mayan ruins in the area and in the Yucatan, be all means, join the rest of the world at Chitzen Itza, Coba, Ek Balam, and of course the Tulum ruins. Each location will be celebrating in their own way, not the end of the world, but winter solstice, a celebrated day each year by the community to bring in the winter season. This ritual will continue, and many onlookers are curious if something magical may happen on this date at the sacred ruins that are located throughout the states of Quintana Roo (where Tulum is) and the state of the Yucatan. We will report back and let you know what happens on this celebrated day and report if anything magical comes alive!

December 20 to 22nd inclusive, a group of artists and singers will be hosting a three day festival to the south of theTulum ruins, on the beach. The festival is called Time and Space, the 2012 Countdown Festival. It falls on the heels of an identical festival held in Mexico City on the 15th and 16th of December,2012. Two artists will be live painting during the festival and over 100 singers and bands will be playing.

Dreams Tulum resort will be featuring a 4 day festival called Mayan Holindaze and guest passes for the event can be purchased online. This is a music, activity, yoga event that will have visitors hopping for the time they are in the area.

The Mayan ruins within the Yucatan have all arranged for special shaman events at Chitzen Itza, Ek Balam, Palenque and more. What we do not know are the events or activities that may be held in Coba, just 45 minutes from Tulum.

Have plans for December 21, 2012. Care to share on our Facebook page, we would love to know.

Christina Holms Photography 2012

Do we really need a reason to visit to Tulum? With its pristine beaches, privacy and wanderlust, do we really need a reason? No, but there are many reasons why Tulum should be a top choice for your vacation in 2012 and 2013. For those looking for a reason, here are seven reasons why you should visit Tulum. Put it on your bucket list so you it becomes a priority. For those who are not looking for a reason but need a little push to determine their Tulum vacation dates, here are 7 sure-fire ways to get that planning underway now!

7 reasons to visit Tulum, Mexico and the surrounding Mayan Riviera

Christina Holmes Photography 2012

1. Great weather – While other countries have been experiencing some of the worst weather of their lives, Tulum and the Mayan Riviera has been experiencing some of the best weather we have had in years! Humidity is lower, the sun is shining, the evenings are cooler and the days are great for the beach, for outdoor activities and just plan old fun. get out of the early winter and come for some natural sunshine and outdoor play!

2. Cultural experiences – Mayan tours, mayan rituals, in-depth learning in natural medicinal practices and spa treatments, Spanish language, folk art, the list goes on and on. With the boost to the Mayan culture centered around the end of the Mayan calendar December 21, 2012, there are more educational tours and insights into this indigenous community. Check out a new local tour by Ojos Mayas (mayan eyes) that takes you into the heart of a Mayan community and shares the ancient traditions of the Mayas.This is a cooperative so you are giving back to the families directly, not a large tour company! Yah!

3. Foodies Unite! There is no where on the planet that you can find diversity of this kind in a small little village. Local, national and international chefs are using the local ingredients and ancient practices to inspire their menus and locations. Every single restaurant, food cart, hole in the wall is different. Each chef and cook puts their personal inspiration into their recipes and meals. It is sometimes referred to as a mini-new York, with out the New York prices and in most cases better! There is a reason why all the big name food magazines are checking out Tulum, the food is great!

4. Sustainable tourism – in the heart of the jungle, on the shores of the ocean and in the depths of fresh water lagoons. Tulum borders a diverse eco system that is perfect for outdoor adventures with the assistance of local guides. Hotels and accommodations need to focus on renewal energy. Recycling, composting and indigenous plants are a way of life. People who live here, care, and practice sustainable development to keep it that way.

5. Super nice international community – no matter what language you speak, there will be someone who speaks your language. Some local businesses have staff and owners who know multiple languages, some prefer international sign language that is understood by all. No matter what you do, where you go, or who you meet, People are helpful, nice, gracious and just want you to have a great time. It is international in Tulum with a respect for the indigenous cultures that live in the area harmoniously with others.

6. Beach, beach, beach – This is the first reason why so many visitors live Tulum, the beautiful white sandy beaches that line the coast of this beach town. The Caribbean is on their door step, the sand is the finest they have ever seen, but visitor also discover that there is more to the beach in Tulum. This is the hidden secret that visitors find out, this is the deep secret of Tulum. The beach is one of the best but the other surprises, treasures, gifts you receive is much more than the beach. But a visit is the only way to find that one out!

7. Local, local, local – Tulum is all about being and acting local, no matter where you are. The delight of this small city is the amount of small businesses that make it tick. Local businesses support one another, the philosophy of helping and supporting ones neighbour while highlighting the benefits that the town of Tulum and its residents provide is rampant. If you want to feel a part of a community this is the place to be!

Want to learn about Tulum and what it offers for a vacation, as a travel destination or as a longer term hang out? Download our free Tulum Travel guide and get the best kept secrets that make your Tulum vacation planning easy.

Thanks to Hartwood for working with Marie and Antonio on the food. It was a BBQ, a salad bar, a roasted veggie haven and lots of create cocktails to go around.

See what you are missing! Fun times, sharing, a great meal from some great chefs, and  a pretty competative beach football game that ended in a tie….wink wink…

To top it off, there was a full rainbow at 5 pm that landed at Olas, right on your beach front door step. If the food was not a show stopper, the rainbow was!

Check out the photos below and we will let people know when the next OH! BBQ will be happening at least a day or two in advance. Call it a ‘Random Act of Kindness’ when at any moment we feel the urge to honor all of the people who share in the Casa de las Olas experience.

And thanks to Michelle Cook for some of these fabulous photos!

Local designer, writer, dentist and geek!

Lots of guests and friends at the OH! BBQ and still we have some quiet and peaceful places at Casa de las Olas

Copyright Michelle Cook @ www.michellecookdesign.com

Copyright Michelle Cook @ www.michellecookdesign.com
A perfect end to a perfect day! at the OH! BBQ

Copyright Michelle Cook @ www.michellecookdesign.com
The dentist did this and what a great shot!

Well, if you were looking for the perfect vacation where you learn, eat, rest, laugh and get some sun before the Holidays, you have come to the right place! Hartwood Restaurant and Casa de las Olas have put together a food workshop for November 30 to December 5, 2012 focusing on sustainable cooking techniques with added sustainable living practices live in your accommodations on the beach in Tulum.

Sustainability you can EAT!

Cooking using a sustainable philosophy is more than just having solar power in your kitchen. Chef Eric has sustainable cooking down to a fine art with his farm to chef cuisine that feeds over 100 guests at Hartwood Restaurant in Tulum nightly. Hartwood pulls all four pillars of sustainability; environmental, human, economic and cultural, into their cooking and business. The restaurant is powered 100% by solar, all meals are made without the use of electrical appliances, cocktails are hand shaken and the line up for this unique cooking philosophy just gets longer and longer.

Sustainable Development as a choice

Lots of people talk about sustainability but how many really live sustainably. Who better to teach you about the secrets to sustainability than us, people who live the theory each and every day. Casa de las Olas is waiting for their Platinum level LEEDS certification that recognizes and celebrates the use of solar power, a passive cooling system, gray water use for indigenous plants, composting, and ongoing support of local tours, local guides and everything that makes Tulum, Tulum. Successfully, Casa de las Olas has been able to preserve the delicate eco-system that the beachfront property is privy to. Guests respect the simple luxury of the villa and the efforts staff put into the property to retain the Tulum beach as it has been for hundreds of years.

Learn from the people who live sustainably every day

photo coutesty of John Baumgartner

James is the Director of Possibilities and he has crafted a sustainable property that makes most of us want to implement his sustainable living options and development ideas. He makes it look easy, and it is when you plan in advance and know your options. Chef Eric makes it look even easier when the magical meal of the day lands in front of you at Hartwood Restaurant. His planning and contacts makes his business a fun and manageable lifestyle that anyone can execute for 2 instead of 100 plus guests each day.

OH! Food Workshop details

Be our guest and join in the fun at this new sustainable living food Workshop in Tulum where each guest will have 5 nights of beachfront accommodations, 3 days of cooking classes, welcome reception, final dinner on the shores of the Caribbean that pairs Chef Eric’s food creations with Mexican wines, the jungle, cenotes and more. Download the OH! Food Workshop brochure and make your assessment for this Winter 2012 workshop. Spaces are limited so act fast so you don’t miss out.

Have questions, let us know at info@casadelasolas.com. This will prove to be the event of the year in 2012 in Tulum, Mexico.