Starting with 60 creoles sheep, which they bought from farmers in Guanacaste, they later, acquired five Suffolk to cross-breed with the creoles. At the same time, they improved their pastures and built a good barn and adjacent physical facilities. As the quality of their mutton improved, the number of their clients increased. Through innovative marketing they became the chief suppliers of mutton to the top quality supermarkets and a long list of waiting customers. The business kept growing and by 2003, they had introduced two new breeds of sheep that adapted better to the climate and their herd had grown to 800. Eventually, somewhat tired of the business, in 2004 they decided to sell the property to investors interested in raising polo horses. The buyers gave them the chance to gradually sell-off the sheep before taking over.
Cheese Making
Luis Brenes, originally from the town of Turrialba on the eastern end of the Central Valley, emigrated to the States when he was 22. Lived alternately in Texas, California, and Nevada during 45 years, and at 67 retired from his successful construction business to settle back as a retiree in Costa Rica. He bought a 115 acre farm off the Interamerican Highway near the small town of Bagaces in Guanacaste. This is one of the oldest towns in the country and has a rich history. Brenes keeps some horses, raises a few Jersey cows and keeps busy making small quantities of a fine Bagaces cheese for sale in San José.
To keep his pastures green during the dry season, he irrigates with water coming from the small stream that runs through his property. He plans to buy more milk cows and gradually expand his cheese-making activity. In one of its sectors the stream forms a natural pool which is fine for swimming. In addition, Brenes built a large house with a wide corridor on all four of its sides that keeps it cool year round. It has several bedrooms, each with private bath, which he rents out by the week to persons wanting to get a taste of country living. The house accommodates 11 persons very comfortably.
It's exciting to see and hear the five to eight howler monkeys, called Congos in Costa Rica, pass along on the trees 100 feet behind the house at dawn and in the late afternoon. Wild parrots on the nearby trees do their regular squawking. Brenes' farm is only 26 kilometres from Liberia, 40 minutes away from the finest Pacific beaches of north-western Guanacaste, close to several national parks, and 25 minutes to the excellent thermal spring pools near the Miravalles Volcano. He's definitely living a nice relaxed life in his retirement.
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