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Posts by Frank J

The 30,000-Gallon Secret: Why We Built a Lake Under the Guest Rooms

In the lush highlands of Potrerillos, the “dry season” is a deceptive term. It is not a desert. The famous bajareque mist still rolls in, and you will see the occasional shower in January or February. To the casual tourist, the landscape looks green and alive. But for a household of eight people off-grid, this…

Stop Fixing the Old World. Build a New One.

Frank J
January 1, 2026
Foundations

Every year around this time, the world starts talking about “Resolutions.” We promise to fix the old versions of ourselves while staying in the same environments that broke us in the first place. We make small wishes for self-improvement when what we really crave is a fundamental shift in where and how we live. Many…

Living Without Compromise: The Highland Vision

There is a pervasive myth that to live in harmony with the earth, you have to accept a life of reduction. We are told that “going green” means going smaller, simpler, and less comfortable. At the New Eden Project, we reject this binary. We believe that true stewardship does not require austerity. Instead, we propose…

Living in New Eden: The Architecture of Freedom and Comfort in the Tropics

Escaping the Concrete Oven The standard approach to modern building in Panama, and much of the tropics, is a fundamental failure of design. Developers usually import “Northern” architecture: sealed concrete boxes with large glass windows designed for cold climates. In the tropics, a concrete box is an oven. It absorbs intense daytime heat and radiates…

Sketching the Sanctuary

Frank J
December 11, 2025
Project Updates

Imagining a built environment that honors both the tribe and the individual. The Question of Space As the New Eden Project moves from philosophy to physical reality, we are grappling with a core design challenge: How do we build deep community without sacrificing individual sovereignty? We have all seen the failures of the past. The…

A Framework for a Moral World

Frank J
November 20, 2025
Moral Reflections

There are moments, usually in the quiet part of the morning, when I feel the weight of what we’re leaving behind. Not in a dramatic way, just a steady recognition that the world our children will inherit is already being reshaped by the climate we have altered. The change is no longer abstract. It’s in…

The Work Begins Beneath the Falling Sky

Frank J
October 16, 2025
Project Updates

The New Eden Project is more than a plan—it’s a practice.We are building what still makes sense when the old systems no longer do: land that feeds, water that renews, energy that flows without permission, and a culture that remembers what it means to belong. The dream we were sold was built on credit; the…

Embracing a New Vision for Sustainable Living: ShambaCulture

Imagine a world where your backyard or community garden not only yields fresh, nutritious food for your family but also rejuvenates the environment, supports local wildlife, and fosters a sense of community. This is the vision behind ShambaCulture, a novel way of envisioning family-scale food production and permaculture. By blending the traditional African concept of…