BRICKS TO BREAD COSTA RICA PROJECTS
MARIA CAMACHO MARTINEZ – BARRA HONDA DE NICOYA

THE COMMUNITY

Barra Honda is in the picturesque region of Nicoya, Guanacaste. The Nicoya Peninsula is known for its national park – home to a dry tropical forest that is one of the world’s rarest habitats. A network of trails’ home to coatis, monkeys, medicinal plants, and exotic birds, lead to a panoramic view of the Tempisque valley and the Gulf of Nicoya. Underground, Barra Honda National Park features an intricate system of limestone caverns.

The community of Barra Honda has a rich heritage, including a folkloric dance group and many cultural celebrations. Employment opportunities for women, however, are limited. Most available jobs involve cleaning and working in local grocery stores. The economic activities in the community were traditionally centered around medical services, livestock, and agriculture, but have expanded slightly with the presence of an EBAIS clinic providing basic preventive health care services and a distributor offering more local opportunities.

THE FAMILY

María Martínez Díaz, 29, is married to Leónidas Tenorio Jarquín, the brother of our 2023 oven recipient Kathy Tenorio Jarquín. They have three children – Samuel (9), Ismael (5), and Emily (2). The family lives with Maria’s mother and 22-year-old brother.

Doña María has been a baker and pastry chef for three years since starting her business – Gusticos Samis – during the pandemic when her husband was unable to work. Since then, she has improved her production, business management, and sales by taking entrepreneurial and culinary courses. She bakes several days a week using a small gas oven, which is expensive to operate. All of her products, especially her signature pineapple bread, are popular with local customers.

LIVES CHANGED

María is proficient at digital marketing, using Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp to promote her business, take orders, and maintain communication with clients. Without any competition in her community, Doña María’s Bricks to Bread oven is a gathering place where residents can enjoy her bread and pastries, spend time together, and celebrate cultural events. When a new “pulperia” (small general store) opened in her neighborhood, she took samples of her baked goods and sold out of everything. The store owner now carries her breads, pastries, and other unique, creative products that everyone enjoys.