BRICKS TO BREAD COSTA RICA PROJECTS

K&D BAKERY – SANTA ISABEL DE RIO CUARTO

THE COMMUNITY

The small village of Los Lagos de Santa Isabel and its surroundings were settled by people who produced vegetables from their land, raised cattle, and lived in humble homes. Before there were roads, people traveled on horseback. Los Lagos de Santa Isabel gets its name from the lakes (lagos) in the area where people go to fish and enjoy time with their families. Los Lagos de Santa Isabel is a small town with a school, a grocery store, and a small church. There is no public transportation and employment is scarce, limited to manual labor at local farms where ornamental plants and pineapple are grown.

THE FAMILY

Kathy Tenorio Jarquín (34) and her husband, Denis Alfaro Mondragón (41), have three children—Sofia (11), Alonso (6), and Alana (3). In 2018, Don Denis lost his job at the local pineapple plantation when a new company took over. With a loan, Doña Kathy and Don Denis purchased a piece of property and a local policeman helped them build a small house. After Don Denis completed a cooking course and learned how to bake bread, he taught Doña Kathy and they began baking together using a propane oven.

LIVES CHANGED

Kathy and Denis couldn’t wait to use their new oven! In early March 2023, construction was finished. They built their first fire and heated the oven in April and did their first bake just days later. Since then, they haven’t stopped! Their dream is to one day offer passers-by roasted site-raised tilapia in addition to their artisan baked goods.