Sustainable seaweed farming is the next big thing in the quiet fishing village of Placencia, and as was recently highlighted by Smithsonian Magazine, residents of the tiny fishing village are wasting no time in reaping the benefits that it offers for humans, habitat, and hair in Belize.

The Washington-based magazine, which covers history, science arts, and nature stories across the globe published an article this week in their magazine and told the story of how seaweed is bringing a Belizean community together to explore its potential, from sustaining their local environment and economy to helping them care for their natural hair.

The story specifically followed the life of locals, pioneer seaweed farmer and founder of Placencia Producers Cooperative Lowell Godfrey, and Placencia woman Jolie Pollard, a young Belizean entrepreneur who grew up savoring the rich delicacy of seaweed shakes, that was mixed with love by her grandfather, a local fisherman himself. Growing up in Placencia, Pollard was only too familiar with the health and environmental benefits of seaweed. However as the story goes, when she was fully grown, Pollard then got to witness the financial benefits of seaweed as well through the guidance of Godfrey who founded the first-ever seaweed farm in Little Water Caye.

Godfrey, whose seaweed cooperative has now grown to one of the biggest in the country, according to the magazine, would tell, ” anyone who would listen about the benefits of the aquatic algae – from capturing carbon to fighting climate change, to acting as a nursery for juvenile marine life.” Being a former fisherman, Godfrey would educate residents on how seaweeds provide shelters for aquatic critters and would even serve to assist the Placencia community to replenish their dwindling fishing stocks. The article sites that at that time, rising fuel prices, and the cost of living were driving local fishermen to resort to fishing as a last resort. The restaurants on the 16-mile peninsula were suffering from a scarcity of products.

That is where Godfrey and his environmentally conscious seaweed farming off of Placencia’s coast came in. He educated residents on how seaweed farming would be a great alternative to solve the fishing problem while providing residents with a sense of ownership over the local economy. Apart from fishing and tourism, Godfrey told residents that seaweed farming would provide locals with an additional sustainable and profitable source of income.

Godfrey is said to have demonstrated to residents how to suspend ropes between floating buoys, then attach fragments of seaweed between the strands to help them grow. Within three months, each rope would yield nearly 30lbs of seaweed. Together Godfrey and his team would then harvest the seaweed, which they would then put out to dry naturally in the sun, and then vacuum seal them so that they could sell them at a local coop.

The dried and packaged seaweed would then be exported out of the country or purchased by the local restaurants or even locals to mix delicious seaweed shakes infused with brandy, sugar, and spices. [The seaweed shake is a local drink that is enjoyed by tourists due to its rich protein and dietary fiber, as well as minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and selenium].

But while seaweed farming in Belize is taking care of humans and habitats, in Pollard’s case her experiment with seaweed in her natural hair sparked an entire hair care business for curly beauties in Belize and across the world. It birthed the Ikooma, a haircare brand, which is the kriolozed name for the ”Eucheuma Isiforme” seaweed. Pollards moisturizing seaweed hair cream and seaweed cream-gel is a favorite among local Belizean girls who find it a task to tame their curly mane in the hot tropical climate.

What’s more is that Pollard purchases her seaweed directly from the Placencia Producers Cooperative, in an effort to circulate local currencies in her small village.

“I’m excited to show people the benefits that seaweed can offer. Both as a business owner that uses it in my own product,” Pollard says, “but also as a member of a community that could really benefit from its economic potential without compromising our local environment, Pollard told Smithsonian Magazine.

We here at Chabil Mar, being sons and daughters of the Placencia community, are only too aware of how important the local community and business along the Placencia coast depend on the protection of our natural resources and marine life. Situated just a short walk from Placencia Village, we are the perfect vacation option for guests who are interested in visiting Placencia to learn more about its people and their efforts in sustainable seaweed farming.

Our location on the coast also positions us in the right place for visitors to appreciate the natural wonders of our country’s beautiful coastline. You can also book local tours in Placencia Village that will take you out at sea to appreciate the diversity of Belize’s marine life via snorkeling, sailing, and diving tours. You can even take strolls on the beach down to the village to get a glimpse of local fishermen, artists, arts, and many more local attractions. Whether you choose to stay in and enjoy our spacious grounds equipped with private pools and amazing views you definitely won’t regret vacationing at Chabil Mar.

Visit our website for more information on Placencia and Belize, or send us an email, to book your stay today. You can also read more of the article at this link.

The jewel is set to shine once more at the Miss Universe Pageant, and the Miss Universe Belize team is wasting no time in selecting, preparing, and grooming seven phenomenal Belizean women who will be vying for the Miss Universe title this year.

While the date of the official pageant is yet to be announced, on Saturday, June 11th the Miss Universe Belize Team disclosed the names and photographs of the seven contestants on the official Miss Universe Belize Facebook page.

As the competition heats up, it seems that the social media fanatics have already chosen some of their favorite contestants, with the first being Ashley Lightburn, 25, a resident of Belize City who was able to garner 1.3 K social media reactions in five days. Lightburn is a Project Manager Officer at a local bank and an adjunct lecturer of mathematics at the University of Belize. She possesses a bachelor’s in mathematics and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in international business administration. Her hobby is engaging in social outreach initiatives and says that “This pageant, to me, is not only about displaying external beauty but also about inner beauty. I aim to show young girls that you can have all beauty and brains, and you should use it to inspire others and build your country. “

Coming in second with a total of 1k reactions, in five days is Alina Scott 27, who hails from the Cayo District, and is a Ph.D. candidate and Littlefield Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. She possesses a bachelor’s and master’s degree in History; currently a Doctoral Candidate (Ph.D.) in History. Scott is passionate about educational equity and accessibility. She is an athlete and has volunteered in a number of social and educational associations and organizations. She says “As Miss Belize, I want to give back to those very communities [intellectual and cultural communities] and reiterate to the youth of Belize that education is just a stepping stone for you to realize the fullest version of yourself.”

Coming in third with 714 reactions is Grace Brown, 20, a resident of San Pedro Ambergris Caye and a florist by profession. She has a high school diploma and is currently pursuing a cosmetology degree. She is also the reigning Miss San Pedro and has overcome bullying, shyness, and body shaming. She says that she “believes that the next Miss Universe Belize should be a woman who is ready to handle the responsibilities of nurturing her community’s betterment, this woman should continuously look for solutions to assist and advocate for a better and greater Belize, but most importantly this representative should be ready to be the ultimate epitome of a role model who feeds others with love and compassion. I have spent the past 20 years crystallizing my experiences in order to be that woman.”

Coming in fourth with 654 likes is Sigourney Usher, 22, a resident of San Ignacio. She is a nurse by profession and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s in Nursing. She is currently studying in Guatemala and says that as a frontline worker, she has the opportunity to impact many lives. She says that “If I were to become Miss Universe Belize, I would use the platform to talk about the impact poverty has in my country, especially on older generations. I want to show that I can be confidently beautiful, but also have the ability to help our generation in need.”

Coming in fifth with 599 likes is Kaira Nuñez, 19 a resident of Orange Walk Town. She is a sales clerk by profession and aspires to work at an environmental conservation organization. She possesses an associate’s degree in science with a concentration in natural resource management. She says that she takes pleasure in being productive because she believes that efficiency is the key to success. She says, “I want to be the next Miss Belize because I want to utilize the title as a platform to raise awareness and take action on animal cruelty in Belize. I also believe that winning this pageant will strengthen my will and confidence in my ability to accomplish anything I set my mind to.”

Samantha Singh 27, a resident of Placencia managed to get 576 reactions. She is a writer by profession and possesses a bachelor of arts in English from Loyola New Orleans as well as a culinary arts degree from The New School of Cooking. As a writer, she says that she sees Miss Universe Belize as an opportunity to share her passion for Belizean literature and the importance of the arts in Belize with a broader audience. She says”I know that advocacy is a huge part of the title, and that part is what I am most interested in. To have a place of privilege to speak from in support of both literacy and the arts in Belize, two places I believe deserve much more attention locally both for their cultural importance and the opportunities they provide for young Belizeans to transcend circumstance — that’s exciting to me.”

Kenia Tejada, 27 a resident of Spanish Lookout was able to get 422 reactions. She is a tutor by profession and has a high-school diploma with an interest to major in psychology. Apart from tutoring children from her community Tejada is an advocate for children and says that “I want to instill respect, love, justice, and kindness into children’s lives. I know I can do that now, but I think as Miss Universe Belize, I can make a greater impact.”

The management and staff of Chabil Mar wish all 7 contestants all the best as they vie for the Miss Universe title this year.

Are you counting down days until Belize’s international airport is again open? It’s obvious that you’re eager to vacation in Belize, and if you’ve already dusted off your suitcase, bought sunscreen and found your flip-flops, here are things you should know before you arrive!

1. Choose the Placencia Peninsula as your vacation destination where Chabil Mar Villas awaits.  Chabil Mar is a contemporary full-service luxury boutique beach resort and is the closest full-service resort to Placencia Village. 

2.Once a sleepy fishing village, Placencia has emerged as an increasingly popular destination in Belize and the Caribbean. Stroll along the beach, bike, kayak or paddle board to the center of this traditional fishing village from Chabil Mar.

3. There are no sidewalks in the Placencia Peninsula, so you’ll share the road with scooters, bikes, golf carts and cars. No worries. Traffic is nothing like your home turf.

4. Don’t look for traffic lights. Speed humps substitute. These mounds regulate the ebb and flow of everything that moves, but once you assess the activities available at Chabil Mar, you’ll want to stick around the resort.

5. Free coffee refills at Placencia restaurants are not on the menu. But if you book a Belize vacation package at Chabil Mar, your meals are included, so drink as much coffee as you like on the house.

6. Who needs to rent water toys? Chabil Mar’s inventory is at your disposal, whether you want to pilot a kayak, waterboard or Hobie cat.

7. You won’t be bothered by people selling things, even in town, but once you spot hand-crafted goods available from local vendors, saying no could be difficult.

8. Forget the whole “third world country” assignation. Would U.S. retirees be moving to Belize in droves if Placencia wasn’t a fabulous place to live? Everyone speaks English, so you’ll feel right at home.

9. You could fall in love with the people of Belize. It happens every day. These sweet, hospitable, helpful folks know how good they have it in this tropical paradise and they like showing off their homeland to visitors.

10. Food you encounter will delight you. Belize offers an exotic mix of cultures and cuisine. At Chabil Mar, Daniel — the ultimate chef with credentials to match — has never served a meal that didn’t win guest approval.

11. You might stay longer than you planned! Small, personalized island-hopping, scuba diving, fishing, sailing and sightseeing tours are so compelling, fitting everything you want to do into your itinerary could be challenging.

12. This is your chance to drive a golf cart. No need to join a golf club to ride around Placencia in one, and if you want to wear a golf shirt, that’s your call.

13. You don’t have to rent a car. Why go to the trouble or expense? Everywhere you need to go will be handled by the Chabil Mar concierge, including getting to and from tours.

14. Every season is a great season to visit Belize. Summer is heaven for folks who hate crowds and Chabil Mar summer rates have triggered happy dances – especially if they are accompanied by Garifuna drummers!

15. It’s okay to roam around, beer in hand. Make it a Belikin. Yes, Belize has laws (and carrying glass bottles makes no sense), but as long as you behave, you’ll be just one more happy member of the crowd.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Belize and Placencia, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.