GrasslandsUY Farming & Investing Update

Doug and I have produced a video highlighting the UY farms we visited for acquisition by GrasslandsUY.



What you will see in the video:

• Description of the CONEAT map, which determines the soil productivity for each farm
• Aerial view of Montevideo, UY, a modern and cosmopolitan South American capital
  
• The criteria GrasslandsUY is using to assess properties
• View for yourself the richness of soil in UY
• Brief reference to the innovative zero tillage farming methods employed by the Uruguayans and Argentines.

To inquire about investing opportunities in GrasslandsUY's farmland operations and appreciation, contact Doug Bell at 813.992.8885 or douglassbell@gmail.com

In June, I blissed out at a series of workshops with Master Movement Educator, Pat Guyton. I developed my Pilates knowledge, skills and abilities with my dear mentor. I was once again moving and growing under the presence of one of the best Pilates teachers in the country, my friend and former boss, Aida Zorrilla. I had the opportunity to work alongside Dana Bell as we have for many years now, striving to be the best Pilates students we can be. And when we weren't working, the Pilates Mafia was lifting our wine and margarita glasses in honor of how far we have all come.


All this made me yearn for a studio I could call home and fellow teachers I could collaborate with and be inspired by. In short order, I found just such a place. I am now a teacher at Suncoast Pilates and Personal Training.


For many days, sending my resume, doing phone interviews, chatting in follow up meetings and attending to all the social media that is necessary for small biz marketing has eaten up all my time. It's been a bit exhausting but it has all been worth it.

Joining a studio is just one of the steps I am taking as a professional after being with Pat. Dana and I are venturing out to become certified stretch and flexibility therapists in October. Aida and I will be following Pat's path with the Franklin Method by beginning Level 1 Teacher Training in November. Suncoast Pilates has the CoreAlign system, so I will also becoming familiar with this core controlled aerobic training apparatus.


Like I told Doug many years ago, "I've put a few things in motion."

Uruguay: Piriapolis & Punta Del Este

Farming and investing was just part of our objectives for our recent trip to Uruguay. Evaluating Uy as an expat refuge was high among our priorities as well. As with farming, we found much to appreciate in Piriapolis and Montevideo.

Our first days in Uruguay were as guests of David James and Alex Garcia of Sugar Loaf Ocean Club & Spa. We ate and drank, ate and drank some more, and got a feel for the UY beach destinations of Punta Del Este and Piriapolis.

Punta reminded us of Southeast Florida, with high rise condos and upscale shopping on every inch of its peninsula. Piriapolis was more low key, with a pretty half moon bay. Just a couple of miles up from the beach and you are among serene cattle pastures.

Doug fell in love with this uninterrupted panoramic view of Piriapolis and the ocean. This property sits towards the top of Sugar Loaf mountain, one of the highest elevations in UY.

Should we ever decide to build, our patio will look very much like this. One of us is going to have to learn to cook with fire.

This kitchen shows we aren't exactly going to be suffering down in South America.

A morning ride on the mountain to remind us of the Hill Country...at about a third of the cost.

Uruguayans use their beaches about 2 months of the year, Jan and Feb. There is a bit of use for the shoulder seasons but you will find the condos, the beach houses, the shops and the restaurants mostly closed unless the summer sun is shining.

There is an organized expat community in Punta and Piriapolis. They are distinct and different crowds, to say the least. The meal we had at the expat meeting in Piriapolis was the worst of the entire trip. Yet, we had a fabulous time at a party held in the home of the owners' of Punta's Mexican restaurant.

After our days in Punta and Piriapolis, we felt as if we had a firm handle on what UY beach communities had to offer. Next up comes our sampling of South American city life in Montevideo.