The Richness of Land

KatZavala

Citizen of the world

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• MyStory2009

Women of San Francisco Teopisca in their community garden

I recently visited a community called San Francisco from the municipality of Teopisca, Chiapas. This indigenous Tzeltal community of 300 people has been supported by IDEX the non-profit I work for, and a partner organization DESMI (Socio-Economic Development for Indigenous Mexicans). The focus is to assist 52 families to work collectively in various income-generating activities.

I saw parcels of land where organic vegetables are grown. One area is used as a demonstration site to showcase organic agriculture. Thanks to workshops provided by DESMI, participants learn how to train other community members ad share their knowledge throughout the community.

Last year they cultivated red onions using vermicompost. They grew so many red onions I saw them hanging in houses. When you hang the onions, they can last up to 8 months.

Eight indigenous women are managing a plot of organic vegetables. They grow lettuce, beets, carrots and onions. DESMI is in the process of teaching these women seed-saving techniques. Already the women are waiting for the flowers of the onions to blossom, and then they will harvest the seeds to sow.

Sustainable agricultural reinforces the richness of land. I was motivated to find out how I could be more involved with sustainable agriculture in San Francisco, California. I wanted a stronger relationship with our land and learn how it can provide for us if we don’t cement over it. I was inspired to join an urban agriculture class at the Garden for the Environment to learn more about sustainable living.