The new village bio-intensive gardening project begun by Adopt-a-Village last month focuses on growing more food in less space. Using a precise measuring technique, based on an octagonal format, our teacher shows demonstrates how to multi-crop up to five vegetables in a small area. Companion plants (those that grow well in close proximity to others), that require varying lengths of time to mature, are correctly spaced, and as a consequence the garden can provide up to five times more food than using single row crops.
Hello to all,
I´m heading back to the U.S. this a.m. after some very productive days at our Mayan Training Center in Guatemala. Helping to provide food for Mayan families in the region via training at our educational center is our focus, where AAV is teaching families to ¨build¨good soil from depleted soil. Families in three villages are currently making ¨green¨compost and preparing vegetable beds with a ¨deep-dug¨method designed to support at least four companion vegetables. This technique, developed by our agronomist friend, Cesar Garcia Linneo at the San Carlos University in Guatemala, is just one of the techniques used in this unique food-growing program. It will ultimately revolutionize the Maya´s ability to feed themselves.
¨Feeding¨the soil, creating close spacing for seedlings, and planting ¨friendly¨plants with each other that deter insects, are just three of the techniques of the program.
More news to come after the big bird sets down in Miami and I can begin to post some exciting new photography.
Frances
César Linneo, bio-intensive mini-farming expert
Let us tell you how Adopt-a-Village will begin to celebrate our 20 years of service in Guatemala!
We are excited to tell you that we have attracted noted agronomist, César Linneo Garcia Contreras from the San Carlos University in Guatemala City, to provide training at our Mayan Center for Education and Development.
César Linneo is a professor in the Department of Agronomy who specializes in organic agriculture. In addition to his degree in agronomy earned at the university, he has studied bio-intensive agriculture in the United States, Mexico and several countries in Central and South America.
On Saturday, he and I will make the long mountain drive to our Mayan Center. We arrive on Sunday when he will begin his seminars in bio-intensive mini-farming.
What is even more exciting–his training will extend beyond our school doors. César will be visiting some of our sponsorship villages to teach. Last year, Adopt-a-Village introduced the concept of family gardens to various communities. Now, with a highly trained technician in bio-intensive mini-farming at our side, our work will be expanded and strengthened. As healthy gardens succeed, we will continue to increase our reach to dozens of communities. Our ultimate objective—create conditions for self-sufficient food production. More food and improved nutrition gives us valid hope that the all-too-high rate of chronic child malnutrition in this area is going to drop.
