A Tree Falls in Guasmo

Okay, let's trace the progress of our little garden project. Back in April, after getting back from a trip in which we got our hands deliciously dirty every day, Mike and I decided to collaborate and start a garden project in my barrio, Guasmo Sur.

Actually, there was already a garden right next to the Casita de Chocolate. It had been planted a few years ago, but the weeds had been left to run rampant.

In a fit of excitement, we weeded the whole thing. Only afterwards did we check with the health center next door, who actually owns the plot of land we're working with. The final verdict was that we couldn't plant where we originally intended to, as that garden belonged to Dra. Murillo and her diabetes class. We could, however, take over the much bigger space on the other side of the Casita, which sits between the Casita and the health center.

Man, Dra. Murillo is so mean!

So here's the space we were working with:

Big.
Rocky.
Full of trash and used syringes from the health center next door.

In terms of starting a garden, however, the biggest problem that presented itself was the lack of sunlight. The mango and guava/guagua/? trees (see this post for more details), while providing delicious fruit, also blocked out the sun enough that we had to come up with a plan if we wanted plants to actually grow in this space.

So we tackled these problem-os one by one.

First up: Big. This wasn't actually a problem. But Mike, in a fit of brilliance and thinking our project should grow in scale according to the new area we had to work with, called up the Prefectura of Guayas province (a branch of the government) to tell them about our project and ask for their help. We had a fancy-schmancy meeting - collared shirts were worn! - and then they said YES. More on exactly how they are helping us out later.

Next: Rocky. As in, lots of rocks. But you can imagine the movie theme song playing in the background as we, in a fit of motivational frenzy, cajoled and corraled various groups of kids into various rock-moving sessions.

They were champs.

Then: Trash. Lots and lots of trash. It seemed like every time we cleaned the place up, it would fill up the very next day with more candy wrappers, plastic cups, bottles, etc. Even after the epic scavenger hunt we led with some of the kids in the after school program, which had the two teams actually fighting each other over pieces of trash. Tomorrow, in a fit of indignance, we will be painting signs with the kids and posting them outside the garden to kindly remind people to take care of the environment and not litter.

Finally: Lack of sunlight. The Prefectura helped us out with this one. It was like Cirque du Soleil, with machetes. No fits here.

With each successive hack of the machete, the two men on the ground below gave another pull of the hose in an effort to fell the last remaining branch of the tree. A group of ten people looked on with bated breath. Finally, the branch gave way, and everyone cheered despite the fact that it had taken down a power line in the process of falling to the ground.

This was the first day of the Barrio Guasmo Sur Garden Project, or the “Huerto Comunitario Guasmo Sur.” After months of planning, budgeting, re-planning, coordinating with third party organizations, and re-re-planning, the project was beginning in earnest. Currently, Our Plan is: Take advantage of the empty space next to the barrio community center to plant and maintain a demonstration garden. The garden will be used as a training ground for two groups of people, (1) adults from the community, and (2) teens and children who come regularly to the community center for study and activities. This is all made possible by a grant applied for by PCV Mike Close and myself, as well as collaboration with the Health Center of Guasmo Sur and the Prefectura of Guayas province.

Starting at the end of August, the Prefectura began training 15+ adults in garden maintenance and techniques, to last over a period of 6 weeks. Topics include constructing raised beds, composting, and nutrition. Participants will then replicate the gardens in their own homes, attend Garden Club meetings to discuss techniques, and lead home gardening workshops in other parts of the community. The kids will also plant and maintain beds in the garden. In addition, we have already begun a weekly Eco Club, in which children receive classes in the natural sciences. Eventually, they will take charge of the club to plan activities and cleanups in their communities.

In a part of Guayaquil that suffers from severe environmental and economic distress, we hope to improve biodiversity and food security through the promotion of home gardens and environmental education. Ironically, our first step towards achieving this goal was to cut down a tree. But this one tree now lets the sunlight in, giving life to a garden where we will hopefully be planting all types of seeds that will continue to grow for years to come.