Well-Being For All

Organic Fertilizer Project at MeA

Guatemala is facing a sort of agricultural crisis, something that is quite serious for a country whose economy is largely based on agriculture. The amount of chemicals and chemically-based fertilizers that Guatemalan farmers are using are creating long-term damage for the soil that is feeding the nation. If farmers continue to use these harsh and harmful chemicals the soil will not produce food and sustenance for Guatemala’s children and grandchildren.

Mujeres en Accion, through the direction of the wonderful and knowledgeable Maria de Jesus Lopez, has been working on an organic fertilizer project to combat this disastrous inevitability. Maria, with the help of a volunteer Japanese agricultural-engineer, has been disseminating information on a type of organic fertilizer, called obono, which is easy to make, uses cheap and natural ingredients and is a viable alternative to fertilizers with harmful chemicals.

In late October I participated in a day-long workshop at Doña Gregoria’s house. Doña Gregoria is a member of Mujeres en Accion and is very active in her community. She has a natural medicine garden and provides her neighbors with natural remedies. Doña Gregoria, and her husband Don Juan were interested in learning how to make the obono to ensure that their children would be able to farm their land in the future. The day was full of fun, learning, sharing and laughter. We danced on the pieces of coal to break them into smaller pieces, we cheered on Don Juan while he did the exhausting work of mixing the huge mound of soil, coal, animal droppings, and corn husks and we shared a delicious home-made stew when we were done!
This is one of the education projects that MeA is currently undertaking, helping their members to become sustainable and ensure a future for their children.

posted by World Accord Staff @ 8:25 AM