Small Towns with Big Ideas

By Chris Adam

The day started early with a two hour drive down from the mountains towards the UPN University Ayala campus. The drive took us into the heat of the lower altitudes with sugar cane plantations dominating agricultural practices.

I was at the campus several years ago when trees were planted, a cacti garden created and a compost project was implemented. To see the size of the trees and cacti as we drove towards the campus was special and inspiring. They are transforming their campus into one that was a manicured grass to one with much biodiversity. A Living Campus!

The morning had several presentations from students that were all about food justice & security projects that also built community. Two students from the university helped to organize a group of women (called Esperanza-Hope) in the rural community of Huitchila. The women began a process to become familiar with natural plant remedies passed down from generations. These rural areas are often far from hospitals and these remedies are important first treatments for ailments. They meet once a week and work on projects together. Another student works with people in another local town on gardening projects and stressed the importance of the social connections they make while working together. The entire day was one that demonstrated the power of traditional knowledge and the importance of small groups of committed people who can help channel knowledge and skill into viable projects. Valuing that work and the environment was an example of well-being for all.

Approximately another one hour drive from the UPN campus we actually visited the community of Huichila, in the municipality of Teopalcingo. We arrived at a private house with tables set for approximately 20 people and the women greeted us. We were given an incredible meal of Pozole, mole, rice and vegetables, tacos, cucumber juice and more. After the meal, the women demonstrated their techniques of creating various medicinal creams. The Dawson participants decided to donate a small amount of money to help purchase equipment for their first sale event in June 2017.  We left the small town with our hearts filled with a strong dose of wonderful, knowledgeable woman from a rural town who said they too were content, proud and wanting to learn more.