el huerto

This past weekend, we all went to La Universidad La Agraria en La Molina, a university right outside of Lima. All three groups, water and sanitation, health education, and environmental education will get training in organic farming at La Molina. At the university, we met with university students in Ecology, Biology, Agriculture, and Conservation who talked to us about the benefits of organic farming and creating sustainable gardens in our small communities. Once we start our service in a couple of months, we are encouraged to help our communities to create gardens to alleviate the lack of a sustainable food source and malnutrition.

The university has extensive gardens and greenhouses on their campus, it was all very impressive. Last week, we got an introduction to the work they do at La Agraria, a tour of the gardens (huertos) and greenhouses, and an opportunity to start working in the gardens. I planted some albhaca (basil). This week we heard a lecture by one of the professors about Peru´s farming conditions. We will be going to the university almost every Saturday for the next couple of months. I’m looking forward to learning all about organic farming, not just for my community in the next two years, but for life!