biohuerto

One of the community health program initiatives is planting organic gardens. Because the diets here are so carbohydrate centered with little or no vitamins, putting free vegetables into the mother’s kitchens is an easy and effective way to improve nutrition in our communities.

Back in June, I did my first garden with the community of Pampa Elera Baja. A few months later, a lot of mothers had heard about the project and were interested in doing a garden in Pampa Elera Alta. 15 women signed up to be “socias” of the garden project. We all prepared, planted, water, weed, and tend to the garden. In return, each woman can take vegetables out of the garden. Additionally, the socias are participating in demonstrative nutritional sessions with me where we prepare foods with what comes out of the communal garden. The mothers are not accustomed to cooking meals with say, spinach, or broccoli. I have been working with them to show them some good ways to incorporate yummy vegetables in kid-friendly meals.