By Nylah Christie-Smith
We started the day at IMAP (the Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute) with a delicious breakfast of eggs, tortilla, beans and delicious banana pancakes. Next we got a talk from IMAP Coordinator, Inés on the Maya cosmovision and the Nahual of the day to set our intention and learn more about the Mayan calendar and ways of being depending on the days. Today was 5 Toj which symbolizes a fire and reflecting on what we can contribute to nature. Tomorrow is a a day for closing cycles so Inés left us with the homework of reflecting on specific cycles, thoughts, or happenings that we want to close off.
After a quick break of empanadas and lovely chats, we started an in-depth tour of the facility. First, we discussed three types of fertilizer they make on the property from worms, microorganisms, and dry toilets. All three being extremely efficient and utilizing resources readily available to the farm. Every item here has an intentional purpose and usually more than one function. The philosophy is to make a circular system full of reciprocal relationships.
Another stand out point of the tour was the seed bank they have here, during which I was astounded by how much power and autonomy can come from something so small. It was also explained that all the food grains produced here are sold to local communities at just over half the price to further promote food access and help rebuild relationships to traditional foods such as amaranth. Distribution in the food system is one of the biggest issues in the country, so IMAP is working tirelessly to help educate, feed, and reconnect Guatemalans with their resources and medicines.
Later in the day, we related the cosmovision to agriculture. Learning that it guides everything they do surrounding daily life and environmental cultivation/appreciation. Ancient groups had all these knowledges without modern science. They learned how moon phases influence agriculture for instance, during a full moon energy is moving upward from the soil so there is more energy in the body and air, and is the best time to harvest resources. We also discussed earth’s inherent harmony and rhythm, mimicking this in a ball tossing game. These concepts followed us through the rest of the day and what I expect to be the rest of this trip and our lives.
After one of our best lunches yet, of chicken, tortilla, guacamole, rice, and salad, we started two more hands-on workshops. Here we created plantain leaf seed containers which promote ecological alternatives to plastic. Then we all were given different tasks to plant new trees on the eroding river bank. This activity was hard work but one of the most impactful of the day, showing how we can and should contribute to not only the space we are learning and gaining from, but the earth itself. We utilized teamwork, communication, intention, and new knowledge to create something truly meaningful.
We finished off the day with dinner and our daily reflection circle where we confided in each other about what we felt and learned that day. Everyday has been better than the last and I’m so excited to see what is to come next.
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