Class 3: Planting reality one seedbed at a time!

Class 3:  Seeds and Seedbeds



What's in a seed I ask?  And how is it that such a tiny thing can grow into such a huge plant such as a watermelon or tomato?? Trying to convey this thought and enthusiasm to a group of eight-year-olds who would rather be watching WWF wrestling than listen about gardening is certainly a feat but I think poco a poco the kids are starting to get more and more into our gardening classes.

This week we talked about seeds and seedbeds and then had the kids make their own seedbeds.  We planted watermelon, tomato, cucumber, cauliflower, and some herbs and the kids were really into it.  The best part of these classes have been the transition of the teachers participation.  The first class the teachers were very in the back of the class and not really helping us control the kids but now on our third class the teacher were participating with the kids and even going out and looking for container for seedbeds and taking the initiative to go and pass out seeds to the kids and help plant!  The director of the school also asked Helen and I if we could make a manual/document of all the classes we have done and classes we are going to do so she can use the information for future classes!  So all in all a very good 3rd week!

 Helen and I making seedbeds out of egg crates and bottles

Two heads are better than one!!

Filling up our seedbeds

The directora and teachers helping pass out seeds

Kids helping gather soil for their plantitas!!!

Day 2: Trash and Composting!

 Class 2 with the kids we identified the difference between organic and inorganic trash and started a compost pile.

  So we had our second class in Santo Domingo working with the kids.  This week we talked with the class about identifying the difference between organic and inorganic trash.  This class luckily coincided with the Municipio de Archidona giving the school 4 sets of trashcans labeled for organic and inorganic wastes.  So we used them for one of our games with the kids.

Helen and I explaining our "race to get the trash in the right place" game.  This is one of new trashcans donated by the Municipio.

Helen showing the difference, to the class, between the 'red' trashcan for inorganic wastes and the 'blue' trashcan for organic wastes

Me attempting to wrangle up the kids and get them into lines to start the game.  Success?!

  The game went more or less successfully and after we separated and disposed of all the trash we talked to the kids about the benefits of using organic waste for composting.  We talked about starting a composting pile out behind the school to use for the vegetable garden.  The kids seemed pretty enthusiastic about it and in no time at all we had our pile up and ready! 

The kids and I throwing the organic wastes together with leaves, sticks, etc.

The Finished Product!! 

  Next week we will take a peek inside and see how our compost is doing and hopefully add more too it.  We are also going to have class next week on seeds and how to make seed beds!  Stay tuned! 

Santo Domingo: Day 1 Soil and Diggin'!!

The time has come! The walrus said. To talk of gardening and children! 

 My fellow PC volunteer, Helen, and I have started doing gardening classes with the kids from Santo Domingo.  A community nestled about 30 minutes outside of Archidona in the jungle.  Over the summer there were 2 girls from Duke,working with Fundacion Runa, and living in Santo Domingo trying to promote proper nutrition and gardening with the kids at the local school.  They were there for two months and while they did an awesome job setting up the nursery garden and giving nutrition classes; two months is just not enough time to really accomplish what the girls had set out to do.  Sooo....with the help of my counterpart, I decided that Helen and I should take over the gardening and nutrition classes with the kids since we are still here for 6 months and some change (me hopefully longer).

  Kids are funny is all I have to say.  We have only done two classes so far with them and it is certainly an art trying to keep there attention but I think that we are doing alright with them.  Our first class was about soil; identifying good types of soil and how to figure out if you have good soil drainage in your garden.  The best part for them being the hole digging while we were trying to do a drainage test.  Everyone wanted to dig holes and put water in them!  You would have thought we had made some amazing new discovery called 'the hole'!

Helen doing her soil test

Lets dig!

Drainage Test: Yep that's a hole there!! 

Sometimes you just gotta say "Whoopsies"

I am not going to apologize and again and again for my lack of entries....just gonna say whoopsies :).

So here we are with about 6 months to go and I am thinking about extending...Yes sir you heard it right!  After all the tough times, tears, and silly moments I want to stay and do it again for another year!

Life back Home
Things have been going well at Runa and Archidona. I went home for three weeks for my best friends wedding the beginning of October.

Thar She Blows!!!
Before that I went to Puerto Lopez with the lovely Elizabeth Glass, Oscar Veloz (my new fella), Helen mujer, and the Omn bus 105 clan (well some not all).  It was AMAZING to say the least.  I've never seen a whale, aside from Animal Planet, and to be literally 5 feet away from a group of them was an unbelievable experience.  I will never never forget it.  The beach was amazing and Puerto Lopez is a lovely little laid back community on the beach where one can lay back in a hammock, drinking overpriced beer, and relax to your hearts content (or until your money runs out).  I hope to go back for another visit in the near future.

Me and Elizabeth at La Isla De La Plata

Oscar taking in some sun

La Isla de la Plata

Blue-footed Boobies!

We found star-fish!

Work and Ecuafamily Life
Before that I finished my big project with Runa in August.  I don't know if you followers remembered but I was head leader of the needs assessment surveys for the Fundacion. Basically it was like CAT Tools on steroids.  I went into over 50 communities and interviewed over 300 farmers since August of 2011 to August of 2012.  Thanks so much to all you Runa Interns out there by the way for all your help, input, patience, laughs, and humor.  You made it much more pleasant and adventurous experience!  Anyway we presented the data (whooo it was a lot!) to the CEP (Comite Ejecutivo de Productores de guayusa).  It felt like such an accomplishment to have finished after going out to all those communities and talking to all those people and finally being able to put it all together and hand it to the CEP and say here are the voices of your fellow members this is what they want.  Well, whether they really looked it over seriously or not it was still a great feeling for me.
Now I am hoping to work more on agroforestry projects with the local farmers and the Fundacion.  I really am going to get on the ball and make an effort to do this at least once or twice a month.  Helen and I are also starting gardening charlas with the kids in a community near archi.  Hope that works out as well.

As for family and friends here in Ecuador they are pretty darn awesome!  Days off are just awesome spending time with fellow volunteers, going to the river, seeing monkeys, feeling comfortable enough in our own surroundings to really get out there more and explore.  It only took a year and a half!  Although where I live its hard to leave...I'm pretty much a site rat.

Baby BBQ time!

Oscar and Elizabeth trying to figure out the 'baby' BBQ

This little guy was a real sweetie!

Aby, Oscar, y Yo and of course our little friend Alex!

A Tigre!

Spider Monkey

Me with the Tarpirs family!

Oh my birthday was awesome this year too!  Elizabeth made me a cake! So far I like being 27 and I still have a ways to go with it but I am curious to see how 28 treats me on year three.  I guess you guys will just have to wait a year to find out!

Aliana and Oscar at my Birthday!

Cake and singing are the best parts of Birthdays!

And the second best is getting your face smashed in your cake! Yay!

Christmas Jungle One Year!!!!!!!

Well friends and family I've pretty much been lost out in the jungle for these last....what is it now, 4 months? Geez! Well I apologize for my complete and utter lack of updating I'm a horrible blogger as I have mentioned many times before. Well there is no time like the present so let me update you!

New House

Due to some personal issues I've had to move out of my community and I am now living in Archidona. I've been there for about two months now and I love it! While I absolutely loved my shack sweet shack I love having running water, a sink, and.....HOT WATER! Oh man there is nothing better in the world than hot water showers. I hated having to leave Rukullakta I really enjoyed my time there but I feel as though I am in a much better place now both personally and professionally.

Runa

Work with Runa has been going great. I'm still going out into the communities doing interviews for our needs assessment project but we are on temporary hold for the month of April; which is good for me because I need a break and a change of pace.

This next week is Dia de Campo and Runa is opening its doors to the public! We are giving a presentation of both Runa Tarpuna and Fundacion Runa and I'm involved in presenting the community needs assessment survey to about 100 people and yes it's going to be in Spanish...Eeekkk!!! I'm really nervous. But will let you all know how it goes with in the next 4 months due to my posting track record.

Helen, my partner in crime and fellow PC volunteer, and I have started/finished two projects on the farm; a wormbed and compost box. We've also harvested yuca, pineapple, and plantains as well as planted these on the farm. We macheted out trails in the jungle like spanish explorers and were attacked by swarms of angry ecuadorian wasps! I came out unscathed, but unfortunantly Helen was stung in the face several times and her face swelled up pretty bad. She recovered quite quickly though.

Christmas in the States!

I went home for two weeks over christmas to see my family. It was so wonderful to see everyone and be surrounded by loved ones but it went by much too quickly. I am planning a return visit in October for my best friend's wedding. I'm think I will stay for about a month this time. Two weeks over christmas was just not enough time! I can't wait to experience some fall weather!

Jungle Life

Life all in all is going okay. I'm at a little over the year mark and it's starting to take it's effect. I'm pretty burnt out and looking into some vacationing time....It's long over due. I think my friend Elizabeth and I are planning on taking a weekend to the coast to do some whale watching in July/August. I suppose this is normal....these feelings of, I can't believe I am at the year mark...Can I make it another year? I know I can make it. It's just a matter of pushing through this rough patch and trying to stay positive. And keeping October forever in the forefront of my mind.

We are in the rainy season right now (surprise surprise!) so it's been pretty gloomy but the mountains are always amazing and on sunny days I like taking a dip in the river and taking some time out to relax.

Photos!

My sister and I at home for Christmas!

Passing time in San Martin before we start interviewing!!

On the way up to Santa Rita....Heeelllllooo Bus!

Santa Rita trees

Me and Andrew out in Tena for Helen's Birthday!

Helen and Alex....Ghetto birthday times!

And of course my sweet baby face...Supay!!!