The project has grown and changed over the past year. The founders bought a small piece of land a few hours away to demonstrate to farmers how to produce more sustainably. They are doing research organic banana and cacao pest control without chemicals. They are developing better techniques to raise queen bees and organic tomato production without slash-and-burn agriculture. And they are training farmers and students about land stewardship.
Photo: Project intern Daniel Criales, co-founder Fortunato Velásquez and intern Gladys Jahuira took me to visit their experimental farm. The farm is two hours away, requiring a boat trip across a river.
Our mission dictates that students return to their communities and become the change that we stand for. It is rare that a graduate has a job waiting come graduation day, something to step into when the ink on the diploma dries. Ingenious, inspiring grads like these put the final piece in place, and make the dream real.
Photo: Co-founder Andrez Florez showed me a plot where they are researching banana pests. Instead of clearing the land around the banana trees, they allow saplings to grow alongside. This mimics a natural system that will require less weeding and reduce pests in the long term.
