Hurricane destroys local farm & community Project

Hi, my name is Maddie and here is my story.


***Photos at bottom*** 

My best friend Rene and I came to this small local jungle community in Pluma Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Mexico to create an educational center and connect deeper with the local community. The land where we are based is an old coffee and banana plantation farm that has been struggling for some time to make ends meet to bring in a stable income for the villages and their families. We have integrated with the local community, bringing work and extra income into this area to help with the living conditions and education of the children. They have welcomed us with open arms. 

  Early in June, Hurricane Agatha hit our village with devastating consequences. 99% of the coffee and banana plants were destroyed. Homes were severely damaged, some wholly lost due to landslides. Giant trees have fallen, and roads in and out have been destroyed. This land has been left in ruins, our center having to shut down, locals losing their jobs.. it is devastating. 

 As the roads have been destroyed were are now stuck here. On the farm, we do not have access to food other than the grains we already had. We have one running water source and no electricity/power. The only way out is a 3.5hr treacherous hike into the nearest town where the only electricty is a generator giving small amounts of wifi a day, so loved ones can be contacted. We watch overhead as the navy helicopters fly by, we being of whatever support we can for the locals and then for us. 

The local childrens school was flattened, leaving children in their homes of devastation and mothers not able to even work off the farm as they have he responsibility of full time caring without support. 

The 7 families on the Finca and local community have come together to share the little food and resources available. Each one strenuously shoveling mud from houses, kitchens, bedrooms, and pathways, an especially taxing task when basic needs are barely met. Due to finacial lack, one chainsaw and blunt machetes slowly clear the only road in and out.

We feel extremely empowered to provide our local friends with a sustainable income and the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balanace on the land. Our vision is to break the separation and work hand in hand with the local communities to create an organic food forrest. We beleive that making this sustainability impact can and will create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, [conditions] that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requiremtnts of present and future generations. Having the land provide us with all the nourishment and natural medicine we need, distributing this to all who require and teaching others how to cultivate on thier own land the permaculture principals of how to work with nature instead of waiting for nature to work for us. We too aim to build an educational center around this as we know sustainability is not just about renewable energy and natural resources. Realizing true sustainability requires an understanding of the connections between the environment, society and the economy. We strive to achieve a sustainability state of mind that permeates all aspects of out day-to-day lives in local, national and international domains. In light of this we will start to build and educational center to share tools, knowledge and resources so that we can create positive economies, positive social systems, well designed human habitats in also places like small local villages, oraganic food, clean water and endlessly diversifying and enriching environments for this and many more generations to live in. 

 To do this though we need support, from our friends, our families and those that feel in their hearts to help those in need. To create a project that recreates sustainable living for our planet. 

  With the energy we will give, and money that we help raise, we will create incomes giving our new Mexican families a future.The local communities can then live off the harvest sell it and continue cultivating, learning, growing and expanding. We feel it gives an empowering sence of purpose to the soul, one which can be shared and continued knowledge can be passed on. 

  We are hoping to raise money for: 

• paths/roads to be cleared and re made 

• materials and labour to help rebuild homes, classrooms and other structures 

• farming equipment to help with the clearing and planting of the land 

• piping systems and water tanks 

• materials for greenhouse set ups, fertilizers, seeds etc. 

• furniture and teaching aids for the children to use in their classrooms. 

• Rebuilding the structures for workshop/ classrooms for educational programs 

• Materials for local farmers that where destroyed to continue their coffee/ Cacao harvest. 

• Bottling and packaging utensils for medicines. 

I ask all who may share in this dream, this vision of planting the seeds of collective expansion and by working with the earth to grant those around a very healthy future and in doing so a healing of humanity through the healing of the planet to donate. 

  With much love and gratitute 

Maddie xx

If you would like to support in ways on the land, clearing, planting, building, peramculure - please contact [e-mail editado]