Food Cooperative in the Bolivian Amazon

“In some Native languages the term for plants translates to “those who take care of us.” 

A little over a year ago I came to volunteer for a non-profit in the Bolivian Amazon.  At the time I was at the beginning of a long journey of health and healing.  I carried with me  debilitating health issues along with a lot of fear and frustration from the polarized political environment back home.  After three months, I realized that I had come for a very different and much bigger reason.  

Little by little doors started to open for me to fulfill my life long dream of work in food security while simultaneously supporting women in their healing work.  Over the last year, this dream has come to fruition.

I work in a community of about 40 families in a remote area in Northern Bolivia composed primarily of indigenous people.  Recent decades has disconnected these people from traditional forms of agriculture and use of medicinal plants.  As a result of it, is a there is close to no economy of local whole food.  Health issues that didn't use to exist now abound. Instances of violence against women is high.  

Oftentimes we reflect the relationship we have with ourselves in the way we treat the environment around us.  In it's true form, healing doesn't start with getting angry about all the external stuff, but rather with the self.    Farming has, for me, been a long-time expression of the love and healing.  This project is no exception.   It was birthed not only by my own journey, but also inspired by the unique role of women as the healers, and the binding forces of society.   

Thank you so much for helping me cover the baseline expenses of getting this project underway.  

Special Thank you to:
Sustainable Bolivia for being the backbone of this project,
Quail Springs Permaculture for helping to manifest and being a huge inspiration
Erik Van Krimpen for following me around with a camera. 
and so many more