++++++++++++++++++ Animals In The Garden ++++++++++++++++

Today Dr. Lalo brought information and images of one of the animals

in our garden...we started out observing the whole, small animal

and gradually witnessed how the images magnified its features...

Little by little the animal grew and grew...and we discussed

its purpose, function, characteristics and use as it

related to the garden.

Finally the eye was magnified and discussed.

Can you guess which animal we discussed?

Garden Hedge

The older kids started working on clearing and planting a Jade plant hedge.

While the adult volunteers got cracking on the Compost pile

And Garden Beds.

Some of the younger Brigadistas chose to germinate more seeds.

And then segwayed into replanting the Earth Box.

Lulu is one of the most "chill" dogs I've every met.  Even while watching the mother hen

and her 8 chicks, she was so centered.

While our Mustard bed continued to give us harvest 

Our small seed starters were growing nicely, albeit slowly.

Finally, at the end of our work morning, Priscilla gifted our group with a bit of repose;

wonderful German bread, queso Panela and fruit, with a little garden basil...a perfect Almuerzo

after a beautiful morning of gardening.

Gracias to all the generous souls who volunteer their time, 

efforts, resources and love to help make this happen.

Happiest of Holidays.

+++ Traditional Dance Troupe of San Pedro Itzican Premieres +++

When the stars align, magic happens.

We started the day with our sales tables at the Lake Chapala Society's

Annual Holiday Fair.  Kari Higgins and Doris Wakeman arranged for us to have 2

tables to sell the products of the Women's Jewelry Collective and the knitting of the

Knitting Group, as well as the work of friends Maggie and Patrica Moran.

Proceeds of the sales go to support our efforts in San Pedro Itzican.

Traditional Dance Troupe of San Pedro Itzican Premieres in Ajijic.

Then it was off to Ajijic Plaza to meet Anita Torres Guerrero and the Traditional Dance Troupe of San Pedro Itzican.  They were going to perform in the main plaza for the first time in Ajijic.

Along with Maestro Pedro Zamora, the troupe was here to raise funds for medications

for the 60 + families in San Pedro Itzican that are dealing with various stages of renal failure.

Although Poco A Poco helps raise funds to support the work of the Brigadistas of San Pedro Itzican (a large youth group work force that services the 9 villages of the San Pedro Itzican area), the money we raise is not sufficient to cover all the costs of medication.

The kids were brilliant.

They performed an opening ritual and then performed their Sword Dance,

a dramatic feat.

As the stars dictated my friend's from Chiapas were also in the plaza to perform.

Sergio and Tomak form part of a professional traditional dance troupe named "Ce Oliin"

from San Cristobal, Chiapas.

This was a wonderful opportunity for the youth of San Pedro Itzican to observe and learn 

from the Maestros.

Tomak y Sergio

After the two performances there was time to meet and greet...

...and to celebrate and eat.  Neila and her husband hosted the group at local eatery Merendero.

A grand time was had by all.

Gracias to all our supportive angels.

Poco A Poco we are making a difference.

+++++ Things Are Humming....at Vivero La Esperanza ++++++

This past Saturday the Vivero was busy with several projects.

Germination

Each week we try to weed, work at maintenance and beautification of the garden, 

start seeds for germination and continue planting.

Cuttings

Our friend Priscilla Taylor brought scented geranium cuttings and

taught the kids how to plant them properly.

Inspired by Priscilla's efforts, Francisco remembered he had geranium cuttings at home

and ran to retrieve them.  The girls planted these as well.

My friend Alfredo asked if we had any guayaba trees, so we dug up a young

tree and planted it in a pot for him.

Keyhole Garden

Our keyhole garden continues to give us wonderful food.  Mino and Felipe returned this

week to harvest and admire the growth of our plants.

Garden Art Projects

Barbara Reinhart always has wonderful ideas.  Today she brought materials for a 

recycled bottle, vase project.

We also continue work on our concrete Hyper Tufa platters and pots,

As well as stepping stones for the garden.

Jayden's vase was a hit!

Emily Ruth's platter turned out beautifully.  

She still wants to sand down the edges before completion.

Thank you Barbara Stone for the Krinkle Cut food donation.

Soil & Compost Arrival

With the funds from our friends at the Lake Chapala Garden Club we were able

to purchase more compost and soil from our friend Rebeca Cruz, 

of Riberas del Pilar.

Our garden mascot, Lulu watched all the work attentively.

Harvest

Mustard greens were on the harvest menu.  Barbara was going to wrap her fish with it 

and I was going to try chicken with the greens.

China and her harvest of cilantro.

Our jamaica continues to grow and now has flowers,

almost ready to harvest.

Our abundant basil plants gifted us with heavenly scented herb.

Mustard 

It's amazing what a good pruning can do.  Our naranjo is doing well.

And we are starting to see plant growth in our garden bed, underneath the leaf mulch.

Compost

We've been drying our garden material and added it to our compost pile.

Along with new green garden cuttings and water, the pile continues to compost.

New Community Garden Parcels

Rosi and Sonia

Our first 2 community garden parcels were given to sisters Rosi and Sonia of San Juan Tecomatlan.

The kids all worked excitedly to prepare the soil for the parcels.

Rosi and Sonia are an integral part of the community and are related to everyone in town

in some way.

They are mothers, aunts, cousins, sister-in-laws, comadres, friends...so everyone knows them.

The sisters decided to plant broccoli, kale, cauliflower, spinach and lettuce in their parcels.

Lastly the kids made signs for the new parcels...a nice touch.

Maintenance

We always have maintenance to do.  Emily Ruth led the charge, along with Juliana

to weed and clean up the week's unruly growth.

Juliana's husband Javier brought his Weed-o and cleaned up the lot in front of our

germination station....gracias Javier!

Work Table

Inventory

As our inventory increases, we look forward to our next 

Vivero Garden Sale set for sometime in the Spring of 2020.

Watch us grow!

Gracias a todos.