Huerto Coxalan Update

 Zahara

In Huerto Coxalan there always seems to be new life.  Today we met our latest addition, Zahara.

She is Dario's new puppy, who we nicknamed Kali, because she seems to enjoy destroying

her environment with her romping and mischievous ways.

Our watermelon plants have grown considerably since last week...

and the kids are especially thrilled with the progress.

Tomatoes are growing big and strong.

Squash is beautiful and about to flower.

With our corn we will grow beans and squash

as the 3 sisters method dictates.

Peas have started to flower as well.

Kale is keeping up with the rest of the plants.

Our garden hostess, Irma in quiet meditation.

We are also working on some ideas for a garden/huerto logo.

Here is one of them in progress.

I took ejotes/green beans home and made vegetable tempura

and also added some to my gumbo/jambalaya soup.

Broccoli florets and heads are ready to eat as well.

Beautiful basil.

All in all we are happy with the rains and with our huerto.

This Sunday we are having a Tekio, or community work party at Huerto Coxalan.

We will be constructing the framework and roof for our dry compost toilet.

Come by and see what we are up to.

See you in the garden/huerto.

++ Giving Thanks To Mother Earth For What She Gives To Us ++

Huerto Coxala

Opening Circle

Our Huerto Project Coordinator, Monica Masini Aguilera, led us in a indigenous ritual of thanks for the wonderful resources that Pacha Mama has given us...the earth, the water, the sun, the air.

Monica explained to us the significance of all the items used in our opening circle and ritual.

Part of the ritual was selecting items that were brought for the ofrenda or offering to Mother Earth.

Each one of us selected the best of our offerings creating a beautiful gift.

A hole was dug and the items placed individually along with an intent or prayer.

Sabrina placing her offering.

One by one we placed our offerings.

I had baked a garden squash/sweet potato pie with coconut crust for the garden group

and selected the first piece as my offering.

We closed the circle and then decided to have some pie before our garden work started.

Watermelon plants

Even though we are technically into the rainy season, we water when needed.

Our horses and donkeys also needed watering.

Kale baby plants are growing.

Eggplant

Corn is reaching towards the sky.

Peas

Broccoli

Tomato plants

We are also working on our compost area.  Today we cut and fitted chicken wire

over the area.

If you read our blog you know that we are also growing cotton trees in the Huerto.

Nature has a way of making the most out of all resources....here a couple of pictures

of what a mother hummingbird does with the cotton fiber...a work of beauty.

Dario and the Cotton Tree

Watch us grow!

+++++++++++ Huerto Coxala en San Juan Cosala ++++++++++++

Huerto Coxala

Our planting field is starting to take shape.

We're seeing growth of beans and broccoli.

Every week we are clearing more land and planting more seed.

Sweet Peas are making their appearance.

And our seed stock is growing, thanks to the generosity of friends like

Brad 'Mulch" Mowers, who donated more heirloom seeds to the huerto.

Gracias Brad!

Irma's corn was ready to harvest, so we helped ourselves to some ears.

And decided to have a corn roast!

Fco. teaching

A wood fire was started in an old wheelbarrow and next thing you know.

corn was "a cookin'".

We also took on a huerto mascot....Soruya.

She also enjoyed a few ears of corn.

Irma's garden is growing quickly now with the rains, 

as is the entire Huerto Coxala.

Planting Seeds of Change, Creating Change.

Watch us grow!