Arriving in Belize last December from the arid western US, what initially strikes a gardener like myself is the amazing diversity of plant life, but what is a pleasant surprise is the great diversity of cultures that all seem to get along pretty peacefully. The first response to my “Hello” was “Cool Mon,” a strong signal that I was really going to like it here.

As a long supporting member of Plenty, I have been hearing about Belize for some time, so the opportunity to come and see the work in action and to volunteer was exciting. In a time when we are bombarded by the media with so much negativity and fear, it is inspiring to connect with people who live life with appreciation, grace and humor in the face of so many challenges that we in the North are rarely exposed to.

In the short time I was in Toledo, I was able to visit 3 of the GATE school garden projects, do some painting at the Plenty office, help pick up fruit trees, observe Mary Kroeger’s tireless commitment to the TBAs, stay at 2 TEA guesthouses, play a 3-hour soccer match in the rain with the kids of San Miguel Village, visit and learn about the traditional Milpa agricultural system, and provide recording equipment to support the collection of traditional Mayan stories before the elder generation passes.

I spent a memorable day at Burton Caliz’s organic farm in Mafredi village. Burton has been farming organically for 25 years employing many permaculture strategies of his own design based upon nature (in an agricultural climate where many farmers are encouraged to employ exploitive techniques with long-term risks to the environment). Burton showed us how his staggered tree planting method provided a quicker recovery from the damage of Hurricane Iris. As a native Belizean proponent of sustainable agriculture and the village volunteer for the Mafredi school garden, Burton is an invaluable resource for the GATE project. Collaborations such as the one with Burton are certain to make Plenty’s efforts more effective and sustainable in the future. 

I was also impressed by how the TBA program is contributing to a safer environment for childbirth, how the GATE program is educating and feeding school children, and by all of Plenty’s efforts to empower local people to improve their quality of life while sharing the importance of human connections. A dear “thanks” to Mark, Mary, Leah & Reva who I got to know at the Plenty Belize office, and to all the wonderful Belizeans, for their lovely hospitality and hard work.