In 2011, with funding provided by the Atkinson Foundation, Plenty collaborated with the Solola-based Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura (IMAP), Escuela Formacion Agricultura (EFA) and Amado Del Valle to help more than 40 farming families from 5 villages to grow black beans, soybeans, corn, and vegetables, while learning methods of mitigating soil erosion. |
Farming families each received 500 lbs of organic compost along with seeds, tree seedlings and technical support to help them develop models for arresting soil erosion and improving their productive capacity.
Students and teachers at Escuela Formacion Agricultura (EFA), the Solola Agriculture College, tested 8 non-gmo soybean seed varieties during 2011. IMAP staff and Amado provided technical support for the farming families. |
Soy food and agriculture technician, Amado Del Valle (2nd from left) conducts a workshop with farmers from a Mayan village near Solola, Guatemala. (photo by Chuck Haren)
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Hillside farming in Solola, Guatemala
Representatives from IMAP demonstrate a tool that can be used to evenly lay out terraces for hillside farming. (photo by Chuck Haren)
Amado Del Valle explaining to villagers in La Nueva Providencia, Guatemala how to make soymilk with tools they have in their villages (photo by IMAP)
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