This idea has also allowed us to network in the local community better and we are meeting some great folks. We even were written up in an article in one of the local papers!
It was encouraging to see the group effort demonstrated by the caravan style transport process of four pick-ups, a trailer and two cars. Over the last year Michael has repotted store bought plants, transplanted trees and started seedlings with varying degrees of success. This spring we have already received many more plants from other local gardens and a lot of seedlings for next year’s sale. More than a dozen gardeners have expressed an interest in growing and we have a large collection of pots to fill. This idea allows us to share garden to garden as all of the proceeds go to agricultural projects in Guatemala. This is a special opportunity to share our abundance with their needs.
It has been a cool spring for Washington gardeners but thanks to a lot of cold frames from recycled materials the plants have been slowly growing.
The oregano and cilantros looked good.(so did the parsley roots to a gopher.)
Michael shared with one of the local garden clubs and the ladies gave T.R.E. a lot of home grown seeds and starts. They have shown a great interest in this project and have starting growing for next year.
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Our Friday crew had a great time loading plants and visiting.
A local church gave permission to use their parking lot and when we were all set up we looked like we belonged at the local farmers market.
Spring squalls kept passing through our area and we had six different downpours during the sale. During the brief and welcome sun breaks a greater number of customers appeared while during the downpours only the hardiest persevered.
We displayed a couple of photo boards of our projects and some weavings under the checkout tent.
At the end of the day we had sold about 70% of our plants and raised $1,700! This will really go a long way in helping our garden project in Chel.
In May, Michael will travel to Chel and meet with the village leaders who have offered to let us use a parcel of land for a permaculture farm for the Widows Collective. Hopefully, the land and agreement will work well and we can start building a Farm! We are still working with Miracles in Action to try and get a representative from their organization to come view what we are doing. They have expressed interest in helping us fund parts of this project. We are hoping for relatively fertile land, a good agreement made with the village leaders, and M.I.A. to provide some extra financial help. If this all comes to fruition, it will be full steam ahead.
(photo of women in Nueve Puntos in front of their main well durning the begining of the dry season)
This May we will also begin work on the water project in Nueve Puntos and Los Encuentros. Our goals are to secure the water source at the springs, build the storage tank in Nueve Puntos and get a commitment from the local municipal to help with some of the piping. We still need funds to buy more pipe and build the storage tank in Los Encuentros. Please contact us if you are interested.
In addition to these bigger projects, there are always a lot of smaller forms of assistance ongoing. So, this will be a busy month for planning, organizing, buying and moving materials. Michael is looking forward to seeing his friends and sitting by the fire with a bowl of bux’bol (the Ixil specialty dish) back in the land of the Ixil.
Final note we have raise over $11,000! for this springs work!!! Thanks to everyone for the help and donations that you have given.
Mailing address
The RIPPLE Effect Inc.
9712 kopachuck Dr N.W.
Gig Harbor Wa. 98335
Email- therippleeffectinc@gmail.com
