150 Manzanas Por Favor

In El Salvador there are about 6 million people. Roughly half of them live in or around the capital, San Salvador. The other half are spread throughout the small country. Here there are two insecurities that are creating major problems in the country:

1) Physical Insecurity – i.e not enough people feeling safe
2) and Food Insecurity – the food supply is just not stable

Remember Maslow's hierarchy? These are two basic needs that are not being met. When was the last time you can remember when you didn't know for sure that you would have food the next day?

In total, there are 350,000 peasant farmers (campecinos). These peasant farmers DO NOT own their own land. Before the recent land reform policy, 2% of the population of ES owned over 90% of the land. This figure has improved in recent years, but not by much. Los campecinos must therefore rent the land. However, many do not have the money to borrow to rent the land up front, so they take the land on a IOU, grow their crops and must give either the profits from the food or the food itself to the landowners, making them no better off than before. There is a law, similar to the squatting laws of North America, where if a peasant is on the land for so long, they own it. Therefore, each year the land is changed – meaning no campecino rents the same piece of land year after year. This means they are unable to adopt sustainable farming practices that will improve the land and crops year over year...yielding harsher conditions and less production over time. Not only this, but the good land is reserved for landowners...the land given to campecinos is therefore on a mountainside or another bad area – making soil erosion and gravity even more problems. And even worse? The only seed they can usually access is from transnationals like Monsanto. Monsanto uses seeds that you cannot reuse year after year because they are hybrid seeds – thereby genetically produced. We have an agronomist who thinks they come with the plague that affects most crops, meaning you must use their fertilizers - chemical fertilizers - which do nothing to help the earth or soil. So each year, 80% of people here do not grow enough to meet their own dietary needs, never mind the countries. They often have to take on additional work, like working in the sweat shops or cane fields – and often that doesn't even look after their family so they are left with unfriendly options. To starve or to leave.

Salvadorans work with “manzanas” rather than acres. One manzana is equal to 7000 square meters (an acre is 5/8th of a manzana).

Right now, what the country is lacking is sustainable and nutritious organic agriculture...for the people and the land. This was a theme that came up in every conversation we had with multiple authorities in the country – University Directors, Politicians, Theologians and Agronomists. Even those fighting for gender equality or those hoping to educate the youth agree that the number one need of the country right now is sustainable food systems. Otherwise, it could be disastrous in years to come.

One politician told us of a practice that was occuring – and still is – in many places. For example, say the country needs 33,000 manzanas produced each year of food to feed it's people. The Government and other landowners were getting together and ensuring that only half of that – or less – was produced. They were then importing grains from the States for cheaper than what it costs to produce here – and selling it for more in the markets. There was big profit in this. But does it do anything to help the state of the economy here? No. It hurts the people who grow food in a BIG way and solely benefits the few at the top. All for a buck in their pocket.

The other issue is that Salvadorans are one of the only economies in the world that run off another countries currency – the U.S. Dollar. Can you imagine if in Canada we had Abraham Lincoln and other U.S. Dignitaries in our face all the time? If we were to rise and fall with the States? How that would make us feel? I can't imagine. I am proud to be Canadian and many here are missing out on the chance to be proud to be Salvadoran. But the only way to get back to the colón? Raise production. The only way to raise production? Implement efficient and sustainable agricultural practices.

The current government has a plan of action for making some progress here. But we have talked in-depth with an agronomist who is part of our project, Otoniel, and he knows that more must be done - soon. When we asked what the solution is, apart from hoping for a miracle or that the rich SOB landowners finally decide to share the wealth, he responded with this:

"We need a chance to purchase manzanas of land to own. With this land, we could create a test plot that implements a couple of very important elements: 1) We will have land that can be used for a period of three or more years in a row, showcasing the absolute benefit of farmers having land on which they can implement sustainable practices 2) We will work with the community to understand their needs and plant what is required to meet them. 3) We will use only organic practices in order to help the soil and the earth. 4) We will use permaculture techniques and sustainable practices that will enrich the soil and create more efficient food production year upon year. 5) We will rotate depending on the years with chickens, beans, corn etc. This creates a cycle that increases the soil productivity and creates more food.

We need to show the government and landowners the extreme benefits of food production in this way so that we have enough food to feed the country, but we can begin to focus development dollars on other needs for the country – like education, health and equality for all.

With our own land, we can have an example that could spread throughout the country for the benefit of their most basic need. We can give life to the people."

As the age-old saying goes, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, but teach a man a fish and he'll eat for life.”

One of the peasant farmers with Project Manager Felix
and Jim in the fields.

Proudly showing off his banana plant.

On our way to the fields, we found
ourselves in a tropical jungle paradise with
this little waterfall. Gorgeous.

Finding water you could drink!
Well, not for gringos...

Now I must tell you quickly about my favourite lady, Maria. She is 72 years old and has a face that tells a beautiful story. Unfortunately, Maria has a son whom was "wrongly" accused of a robbery. His boss swears he was at work, but the courts are far from just here. Either way, she has to visit him twice a month in Santa Ana (which is about an hour away). She saves all her money to bring him supplies he may need and for the transport there and back - and thereby does not have the time to dedicate to her corn crop or to bettering her house.

She stands about 4'5" and when she hugs me it's almost at my waist. But on the way to show us her house (at least a 2 km walk from the road), you better believe she was about twenty yards ahead of us at all times. She also produced a 2 liter jug of orange juice and cups (out of where? She's so small and I had no idea she was carrying it) in the middle of our walk to quench everyone's thirst. Grandma's just come prepared, right? They are magical (love you Grandma) and so is she. If I could adopt anyone to bring back with me, it would be this beauty.

The leader of the Campecinos Organization
Jorge - in front of Maria's house
made...of sticks and plastic.

After meeting with the campecinos repeatedly in the past week, I have no doubt that these guys are capable. They are hard workers and honest people. But they need help. They have lived through wars and mighty oppression. They have seen many die for no reason and have had days of wondering whether food or justice would come. After all the luck we've had in our lives, we will try to find some way to create just a bit of luck for them. The first problem is getting the land. After that will come seed, fertilizers, training, housing, education and health. 

We have land secured that we could purchase. If you know of anyone who is willing / wishing to donate to this ongoing project, please contact me. It will go through the organization OTRA FE (A Different Faith). There are also many smaller projects that I will outline in detail later, including sponsorships of students, education projects, youth and senior projects and a clinic project. Any bit will help, but we do need a fair chunk. Let me know.

Big love!