Provide Organic Gardens for 20 Indigenous Women

When Josefa first joined the organic gardening program she had little knowledge about gardening methods, but now, a year later, she has a vibrant garden that sustains her family and also attracts others in the community. The program has had a strong impact on her personal development and long-term effects on her community.

From student to teacher - Since the beginning, Josefa has been an active participant in the program with an eager attitude to learn. She wanted to gain the skills to sustain herself and her family. She has attended gardening meetings and workshops at least once a week for the past year. Sometimes the women receive external teachings that are not presented in their native tongue. Josefa’s bilingual abilities have been invaluable, as she often translates from Spanish to her native tongue for the rest of the women to learn. Nowadays, she focuses less on her own acquisitions of skills and knowledge, instead she works closely with the gardening project coordinators to teach and mentor new women who’ve joined the group.

Josefa inspires her community - At the beginning of the program all participants are taught that gardens are like babies: they need daily nutrients, care, and dedication to grow. Josefa took this metaphor seriously and because of her great care of her garden, she is known to have a bright and green garden all year round. Several women in the community notice her garden and want that for themselves and are on the waiting list to join the program. Josefa’s mother, sister-in-law and cousins have recently joined the program.

Better nutrients and additional resources for her family - Because Josefa maintains her garden so well, she can provide reliable nutrients to her family. She grows lettuce, onions, radishes, cauliflower, and garlic, to name a few. She also is a reliable resource to her community, as she sells her produce to her neighbors. In addition to saving her earnings for her family, she uses them to buy things that are difficult to grow, like sugar and salt.

Please donate to the project today so you can give women, like Josefa, the opportunity to develop their skills and impact the nutritional health of their community! Funds go directly towards supplies for the women to set-up and maintain their gardens as well as developmental workshops. Consider that $25 will provide a woman start-up funds to invest in her garden!