Week 3

This was our first week that involved hands on agricultural experience.  On Tuesday, we hiked up from La Azomada to one of our national volunteer’s family finca (plot).  We were told it would be quite a challenging 30 minute hike to get there.  I think it is safe to say that they had overestimated us Brits’ prowess at scaling steep mule tracks through cloud forest at altitude…

  We did make it though, after an hour of huffing and puffing and getting a bit cross when no matter how much further we climbed, we were told “Just twenty five more minutes.” Once we did reach the finca and looked back down on where we had come from, I was impressed that it hadn´t taken us longer than an hour! 

  At the finca, we divided into little teams and planted out young coffee plants.  This involved hoeing the area around the plant, removing the sapling from its plastic grow bag and settling it in to its designated hole.  It was a nice opportunity for us to see some of what is involved in the daily routine of young people in the communities and for the national volunteers to share their knowledge and skills with us. 

  When we reached La Azomada after lunch, it was time for our first, brief radio appearance.  We each introduced ourselves and I read out a sentence about Progressio to break through the fear barrier of speaking in Spanish on a radio station that reaches tens of thousands of Hondurans (no pressure).  Tomorrow (Mon) will be our first proper programme.  Eeek!

  Wednesday and Thursday were taken up with conducting surveys of businesses in the local area with the aim of identifying potential advertisers to generate income for the radio.  We also had another Spanish and English class.  My contribution was an English pronunciation workshop for the national volunteers.  It was nice to be able to actually use my degree!  How successful (or not) it was will be apparent in time…

  Friday was another agricultural morning.  This time we headed down into a valley to another volunteer’s family finca.  It was very muddy, but once again absolutely stunning.  We were shown how to clear the weeds around the young coffee plants so as to provide a natural compost and maintain biodiversity.  This involved the use of an azadón (big, heavy hoe) and machetes (yeah!).

  We also saw the farmer use a cocktail of natural goodies to spray the crops.  These included a suspension of good bacteria, calcium sulphate and some fairly ripe smelling organic fertiliser.  I have to say, I like the thought of the coffee I drink being grown that way.  Like I like the thought of pulling ripe fruit off a tree and biting into it without having to wonder what chemicals are coating it.  Even having grown up around farms, seeing where your food comes from still changes your view of it!

  The journey home was extra fun on Friday too.  The road was so bad we had to get out and walk at one point.  It all adds a bit of excitement!

  Yesterday, we went on a trip to Santa Rosa de Copán with most of our national volunteers.  Santa Rosa is a big town about an hour’s drive from Gracias.  It is the gateway to the Copán Ruinas, so is quite a bustling hub.  It was a bit of a surreal trip.  Our first stop was a mall on the outskirts of town.  I was pretty confused as to why we were there (I had been asleep on the bus) until I saw the television screens and clusters of men watching El Clasico.  Riiiiiight.  We were at a mall for the football….It gave me the opportunity to go earring shopping though (bigger, bolder jewellery than most shops would risk in the UK), so no hard feelings towards the game.

  The rain was falling hard and the temperature was scraping a chilly 16°C, so we dashed between shops briefly, took more photos than any Northern European is comfortable with and then headed home.  There were other memorable events, but not ones I’m going to discuss here!  Feliz día.

Ellen xx