COMMU NITY VEGETABLE GARDEN

Towards the middle of March of this year, we realised a dream that we have had for over a year. We set up a community vegetable garden with the collaboration of three mothers who participate in the catechetical formation in one of the chapels of the parish in the district of Primavera.

COMMUNITY
VEGETABLE
GARDEN

Towards the middle of March of this year, we realised a dream that we have had for over a year.  We set up a community vegetable garden with the collaboration of three mothers who participate in the catechetical formation in one of the chapels of the parish in the district of Primavera.  These women have 8, 5 and 3 children respectively, all of school age.  When we visited them in their homes, they all expressed the desire for a vegetable patch so as to improve their children’s diet.

In sharing the word of God, we have been able to discover how, in these difficult times, Jesus encourages us to value unity, solidarity and fraternity in the living out of our daily lives.  This is essential, not only for our own family but also for all our brothers and sisters because “He has come that we might have life and life to the full”.  John 10:10.  It was wonderful to hear that the people wanted to form a united group and that they saw the need to commit themselves to pray in order to carry out a common task.  They accepted the challenge of working to create good relationships among themselves and to collaborate in making the dream of a common vegetable garden a reality.

Other mothers joined the group.  And the project got under way: they visited the head of the school, they talked about their concerns and he gave them a large piece of land belonging to the school; he even made a commitment to do some work himself.  The women sought estimates for the purchase of some basic tools, seeds and so on.  Two of the fathers installed a hosepipe which brought water from the school.  Mothers and children began to prepare the ground..  The excessive heat was no obstacle to them and they worked hard passing “tereré” (cold tea) from one to the other as they toiled.

What a thrill it was to see the first shoots!  Soon the first spinach plants and cabbages appeared on the family tables.  Even those who did not participate in the work received a share of the fruits.  Of course we had very little experience of how to care for a vegetable garden and unfortunately our brothers the ants made off with the greenest of leaves in a single night.

In August, when the moon was waning, manioc was planted and as one of the mothers, Miriam, said to me: “God willing, Sister, we will have a good crop at the beginning of February”.  Manioc is called “the bread of the poor” in these parts.

A coordinator from INTA visits us every week to advise and help us.  It is really wonderful to see how people are working together and helping one another to achieve a better quality of life.  We earnestly hope that this will continue.

The following is the prayer that we say at group meetings:

 

Blessed are you Creator, God of life, blessed are you for your creation,

for the earth and the air, for the sun and the rain,

for the miracle of every small seed,

for the great miracle of the food you provide for us every day.

Blessed are you O God for the wonderful taste of fried manioc,

roasted potato, toasted peanuts and popcorn.

Blessed are you for the memory of the wise voices of our Guarani,

Creole and European ancestors who remind us

that the earth is not the property of those who inhabit it but rather

of those who respect and care for it.

We must return to mother earth,

we must cultivate and care for the earth. 

Help us to select and preserve good seed.

Creator God, thank you for all that you provide for our families,

for the food in our pots and on our tables,

food that will nourish our children and grandchildren.

As we journey on this earth on route to our heavenly home,

we continue to dream of the table

where all are welcome to share as sisters and brothers. 

For this we pray. 

Amen.

   

Sister Elsa Santana

Community of Wanda-Argentina