Family Traditions in Agroecology

Chico sapote fruit and tree

Visiting a Family Ranch and Farm

on the Coast of Chiapas

Today we were welcomed into a loud and lively home where four generations of family members live together on their ranch on the coast of Chiapas. The women in the family each greeted us with a hug and the grandmother of the family-- Mama Chave-- showed me every tree around the patio. She also gave us frozen sapotes (fruit picture above) which taste like fruity ice cream.

Then the grandmother, Mama Chave, went to the refrigerator to show me her homemade achiote (annato seeds) which were wrapped up in a paper towel. Achiote is used in Latin America as a natural condiment and coloring for many foods. She said that no one will ever catch her using store brand condiments like "knorr suiza" to make broths and soups. Her mother was also known for making huge quantities of achiote and Mama Chave hasn't wanted to lose the tradition.

Achiote tree and artisanal achiote, which is used as a condiment and coloring for many foods

On the family's ranch there was a litter of piglets, a pair of turkeys, many pelibuey and sheep, chickens, ducks, and cattle. Fruit trees filled the patio including guanabana (soursop), chico sapote (pictured above), achiote (annato seeds), almond, mango, tamarind, jocote, coconut, hibiscus, varieties of bananas, etc. Mama Chave's great grandsons climbed the trees and picked us fruits until their mothers shouted for them to get down already 😊 Then they ran off to their next mischief chasing the sheep and pigs.

Agroecology Workshop

After a warm welcome, we started off the agroecology workshop with reflections on the milpa as an agroecological system. The milpa system is an agricultural tradition in Latin America, and it is commonly known for having the three sisters crops-- corn, squash, and beans. In the agroecology workshops, the organization I am interning with makes space to remember and reflect on the importance of the many aspects of the milpa and how to recover or reincorporate them.

Discussing the traditional Milpa system

As a group, we talked about the different aspects of the milpa as an agroecological system. Towards the end, we talked about the milpa system as a method of reproducing and collecting seeds. Reproducing and collecting seeds is important so that families and producers don't have to keep buying seeds and they can preserve local, native seeds that work best in the region. It's also a way to save and recover traditions. It's a family inheritance that can be passed from generation to generation. The agroecological extension worker explained that, "If we save our seeds, our great-grandchildren will be able to produce the same variety of plants and vegetables as us. In that sense, seeds have stories and memories."

Family lunch of Mole with chicken

After the workshop we had an amazing lunch with the whole family. We ate Mole with chicken, which is a traditional Mexican sauce made with lots of spices and chocolate.

Putting Seed Saving into Practice

After lunch we began to prepare different materials that can be used to store and conserve seeds more effectively. First, we cut some hierba santa or mumo leaves. This type of leaf is often used to make tamales and can be found in many local homes. We hung the leaves up to dry in a place where the sun doesn't hit directly. After the leaves dry in the shade, they are pulverized and used to store with seeds. They are helpful in storing seeds because their smell keeps insects away and helps conserve seeds longer and more safely.

Drying hierba santa/ mumo leaves for seed saving

Then the whole family pitched in to sift ashes. Ashes are also used to store with seeds to prevent excessive humidity and therefore conserve seeds better. But first, they must be sifted to get out any rocks and bigger pieces.

Sifting ashes for storing seeds

Finally, we closed the workshops by giving the family different varieties of seeds (squash and pumpkin, different varieties of beans, etc.) that they can use to get started with their milpa and begin reproducing and saving seeds! We also scoped out a place in the patio where they can begin a vegetable garden.

It was nice to see how the family values and prioritizes agricultural traditions but also how they prioritize working with family and community. The youngest grandsons joined in every activity in the workshops next to their mothers. This comes from their family's intention to involve everyone in the traditions and tasks on the ranch together. This is also a central part of agroecology and the milpa: Working together with family and community.

Engaging in work collectively with family, community, neighbors, etc. is important in a time in which we are very disconnected from our communities and the production of our food. We depend on the market for a lot of things, and as a result we lose the knowledge of how to do and make things together. That's why Mama Chave likes to include her grandsons in shucking corn, collecting seeds for her achiote, etc. It's an intentional decision to raise the younger family members in this way to keep alive family traditions and bonds.