Wellness in Guarjila

Wellness in Guarjila

Over the past couple of months my morning hours have been occupied
with many visit from mom’s and dad’s who come to the office just to
talk about stress related issues. Many of the issues are related to
the fear of the new highway and losing their homes, economics, health
care concerns, and some depression related to children being so far
away in the Unites States. According to Dr. Dagaberto he is also
seeing the same kind of issues with his patients in the clinic here in
Guarjila.

This has led us to develop with Santos Alfaro spaces for adult
recreation and exercise. The programs include walking, hiking,
swimming, indoor soccer and exercise classes which are being made
available to all adults in Guarjila. There is no question how
important these programs will become as part of an overall wellness
program for the people of this town. Like in the US there are still
skeptics that would still prefer expensive prescription medicine to
exercise and diet. We hope individual success will inspire others to
try on “wellness”.

Organic Food

Organic Food

In the past, April in Guarjila was all about preparing the land for
the planting of corn. April conversation was centered on when would
the rain begins so the work could begin. This year there seems very
little movement toward the land. Every year it seems that less and
less people are growing their own food. Luis Lopez told me he thinks
that only 50 % of the population in Guarjila will actually grow their
own food this year. This of course will have tremendous impact not
only on the health and well being of our people but will have a
tremendous effect on the culture of what was once campesino and rural.
It has become clear that the youth have little affinity to the land
which their mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters fought and died
on. There is also little appreciation for the agriculture of their
parents.

Our response to this has been to create an organic gardening space
here in the Tamarindo where Tamarindo’s can grow food, learn about
organic farming and even have fun doing it. The community has been
organized into four teams which will grow organic vegetables. The
teams will compete for the next five months, the length of the growing
season.

Weather permitting the organic farming groups will be able to come to
the Tamarindo and work the garden at night under lights. Each team has
been given the same area to farm. Each team will also receive the same
seeds. The only rule is to use no chemical fertilizers or
insecticides. We have asked experienced members of the community to
come and give us technical advice and other assistance. Prizes will be
awarded at the end of the growing season to each team. Tamarindo hands
are going back into the soil.