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Paraguay Garden Project
Urban Garden Network--Red de Huerta in Pilar, Paraguay
Ellen Clark ran the San
Francisco Marathon for the Paraguay
branch of The Sustainable Living Foundation on July 29, 2007,
and placed third in the 60-64 age group in 4:23:06.
Thank you for your support.
(Click on images to enlarge)
The article below was written by returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Gretchen
Oat in 2004. Both Gretchen and Will Clark were instrumental in
establishing the Urban Garden Network, Red de Juerta, for the
Sustainable Living Foundation in 2003. Their volunteer time in
Pilar over lapped by three months.
Since Gretchen wrote this article, the Garden Project has expanded to
include:
- A demonstration plot
- Eight wells
- 20 family gardens
- Five students on work scholarships
Gretchen Oat (Paraguay, 1999 to 2003)
 Walking
through the barrios outside the city of Pilar, Paraguay, patches
of vegetable gardens appear sparse against the larger expanses of dirt
and urban dwellings. Taking a closer look, one finds a rampant blend of
green life ranging from the standard three sisters (corn, beans, squash)
to an array of sub-tropical oddities: passionfruit, hanging air potatoes,
yva puru, nanga priri. There's nothing more exciting than exploring these
glimpses of paradise. In conversation with the families responsible for
the care of these pieces of tierra, the same themes always seem to unearth
themselves. The garden is a great way for obtaining vegetables for household
consumption. The excess produce can be sold within the neighborhood barrio
or brought to market in the city center. It seems like such common sense.
Looking around, however, it is easily revealed: common sense is not common
practice. In truth, many people go days without eating and have a tendency
to center their diet around oil, salt and flour.
The city of Pilar is located in the southwest corner of Paraguay,
just north of the confluence of the Rio Paraguay and the Rio
Parana. In letters home, I would describe the land as a hybrid of the
Florida Everglades and the Kansas prairieland. The people, a mix of Guarani-speaking
campesinos and an urbanized elite, were some of the friendliest and most
gentle folk I've ever met. Pilar, a relatively progressive place, is home
to several universities and centers for advanced training. Most every
weeknight evening, the streets are teaming with youth and young adults
as they make their way to school. Classes are held at night, as most students
cannot afford to dedicate themselves full-time to their studies and maintain
a job during the day. For many, the task of finding a job to cover the
basic costs of living, let alone the univerity fees, proves to be difficult,
given the extremely challenging economic situation. How is it that such
a large number of people are on the borders of severe malnutrition, in
such a seemingly prosperous town?
The Urban Garden Network--Red de Huerta-- was formed in the barrios
of Ytororo, San Roque, San Lorenzo and Villa Parque, within the
city of Pilar in the southern summer of 2003 by regional Peace
Corps Volunteers and several youth. The program was created with several
aims in mind. We hoped to address the immediate need for food security
by achieving a higher degree of self-sufficiency while also improving
nutrition by incorporating locally grown produce into the diet. In establishing
a network between gardens and gardeners, we aspired to develop the ability
to communicate and a sense of sharing amongst the participants as well
as to promote experimentation with different gardening techniques.
  Each
youth is responsible for maintaining their own garden and a journal of
their garden-related activities. This has involved: constructing fencing,
building up garden beds, planting seed starter boxes, maintaining the
garden once it has been planted, harvesting and using the vegetables,
seed saving and beginning compost piles. Further, the youth are also encouraged
to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with interested families,
assisting them with their gardens. In exchange for their continued participation,
each youth is awarded a monthly educational stipend. In this
way, the costs for obtaining high education are alleviated.
Currently, there are four youths involved in the project. We
continue to secure funding which enables us to provide these youths with
educational stipends for the duration of their programs of study.
If you are interested
in finding out more about this program or have your insights
to share about urban gardening, please call the Sustainable Living
Foundation at 650 941
9206 or write to:
The Sustainable Living
Foundation
156 Marvin Ave.
Los Altos, CA 94022
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