The purpose of the project is to improve families' access to sustainably grown vegetables, grains, and fruits, promoting a healthier and more varied diet. Additionally, it aims to foster food sovereignty and increase communities' capacity to face unforeseen events, such as pandemics and the effects of climate change.
Educational medium
The bio-garden also serves as a living educational tool, where children learn about the importance of food for health while actively participating in the planting, care, and harvesting of their own crops. Mater guides families in the implementation and maintenance of the bio-garden, raising awareness about the need to have a variety of nutritious supplies throughout the year.
Strategy
The bio-garden is divided into four terraced segments, each dedicated to a type of crop. A double digging method was used to improve soil porosity and ventilation, facilitating root penetration and the absorption of nutrients and water, resulting in higher yields. Additionally, close planting was implemented, where seeds are placed in diagonal rows, optimizing space for more plants. Irrigation is done by sprinkling, allowing for efficient and localized watering, which is crucial in an area with water scarcity.
A report on food anthropology, created at the beginning of the project, served as the basis for creating a recipe book adapted to the local context. This report compiled food habits, cooking techniques, kitchen equipment, and the variation of diets according to the seasons. The recipe book offers diverse and contextualized options to use local products and those grown in family bio-gardens.
