Planting seeds

Originally published on Project Nuevo Mundo (projectnuevomundo.blogspot.com) on 23 September 2012. Recovered from web archives in October 2026; the text is unchanged. 1 photo from the original post (hosted on Facebook) could not be recovered.

2012 is a year of cultivating new beginnings. Our partner Atitlan Organics has been working on an inspiring community garden project in the local communities: “Shad Qudsi, Co-Founder of Atitlan Organics, has been hired as the Agricultural Specialist to oversee the design and installation of four community gardens in and around the Tzununa Valley. Working with Amigos de Santa Cruz and several other organizations, the group managed to successfully receive funding for the Local Food Production Project. The goal of this project is to work with local families in producing nutritious, organic food to supplement the daily meals that are prepared at each of four nutrition centers in the valley. Through the creation of four demonstration gardens, we in affect developing a platform for future workshops that have to do with organic cultivation and sustainable lifestyle choices. The one-year project started on February 1st, 2012. We will keep you updated with our progress at each site.” We have teamed up to collaborate with Atitlan Organics and the Instituto Mesoamericano de la Permacultura (Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute) to create a permaculture design course weaving indigenous Mayan traditional plant knowledge into modern agro-ecological techniques.

The 2-week course offers the internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate curriculum and covers a broad range of themes to provide a holistic overview of permaculture practices, biodiversity and sustainable living. Topics include: Introduction to permaculture: history, ethics & principles Mayan culture and biodiversity Reading and understanding the landscape Natural principles and Permaculture design Natural and cultivated ecosystems Developing productive systems with permaculture Social permaculture and community self sufficiency Drawing techniques and hands-on design projects We train people of all backgrounds, ages, experience and skills to design using natural patterns based on ecological principles. Our graduates leave ready to apply what they’ve learned in their yards, on their land, and in their homes and businesses. Ronaldo Lec Ajcot (IMAP) and Shad Qudsi (Atitlan Organics), as well as many other local guest teachers, will be leading this course. For the transition from 2012 to 2013, we have planned an international tribal gathering that incorporates art, live and electronic music, conscious workshops and lectures, and a series of Mayan cultural and ceremonial events. The festival will take place from December 30 - January 1. More information can be found by visiting the Cosmic Convergence website. Email cosmic convergence@gmail.com if you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer or artist!

Love & Light