THREE MONTHS AND SIXTEEN DAYS, FOURTEEN WEEKS BEATS, CREEKS, JEEPS, DEETS, SUCCESS, DEFEAT, ANCESTRAL VOCALS FROM LOCALS OLD-SCHOOL MOGULS STUDIOUS STUDENT WITH THOSE TOOLS, THE SOURCE IS MY “GO-TO” VALLEY OF DEATH I HAD TO GO THROUGH GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT GOONS, COLD NEWS, WARM CIVIL WAR PEASANTS STILL POOR TOURIST VISA PAUPER ON …
In the dimly lit room, the fire crackles and casts flickering shadows on the weathered faces of those gathered around. Their eyes are fixed on the storyteller, a seasoned guardian of the past, as she weaves a tapestry of words that reaches beyond the confines of time. This scene, reminiscent of ages long gone, captures …
The construction industry is a big polluter. The manufacturing of building materials – such as steel, iron, cement and glass – contributes to 11% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. A further 28% of emissions can be attributed to the powering of residential and non-residential buildings, totalling 39% for the construction industry. Whilst many countries …
Continue reading “The built environment: documenting sustainable construction techniques (by Kate)”
Nestled amidst the rugged embrace of Guatemala’s towering volcanoes, Lake Atitlan emerges like a precious gem laying testament to natures majestic beauty. This pristine body of water captivates many a traveller to marvel upon its enchanting splendour each year. But how did it come to be renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes on …
Continue reading “The place where the Rainbow gets its colour (by Inno)”
Human activity is causing major pollution including the introduction of heavy metals, chemical compounds and nutrient-loaded wastewater into the environment. This is polluting aquatic environments causing a decline in biodiversity and is even polluting groundwater sources. Plants and trees and other living organisms have natural filtering and buffering abilities but these vary by plant and …
Continue reading “Integrating Permaculture into Modern Cities by Lauren”
This playlist is a collection of soundscapes collected by Tati during her time as a participant on the programme. See below for descriptions. Hoeing and Raking at Dreamland This recording was taken during a workday while we hoed and raked the soil to rid it of weeds that had invaded some of the land at …
It’s difficult to take an interest in permaculture and environmental protection in Central America without coming across stories of the severe persecution faced by many land defenders at the hands of powerful political and corporate alliances. During my time on the Gotoco programme in Guatemala, I heard of a number of environmental initiatives that threatened …
The Maya Religion The Maya religion was founded in about 250 AD. It was polytheistic and worshipped the gods of nature, such as the gods of Sun, Venus and Maize. The Maya priests had a large impact on Maya daily life, for example, deciding when crops were to be planted and when individuals were to …
Mathematics is a universal language that has evolved and been refined by numerous civilizations throughout history. Among them, the ancient Maya civilization of Mesoamerica made remarkable contributions to the field of mathematics. The Mayans developed a sophisticated numerical system, devised advanced calendrical calculations, and possessed an astute understanding of astronomy. In this blog post, we …
Continue reading “Unravelling the Mysteries of Mayan Mathematics”
During my time living in a homestay in San Pedro La Laguna , I decided to make Rellenitos de Plátanos – a sweet Guatemalan dessert made of refried black beans, plantains, and sugar. This delicious snack is often eaten during holidays and celebrations in Guatemala. I decided to make the rellenitos as a thank you …
Buzzing with Excitement There are some experiences in life that leave us dizzy with excitement, and a visit to a bee farm is one of those experiences! The thought of being surrounded by buzzing bees and honey is enough to make any nature-lover giddy, and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing it for myself. …
For the past week, I’ve been living in Santiago and volunteering at “Tierra de Suenos” – literally translating to “Dreamland”. Dreamland is a permaculture project located near a small village called San Antonio Chacaya, which is about a 20 minute drive from where we live in Santiago. The project is mainly run by Aliix, a …
Continue reading “A Day In The Life Of A Dreamland Volunteer”
This time last year, I was beginning to revise for what would later come to be known as the worst six weeks of my life: A-level exam season. Now, I’m beginning to write a post about the past three months I spent volunteering in Guatemala – safe to say, I have had a slight life …
Continue reading “Sorcha Talks About Her Experience On The Programme”
Tone-set. It’s the dry season and has rained only once, lightly, in three months. Regardless, all is in abundance, blooming, nature gleaming with self-satisfaction and ease in achieving its fulfillment and liveliness. I went walking and exploring regularly, finding myself on hilltops overlooking the brilliance of the lake in the colors of dusk or late …
Continue reading “Zackiel Talks About His Experience On The Programme”
It was a great program, providing both theoretical and hands-on experience. Starting with IMAP was very beneficial. We learned a lot about Mayan culture and agriculture, and we even created compost and visited various fieldwork locations. Working in groups to design a piece of land was challenging, but we learned a lot about the factors …
Continue reading “Jina Talks About Her Experience On The Programme”
