Letter 6 - Agroecology at the Torres Farm
Our Heifer Ecuador tour is still in the mountains visiting
our second Andean farm, this one at a lower elevation of 6,600 feet. Manuel Torres’s operation seems be an operational
match for the definition of agroecology ‘…a whole-systems approach to
agriculture and food systems development based on traditional knowledge,
alternative agriculture, and local food system experiences.’
Señor Torres, who farms with his wife, summed up their life
work. “This is the source of our well-being — producing for our own families,
and selling what is extra.”
As we walked around the fields we spotted various herbs,
squashes, lettuces, cabbages and other crucifers, as well as alfalfa for the
animals. In addition, Señor Torres grows hominy corn and potatoes — 18
varieties of potatoes, in fact.
Señor Torres composts, of course. And he biols, as well. Biol is the product of biodigesting manures and plant materials. He
ticked off the animal fertilizer ingredients: “de vaca, conejo, gallina,
chancho, y cuy — y todos limpios.”
That’s clean organic manure from cow, rabbit, hen, hog, and guinea pig.
The result is a concentrated organic foliar fertilizer to use on his farm.
Señor Torres also saves seeds. He invited us into the
storeroom, where we marveled at gunny sacks full of seeds of all sorts,
including seed potatoes. Indeed, the Torres’s are designated seed savers for
their grower organization, Produagro of Tungurahua.
A seed — a tiny object of enormous potential. That is what
we felt at the Torres farm: the potential of Heifer Ecuador’s work to spread
the agroecological approach over Ecuador, realizing the basic Heifer mission of
working to end hunger while caring for the Earth.
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