Trees for Paraguay

Teodocio completes a mass planting of Tajy and Peterevy

2000 trees, delivered right to our patio! That’s how phase two of our tree project began. To recap Phase One: We went to agriculture comite meetings and talked to the farmers  about how planting native trees near cultivated land could serve as wind breaks, living posts, and introduce nitrogen and organic matter into the soil. Seeing there was interest in this project, we worked with comite presidents to write grants to a Paraguayan non-profit organization, “ A Todo Pulmon Paraguay Respira”, which has interests in the reforestation of Paraguay. The grants were approved, the farmers signed up for specific numbers and varieties of trees native to Paraguay, we made contact with a tree nursery in Villa Florida, and about two months later, the trees arrived!

Comite Yvy Pyta poses for a picture

A group was on hand to help unload the trees, placing them in designated areas, to separate them by variety. Next, we labeled the trees, counted them and prepared each farmer’s order. The following Saturday, 30 farmers came to our house for the tree distribution. Felix, President of the Yvy Pyta comite, gave a demonstration on how to correctly plant the trees, including how to care for and protect them.  

Comite President, Felix, teaches his members about trees

 Mark and I thanked the farmers for doing their part in re-foresting Paraguay, and the NGO for providing the trees. We also explained that we would be available to help with planting, and would be sending GPS coordinates of the planting sites to the NGO, as required.

Leyla "heads" home with her trees!

And then, the little trees began making their way to new homes, some by wheel barrow, some by horse and cart, some even on the tops of people’s heads!

Jesu Maria takes his 178 native trees home with a little help from a friend

Since then, we have helped  a few farmers plant trees, worked with a 7^th grade class to plant trees at the police station, taken GPS coordinates of completed plantings, taken pictures of proud farmers with their completed tree projects, and are waiting out some cold rainy weather before we set out again.

Juan completed a fence line planting

This has been a rewarding project for us. We worked to: raise awareness about Paraguayan agencies and the grant writing process to access services; empower the farmers to teach each other; and were able to plant a few trees at the same time!

Processing Raw Wool into Works of Art

The women in Arazape are masters in the process of turning a big, brown heap of wool, straight from the sheep, into beautiful, functional works of art, using only their hands and a few simple tools. I have had the privilege of working with these women and learning their craft, well, at least parts of it. We spend lots of time laughing at my clumsy attempts at the time-honored wool work that has been passed down from mother to daughter for generations.

 The wool is purchased from a local cooperative located about 13 kilometers from Arazape, in San Miguel. The women bring their feedsacks stuffed with raw wool, (5-7 kilos, the equivalent of fleece from 2-3 sheep), back to Arazape, where the transformation begins.

Magdi and Rafaela separate the wool

1. First, the wool is separated, into two piles. The coarse, more heavily soiled wool is set aside to make “hergas”, (Guarani word for saddle blankets). The remaining wool is used for the specialties for which this area is famous, ponchos and “vishus”, (Guarani word for shawls).

Pounding the wool releases dirt and debris from the wool fibers

2. The wool is cleaned by soaking it in a bucket of cold water to which a tiny bit of laundry soap has been added. Next, a small clump of the wet wool is placed on a flat board, and is beaten with a paddle. This part of the process splashes dirty brown water in all direction. The “paddler” is advised to work with her mouth closed, which I learned the hard way. More laughing ensued. After a thorough paddling, the clump of wool is wrung out and rinsed in a bucket of clean water. This process continues until all of the soaked wool has been cleaned.

3. The wool is hung on a line or barbed wire fence, until dry.

4. After it has dried, the wool is carded to remove any remaining debris, comb through and fluff the fibers.

Dominga shows fellow volunteer Lydia how to "finger spin" the wool

5. Next, the carded wool is pulled into the shape of a snake, then spun using fingers or a drop spindle.

Julia proudly displays her newly completed vishu

6. Finally, the hand- spun wool is crocheted by these skilled artisans, creating beautiful wool products. These finished products, are then taken back to San Miguel, where they are marketed in small tiendas, located near the main ruta. Many products were also on display at the recent Ovecha Rogue Festival, celebrating the tradition of crafting with wool.

Spending time with and learning from my friends and neighbors has been an amazing experience. In learning about this part of their culture, they shared their craft, but more importantly, we shared stories about our families, a little gossip about the goings on in the community, hopes and dreams, and just time together.

Medicinal Herbs in my Backyard

The Paraguayan women in our community have a wealth of information about using local plants as natural remedies for everything from coughs, to stomach ailments, to skin infections. It has been fascinating to learn about how this knowledge has been passed down through the generations, among these resourceful women.  Over time, friends and neighbors have shared plants or cuttings, or showed me where I could locate specific specimens, and now I have a collection of medicinal herbs in my own back yard.

Yerba de Lucero (Pluchea suaveolens kuntze)- leaves used for intestinal disturbances

My first introduction to this topic arose out of necessity. The one and only time I was sick, during my Peace Corps service, I was REALLY sick. Let’s just say I had multiple stomach issues…. The woman we were living with at the time prepared a tea for me that included Yerba de Lucero and Ajenjo, two plants growing in the forest near her house. Though I was hesitant to put anything in my stomach, after much coaxing, I decided to give it a try. Afterward, I felt so much better- the results were amazing!

Kumanda Yvyra'i (Cajanus cajan)- leaves used to relieve cough

Since then, I have spent lots of time with these wise women who have helped me identify medicinal herbs in our area, taught me what ailments they are used to treat, and how to prepare them for use. During this time, I collected, pressed, and dried leaves from these plants, and recorded information about each one to create a

Poha ñana, (medicinal herb), notebook. To date, I have collected over 50 different plant samples with pertinent information about each. I was also able to locate the Latin names to accompany the common Guarani or Spanish plant names, so I can continue to cultivate many of these medicinal herbs when we return to the states.

Borraja (Borago oficinales L.)- flowers used to treat bronchitis

Yesterday, a neighbor stopped by our house to gather some herbs from our garden to prepare a tea, to ease her daughter’s cough. It made me feel so good to share some of my medicinal plants with her, something about which she had taught me so much!

So Much More Than 10 Fingers and 10 Toes.....

Our New Grand Baby Zayne!

We just returned from a visit to the states to meet our first grand baby. After returning to Paraguay, I’ve had time to reflect not only about this beautiful new addition to our family, but also about the circle of love he has surrounding him.

Thoughts come back to me like:

* Seeing your dad hold his great grandson and remembering him hold his granddaughter in the same way.

* Hearing of your son telling his new employer he couldn’t move and start the new job until after his sister’s baby was born.

* Knowing your daughter and son in law stayed up well past midnight several nights to ensure that her sister’s baby shower invitations and decorations were perfect.

* Seeing the care shared by family and friends in selecting the perfect gift or the love in each stitch of every handmade treasure.

* Watching your daughter and son in law work together as a team to care for and love this new little person they brought into the world.

* Hearing your mom say the same sweet things to this new baby, as she did 27 years ago to her own granddaughter.

* Seeing the smiles of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, as Zayne was carefully passed to each new set of waiting arms.

* Finding out how quickly you could fall in love with this tiny new person, in the same way you did when your own children were born.

Welcome to the world, sweet baby Zayne, and into this loving circle of family and friends.

Mi Amigo, El Libro!

Mi Amigo El Libro- This first grade class knows how to use and take care of books!

Our Library project is nearing the end of it's second phase. It has been an amazing experience to see kids so excited to have books to read- something so many of us take for granted in the states. Equally gratifying is to know that teachers now have books to use as teaching tools in the classrooms!

To recap- Phase 1 of our library project went something like this: a needs assessment survey at the school showed a need for books, book cases and staff development; the Parents Commission provided funding for book displays; a local carpenter built them; the book displays were transported to the schools in the back of the local police truck; the students varnished the book displays, then stocked them with the books. The books were purchased and surplus books written in Spanish that we brought from the states, with help from our parents, kids, and friends.

By the end of November, 2012, this collaborative effort resulted in 500 books with book displays provided for two separate schools in our community.

Phase 2 of the library project has been focused on teacher/staff development and determining how these books might be used in the schools. I started by putting my ideas and plans away, and really listening to the principal and teachers to determine their needs. These teachers had never had books to share with their students. Their thoughts ranged from: not letting kids touch the books for fear they might get them dirty, to wondering how they might use the books to help kids become better readers. I did my best to meet them where they were, and help them move forward from there. Together, we determined that staff development would include:

1.      Teaching students how to care for and use the books correctly.

2.       Sharing ideas for increasing students’ enthusiasm for reading.

3.      How to do a teacher “read- aloud” in the classroom, and developing a system for daily reading.

4.       Developing a system for borrowing books from the library.

I started by sharing some research with the principal and a key teacher about the why’s and how’s of reading aloud to students. We prepared a short presentation, which a teacher shared with the entire staff.

Mirta Provided Staff Development

 We also created a weekly schedule for class visits to the library to ensure books were getting into the hands of kids. Next, the principal asked me to visit every classroom, model a “read aloud”, and work with teachers to share information with students about taking care of books. I invited a teenage neighbor to model  “read alouds” with excitement and enthusiasm for the older students. 

Read Aloud with Enthusiasm!

 Every class visited the library, where teachers explained how to select and borrow books from the library.

We Love Books!

Next week, I will follow up by visiting every teacher to offer additional support if needed.

At a recent assembly, I heard the Principal encouraging students, to read and announced that a special reading day would be held later in the year to celebrate student reading improvement, with prizes to be awarded!

Somos Lectores!