The pandemic continues to mean food scarcity in Guatemala. Malnutrition is a problem that many families face. By providing seed packets to individual families, healthy vegetables become accessible to all.

Identifying the Need

Where we have instances of families or organizations with large land plots, we establish community gardens. When we can’t operate with that efficiency of scale, we distribute seed packets to individual families so they can plant family-size gardens in whatever little space they have.

Fortunately, the rich soil in Guatemala allows for wonderful harvests. With minimal investment, we can narrow the gap of food scarcity, provide nutritious food and bring hope to communities that are struggling.

Raising the Funds

Would feeding 500 families be a hard task? We had a fundraiser where we aimed to raise $2500. That would cover the purchase of 2,500 seed packets, five varieties of vegetable seeds to 500 families.

Fifty-five people generously pooled their money together and raised more than enough! The funds went toward buying vegetable seeds in bulk from Senacri. Senacri is a seed cultivator with operations all over Guatemala but a headquarters in Chichicastenango. They specialize in native seeds and ones used and appreciated by the culture of the people living here.

We even had the joy of visiting the Senacri seed cultivator garden to learn about the differences between growing seeds for consumption versus cultivating seeds. Very interesting and important work!

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Other expenses for this project include envelopes, glue sticks, and packaging labels.

Packing the Seeds

Yes, it would certainly be easier to buy pre-packaged and labeled seeds. But, by doing it ourselves, we’re saving almost 50%. This enables us to serve twice as many people with the same amount of funds!

With a bulk seed order, we receive seeds in a large bag. To create individual seed packets, we first label the envelope and write the name of the vegetable that will be packed inside. Then, we measure a tablespoon full of seeds and put them in the envelope. Finally, we use a glue stick to seal the packet.

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Distribution

Prior to our arrival in Guatemala, Diego packaged and delivered to 175 families all by himself. He delivered them to Chuwexa Segundo A and Xepocol. With our most recent distribution, we drove roughly a half hour to the community of Cantón Xabillaguach.

Xabillaguach had 118 families send a representative to the school on June 18th to collect the seeds that we had lovingly packed for them. We met in a field next to the school, as the school administration thought it would be too many people in an enclosed space if we used the school’s courtyard.

After hearing their concerns and words of thanks and appreciation, Diego asked all members to form a line. They did so, keeping some social distance between them.

When each person got to the front of the line, Diego first recorded their name, then how many were in the family, and finally asked them to sign acknowledging receipt.

As this information was being collected, I was taking one seed packet from each of five sacks and making bundles of five to hand to each person in line.

Observations

Before we handed out seeds, Diego shared our wishes that these seeds provide a great harvest and that this project was in line with our mission to provide healthy food for families — better health and better nutrition.

Diego then invited the members of the community to discuss other needs or ideas for the community. One person, Tomas, asked for our support in helping him with a larger garden plot, including tomato seeds and gardening tools. He has the space to farm. Tomatoes are one of the more expensive things at market right now. He wants to be in charge of a project that more efficiently provides produce for his neighbors, especially tomatoes.

Another person, Maria, said that education was very important in their community and expressed a hope that we might be able to provide support to some of their students, as so many from Xabillaguach did not have the economic means to attend school.

If the recipient did not know how to write his (or more likely *her*) name, then an ink pad was provided and a thumbprint was left in place of the signature.

Recording this information (name, family size and signature) is useful for a variety of reasons!

1. There is an audit trail and accountability.
2. Each person in the community receives a fair share.
3. It serves as a reminder that we were previously welcomed in a community and provided support to it. (Usually, the people that serve as community leaders are in their representative positions for one or two years. After that, there is turnover. Communities are very isolated and closed off, so to be invited in a community is an honor.)

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