Climate Action Mexico Project #36387

Home Gardens for 100 Families, Oaxaca, Mexico

by EcoLogic Development Fund

Summary

The project will support 100 rural households to establish home and community gardens. It provides families with the ability to produce healthy vegetables that are scarce and expensive in local markets because of COVID-19. Due to social distancing restrictions, access to food has decreased. The families consider these backyard gardens a solution to produce native and nutritious plants at a low cost, in a sustainable way, and secure family nutrition and health in La Chinantla, Oaxaca.

$15,000
total goal

$6,950
remaining

57
donors

0
monthly donors

6
fundraisers

5
years

Challenge

Poverty and marginalization in rural areas of Mexico have increased in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic is making matters worse. Access to food and a balanced meal for rural families has become a greater challenge now that the products are more expensive and distribution problems have arisen. We seek to support 100 rural families living in two municipalities in Chinantla, Oaxaca, where the pandemic is exacerbating existing inequalities due to limited financial means and poor nutrition.

Solution

This project improves the diet of rural families, by providing tools and knowledge to produce seasonal vegetables and crops during the year that are implemented in their homes and community parcels. At the same time, the link between the communities and their environment is strengthened and they are invited to become involved in their care and management. The activity also enhances bonds between family members in this stressful time of confinement and isolation due to COVID-19.

Long-Term Impact

The project will train 100 families to produce healthy foods, responding to immediate nutrition needs, while also building their capacity to replicate what they learn and teach others. Our training approach has been modified due to COVID-19, to include safety measures for the communities and families. This activity is now more important than ever as it provides access to food sources without having to resort to activities that threaten conserved areas such as illegal hunting and logging.