SUSTAINABLE BACKYARD ORCHARDS IN COMMUNITIES IN THE HUASTECA REGION, VERACRUZ

During the 2014-2022 period, we operated the Sustainable Backyard Orchard project in communities in the Huasteca region in Veracruz, with the objective of improving the quality of life of the participating communities.

Our lines of action focused on the implementation of eco-technologies and sustainable practices in family plots, promoting the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, wood-saving stoves and backyard gardens. We also conducted environmental awareness workshops, promoted new sustainable options through pilot projects and fostered community integration. This project has had a direct impact on 725 people and 2,300 students, and an indirect impact on some 10,000 people over eight years of work.

Beyond the numbers, we make a real impact on people’s daily lives through ecotechnologies that provide families with permanent access to water for basic hygiene and human consumption. Wood-saving stoves have improved air quality in homes, reduced the risk of respiratory and eye diseases, and saved time in food preparation. Backyard orchards produce fresh vegetables and encourage healthier eating.

Our awareness-raising activities include training workshops on school orchards, planting techniques and composting. In addition, with the development of pilot projects we carried out experimental plots with organic tobacco, silvo-pastoral systems on the farms, vermicompost production by modules, solar dehydrators, construction of a wood-saving bread oven, ferrocement water tanks and Patsari wood saving stoves.

Our focus on agroecology is also influencing new generations. We provide employment and training opportunities for students, strengthening their connections to local agricultural traditions and providing valuable knowledge for their future. It is also worth noting that the biggest beneficiaries of this program are women, who operate and manage the households, saving time and money that they can use for other activities.

This project would not be possible without the effort and dedication of the local communities. We are proud to have impacted more than 1200 people in community events and more than 500 participants in family workshops on agroecological techniques.