Growing Beyond Rice and Beans
In off-the-grid Nicaraguan villages, lack of infrastructure has it’s consequences. Labeled as “food deserts,” families have little to no access to certain food essentials that most of us take for granted. Almost all of the farm land in these areas is used for subsistence farming: staple crops like corn and beans. The crop from these staples is one of the only food sources the community has. While corn and beans can fill tummies, a diet based on only a few ingredients leaves gapping holes in the nutritional intake of growing children. These holes are widened further in the...
Read MoreUPDATE: Las Palmas Latrine Project
Hey Gang! Our team made a quick visit to Las Palmas recently to get updates on the latrine project, and see how it wrapped up. We were so glad to find that all of the latrines were completed! The families in the village now have completed sanitation systems: There are lots of pictures on our facebook page, too!
Read MoreIngredients for Life: Soil and Water
The agricultural sector in Nicaragua carries a lot of weight- not only is agricultural products one of Nicaragua’s major sources of income, but it’s also a vital source of nutrition for members of rural communities. The success of a crop year can make –or break- a community that has no other source of income and no other way to eat. In 2005, despite having such a small landmass, Nicaragua was the 16th largest coffee producer in the world. In a single year the country produced 85,130 tons of coffee, a quantity that would sell for $69,599,000 (in international currency) in international...
Read MoreFinal St. Andrew’s School Update
The last week and a half has been a fun-packed adventure. From building over 12 latrines, swimming in Somoto Canyon, and learning to surf, this spring break was action-packed! Today, the St. Andrew’s School trip is coming to a close. The Al Campo team had a great time getting to know each of you. We want to send a big “Thanks!” out to all of the parents, teachers, staff, and friends that helped make this trip what it was. Here are a few photos from the last half of our trip: This trip was a great start to the season! We look forward to getting back out...
Read MoreUpdate: St. Andrew’s Spring Break 2012
St. Andrew’s leaves Las Palmas today, a marking that more than half of our trip is over already. Time has flown! It’s hard to believe that our time here is coming to an end. We still have so many fun things planned! Our latrine project is wrapping up. We completed 12 latrines and got a few more started! Latrines are one of the most economic ways to improve sanitation in impoverished communities. After digging a hole for the latrines, we line the hole with stones. If you would like to know more about latrines, how they help with sanitation, and what goes into...
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