La Milpa Escuela is our lifepath, an intention to educate ourselves without schooling our minds and spiritual bodies. Made up of a passion, we are only two young beings with ideas, projects and feelings in common, Delia and Erick.
Our objective is the preservation of cultural diversity, while we aim to promote the regeneration of our health and our mother’s earth, in the constant research of “el buen vivir” for us and for those around us.
This small autonomous group made up of other groups and collectives.
Firstly, there is Esiquio, Armando, Miguel and Crispin, four older adults (around their 60’s) with whom we share the land and who provide the experience and wisdom necessary to sustain in harmony this beautiful space.
We also collaborate and support this pedagogical attempt with the help of other local groups, young people like Dara, Hafid, Ollin, Ixko, are friends and recurring collaborators with whom we share the same intentions about the conservation of the Milpa through a decentralized and deschooled activities.
The project also has an opening for divergent beings, and more than humans. We believe that each and every one of us can participate and contribute ideas, thoughts and dreams, to manifest a space of peace and abundance based on caring for the planet.
Throughout these 5 years of work we have been able to influence the space/time of at least +200 people in our town and outside of it. We like to consider them, in some way, part of this dream that can only be collective.
Description
The Milpa-Escuela has just recently in February 2024 changed its headquarters, since we are growing and the need to share the importance of Food Sovereignty in our city is a priority that requires a safe, comfortable and more accessible space than what we had previously.
A beautiful opportunity arose when we moved to the plot of one of our most beloved peasant teachers, where many friends and collaborators visit frequently to share work and generate a much-needed meeting space of knowledge and human development.
Unfortunately, on the day of our very first meeting at this new headquarters, we had a visit from a superior being, the wind. The force of nature destroyed the roof and many of our work tools and teaching materials were affected.
Given this situation, and for the moment, we have not been able to be in space, due to the direct sun light, the constant winds and the upcoming rains. Consequently, the transfer and protection of ourselves and the team and practicians has been very difficult. This made us a little bit slower and change a lot the needs and perspective we had for the collective work.
Nevertheless, there is still hope, we can receive energy, support that would be of great help.
With this seed fund for germination projects, we would like to restore our roof and obtain the necessary material to continue creating spaces that house our community, where we can implement the practical and theoretical knowledge of our Milpa-Escuela, and where it is possible for us, with our work, to feed to this our new home and refuge that with enormous generosity opened its doors to us and shared its land without asking anything else in return.
This is our opportunity to not letting go of what we have woven with so much love, and, although things are difficult, the least we can do is redouble our strength. We are sure that with your support and our network, we will achieve this and much more.
Timeline
For us it is important to say that all activities will be open to the public of all ages. In each of them we hope to have between 12-20 people involved, as well as a record of them to disseminate with the Ecoversidades network and with the communities and groups that surround us and support us.
A workshop is gonna be hold for each event we we can feel, talk and discuss around this important subjects, and were we expect to create and reinforce the community that already hold us.
Activities are recorded with the objective of growing, improving and sharing.
May – Corn sowing
Sowing is an important part in Mexican culture, since it implies the opening of the rainy season, where, in addition to sowing seeds, ideas, projects, dreams are sown. We believe that this activity, in addition to permeating people, creates spaces where experiences and ideas are shared and new forms of learning are co-created; In addition to strengthening new ties of community work.
June – Roof repair
This activity will help us repair the Milpa-School headquarters space, community work not only fixes the place, but also serves as an example of unity between the community, promoting solidarity and help in case of natural disasters.
Principles of architecture and natural constructing will be share, as well as some tools to design better and safer for the coming future.
July – Vermicompost
Continuing with the project of planting an agroecological comunity garden, corn, vegetables and medicinal plants, we need to fed our soil with natural and chemical-free fertilizers, so now the new space has increased in length, a greater contribution of nutrients is required to continue the abundance of the space that houses us.
August – Shelling corn
Shelling is the activity carried out when we have the corn cob, which is kept safe from annual pests; It is necessary to remove the seeds and take them to another place, the integration of people to carry out this ancestral activity is to understand that we must take care the projects until they are fully completed. Geting to know the hole process of our food chain will create changes in the perception of what we eat.
Furthermore, said seed will be safeguarded for later years in the Milpa-Escuela, which is of utmost importance to have it well stored.
September – Pop-Corn and cinema
This activity, like any other art activity, helps the community continue to be inspired, prepare and contribute more ideas to the space. As we harvest native pop-corn seed we use this chanel to share other the importance of preserving our native heritage.
In addition to the new people, we hope that the movie “Seed: The UnlonyStory” will be a real inspiration to be able to join the Milpa-Escuela. At the end of the film there will be a round of enriching comments and even the creation of new projects.
October – Moving our bee’s
The bees in the Milpa-Escuela are a fundamental element in pollination and harmony in the space, so they need to reach the new headquarters.
In addition, the participation of both members and new people will help us join efforts for education about pollinators and their contribution to the environment and help people’s health.
The bees need to be moved, because the conditions where they are located are not adequate, so their relocation will help everyone to embrace the new home.
Where to find us
If you want to see some more:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4EPcqH8gMd__YQfMeIYJjA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casamatla
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casa.matla/
