Staying in Place
I love what Kara Huntermoon [a Co-Counselor in Eugene, Oregon, USA] wrote: “In order to address climate change, we need to stay in place, commit to a specific ecosystem and group of people, and learn how to belong on and relate to the land of our home.”
I live in a small rural community in the mountains of Puerto Rico where I farm on a small scale. I grow food for myself and try out food crops that are not widely grown here.
Our agriculture has suffered from colonialism. For centuries we have grown mostly addictive substances for export—coffee, sugar, and tobacco. At present Puerto Rico imports ninety percent of its food, and most of it is unhealthy. I am part of a growing agroecology movement that is trying to change that.
I am developing a program at the local school for children ages five to thirteen. The older ones interview elders about land, farming, and food. Some of the interviews will be broadcast on our local Internet radio station. I am also producing my own short programs about the land, climate, food, and water and our specific ecosystem.
Maricao, Boriken (Puerto Rico)
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders in the transformation of society
(Present Time 208, July 2022)