CENTER SACHAMAMA, PERU

Excerpts from students blogging about their academic and field experience of sustainability

Learning about the way a chacra (subsistence garden) works is an integral part of this course…. I feel incredibly grateful to be able to work in the garden with Moises (the head gardener at the center). I find empowerment in growing my own food at home, and feel equally empowered here to be able to help provide food for our own group and for future communities who stay and learn at the ecological center. –Ariel Marx, Hampshire College (Winter 2009)

The first 2 weeks of this course have been a real whirlwind of experiences, with site visits to shade-grown coffee, chacras, the co-op's processing plant and cupping laboratories, primary forest, the local market, and so much more. We've engaged many senses - tasting strange fruits, smelling chocolate, touching bags of dried coffee, listening to roosters each morning, and watching the ever-spectacular clouds roll across the mountains. –Ana Vollmar Teaching Assistant (Winter 2009)

The structure of the course is extremely effective and enjoyable: the day beginning with field visits and after lunch a guest lecture followed by small group discussions that integrate the readings, the field visits and the guest lectures. It has been wonderful to have those small group discussions with these wonderful young students! –Frederique Apffel-Marglin Faculty (Winter 2008)

Tuesday we had our first Shamanic ritual experience. We walked to Shunku Center, which was designed by Randy— another staff member who is very sweet and an incredible painter. I felt a bit anxious at first, but when it came my turn, I felt calm as soon as the Shaman (I am not sure how to spell his name), touched the crown of my head. It was a great experience. I felt he released the pressure of thoughts and feelings that were weighing down my head and chest, and I could feel the positive energy he transmitted, even in my hands. It was tangible and real, as I think a spiritual experience should be. It was a ritual of cleansing and protection. –Paris Conwell, Grand Valley State University (Winter 2009)

We toured chacras (individual farms) and saw coffee, cocoa, palm, plantains, yucca (cassava), mangos, and other things, growing together in a biodynamic, mutually supporting way. We were then treated to fresh coconut milk and pineapple! I personally felt spoiled! –Alison Cebulla, University of California Berkeley (Winter 2008)

We got back from the home stays last night­­– I had such a wonderful time and as far as I can tell, so did everybody else. The community I visited is called Chirapa. We were greeted with an indigenous –Alison Cebulla, University of California Berkeley (Winter 2008)

I got the opportunity to work on Sachamama’s Bio Huerto Project to produce an organic compost of soil that regenerates the land rather than just depleting it. The project is in its development and demonstration stages now, and I was glad that Living Routes gave me the opportunity to be a part of it and learn more about an ecologically alternative way of agriculture. For my final project for class I am going to dive deeper into this subject for the next 4 days and produce a report full of pictures that I have taken while I was here in Peru. –Jacob Ruiz, Humboldt State University (Winter 2010)

I have to say, this trip has been phenomenal and I couldn’t have asked for anything else. No trip is ever perfect but sometimes the imperfections are what make the trip so much better and memorable. I have truly enjoyed the company of ever person on this trip and will miss Peru dearly. –Katja Erlij, Smith College (Winter 2007)

It's been over a month since we returned from Peru and my experience has affected me in ways I suspected it would and, in other ways, more than I had previously assumed. I have mouthed off to more than a few people on fair trade and what it means and why they should buy it and who it helps and what it does. And in smaller ways, I am recycling more, using less water, and much more conscious of what affects I am having on my surroundings. –Becky Fromm, UMass Amherst (Winter 2007)

I learned more about my capabilities and myself in those three weeks than I have maybe in my whole school career. Working together with people for a common cause, living together, traveling, learning, and loving one another opened a piece of me. I learned to love each person for the wonderful attributes they brought, fell in love with the country and its people, and was inspired to my core with the work being done by Centro Sachamama. –Laura Williams, Southern Illinois University–Carbondale (Winter 2010)