SEED Program
Goals
- to improve family nutrition
- to produce foods organically
- to provide income for families by selling their crops and creating new markets
- to adapt to climate change
BRIEF HISTORY
Like all new projects or ministries in the ILAG, the idea for a ministry devoted to sustainable agriculture originated with the leaders from the rural ILAG churches. For years, the ILAG had been concerned about the future for subsistence farmers, with low prices for crops and high prices for seed and fertilizer.
The indigenous people of Central America were masterful at growing and preparing a wide variety of foods that are loved and used world-wide, including, but not limited to corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, chilis, squash, papaya, sweet potatoes, cocoa and vanilla and amaranth. Under the Spanish occupation, many were made to work the farms of the conquerors, rather than tend their own crops. During the 36-year civil war in Guatemala, 1960 to 1996, many became refugees, living in refugee camps in Mexico where they were not allowed to grow their own food. As a result of this history, much of the traditional food culture was lost.
Members of ILAG, like the rest of the world, are constantly barraged by ads for highly processed food, which is readily available, cheap and nutritionally inferior to their traditional foods. This has led to increased rates of diabetes, kidney and heart disease and cancer.
In 2020, 24 years after war refugees returned to Guatemala, it was a very challenging year of being locked down in their communities due to the pandemic (meaning no access to markets), plus two hurricanes in that same year, the leaders asked for help. How could the church accompany them in their desire to diversify crops and adapt to climate change?
The staff of the ILAG developed a program for those families asking for help and also opened the program to community members not affiliated with the Lutheran Church. The ILAG committed to provide seed and new farming techniques for one year, addressing topics such as soil enrichment using compost, crop rotation, use of improved seed, and methods for cleaning fields without fire.
Diego Gil took the leadership role in this new ministry. Funding to hire a Guatemalan agricultural technician, Salomón Fernández, came from the ELCA. Together the two men regularly visit 10 ILAG church communities, working with 148 families, one women’s group, and two elementary schools. Two experienced environmental science and nutrition educators from St. Paul visit once a year for two to three weeks, teaching sustainable agriculture and nutrition workshops.
Support comes from some churches of the two companion synods (Saint Paul and Southeastern), in addition to the ELCA. Gradually Guatemalan governmental agencies are becoming involved, such as INAB, a forestry project which pays farmers to plant trees in their fields.
CHALLENGES
Climate change has hit Central America hard, with more seasons of drought and less predictable seasons of rain. Hurricanes occur more frequently, causing destruction and flooding.
Another challenge is access to water, as many communities are not located next to bountiful rivers or streams. How does a farmer water the crops? Diego and Salomón are working on ways to help farmers create a simple irrigation system.
A third challenge is that even though the farmers learn composting techniques, the need for organic fertilizer is greater than the current production.
SUCCESSES
Many of the SEED participants are diversifying, trying crops new to them and at the same Eme improving personal nutrition. The program leaders reinforce the ancestral knowledge of native plants, affirming that the farmers can thrive on the production of these crops as well.
The nutrition classes offered in the villages have been well attended and emphasize the importance of using local and traditional foods rather than highly processed foods. Classes at Milagro have included easy, nutritious snacks for children which were shared with students at CLAG, cooking of new and traditional foods and discussions of how to encourage improved eating patterns in the communities.
The soil in 2024 is more nutrient rich and better able to hold and manage water than it was three years ago. The crops of the SEED participants withstood the recent tropical storm better than those of other farmers, due to healthier soil and new planting methods.
From its beginning, the Lutheran Church opened up the program to non-church members, and this outreach is creating a stronger community. The women’s group that participates in one village has created a welcoming space around its gardening where women gather and support each other, especially important after many of their husbands have migrated to the U.S.
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
Diego Gil hopes that the program can expand to reach more families and more communities. He plans to help participants develop fair trade markets for their surplus crops. He aims to investigate technological advances in agriculture, in hopes of alleviating physical strain on the human body and increasing overall efficiency. And he is working to establish water systems with communal wells that will help the community flourish.
A new program which Diego hopes to implement is Home Budgeting, teaching families how to create a basic budget for recording income and expenses. The objective is to avoid the unwise use of household money, one of the causes of generational poverty.
We thank God for this work of the Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala.
Randee Edmundson – Grace University Lutheran, Minneapolis
Joan Felice – St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Roseville
Melissa Loe – Grace Lutheran Church, Apple Valley
