We started off the month working on a garden project for our host. I was kind of put on the spot from the get go, because I went to school for Horticulture/Landscape design. It kind of became “my baby” whether I liked it or not. I’m not the most talented at being in charge of people. I tend to focus on making them like me and feel good around me, instead of making them do what I want them to do. This battles heavily with my need to accomplish things as efficiently as possible and prove myself. There are also many ideas and opinions floating around that desire to be heard and met.
The very first day we spent weeding (using the machete to hack back weeds- including banana trees), and trying to figure out the best location for vegetables to grow. We discovered the soil was far from adequate for growing things (solid clay- I mean solid.) We also discovered the pesky nature of banana trees.
BEFORE PHOTOS
I started with a simple drawing that could include some vegetables and some flowers. Assuming the best way to grow things would be to create some raised garden beds- and add soil.
DESIGN PHOTO
Then we added a bench. It changed from wooden, to swing, to stone.
Missy, Juan, and I spent an entire day building the bench. We built it using rock pieces that weighed somewhere between 50-75lbs. For tools: a pick axe, shovel, and wheelbarrow. We sealed off a section in the back of the bench with clay, for a small planting bed. This day was especially difficult. The rocks were hard to move and place just right to be stable, look good, and function as a bench. We dealt with differing opinions and indecisiveness (on my part).
Next it was decided to make the raised beds out of rocks as well. Rocks are cheap (i.e. we spend the day driving down to the creek to pick several truck-loads by hand), and function decently when mortared together with clay. So we picked rocks. Rocks for days. We edged beds, highlighted the path, and built the raised beds out of rock. Samantha, Dani, and Amanda were the clay mortaring queens this day.
My estimate for black dirt came out at 5 cubic yards. After finding a place that we could dig out of (a friend of our host’s brother), we spent some quality time pick axing out some black dirt, shoveling it into buckets (two 5-gallon buckets I might add), and dumping the buckets into the truck bed. 5 cubic yards is 5 truck beds full to the top- if you didn’t know.
Today was the fun part. Our hosts, Missy, and I went to pick up some plants. A friend of our host has a father who does landscaping and garden work in the area. He also happens to propagate and grow numerous quantities of flowers and such. Terrace after terrace of plants in little black plastic cylinders on the shaded hillside behind his house. I couldn’t stop thinking about my plant-loving grandmother and all the “house plants” that I recognized from her that grow outside in this area. Learning the Spanish name for plants- or just the Spanish pronunciation of the English name. It was just an enjoyable and blessed time, the highlight of the day for all four of us.
Tomorrow we get to plant. We have cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, strawberries, herbs, flowers, and vines. Some are plants and some are seeds, and the true results of our work will not be seen for several months, but I will leave you a picture (as I leave the country next week).
AFTER PHOTOS
I want everyone to know how much effort and work was put into this project. However, what I got out of this project is was I really want to talk about.
My teammates (Missy especially), Juan, and Samantha worked very hard, and I am so thankful for the grace they were able to show me in the process. As I mentioned earlier- I struggle sometimes when I’m put in charge- and it is mainly because I feel a stronger pressure to keep everyone happy (in the process as well as in the results). They pushed me into corners and questioned me, they listened to and encouraged me, and they helped me to see the places that I need to leave room for grace for myself.
My hosts (“clients” more or less in this case) showed me extreme respect and confidence. They helped me to trust my own judgment. They also helped illustrate the beauty that Latinos have in their relationships. The connections, resources, and the generosity are unbelievable sometimes.
I also got to experience the positives and negatives of the cultural differences in the work environment. Things related to progress and status quo, as well as the focus that North Americans have on “Task Completion” over relationships…I feel better equipped to understand and work cross culturally for the rest of the year, and hopefully the rest of my life.
