Excess June rain flooded the staple crops for El Lagartillo, a small, organic subsistence farming community in Nicaragua. This campesino community embodies the principles, ideology and lifestyle of Latin America’s people’s revolution: cooperation, community, sharing, conservation, music, hope, laughter, health, peace. In solidarity, a slideshow of Lagartillo, other Nicaragua travel adventures and reflections of the history and politics of Nicaragua will raise money to help feed this community through their difficult times.

What? Slideshow: Rain, Roots and Rhythm - El Lagartillo, Nicaragua
Where? Rhizome Cafe, 317 East Broadway. http://www.rhizomecafe.ca/
When? Thursday, Aug 23, 7:30 - 10:00 pm
Who? You and anyone you think might be interested
Why? Read on

El Lagartillo, Nicaragua

Lagartillo was initially set up as a farming collective as part of the land redistribution after the 1979 revolution.

It is inspiring to see the results of grassroots community organization. With very limited resources, they are proud to have built a school, a library and a cultural centre in their community. Almost all of their farming is organic and almost all of their toilets are composting. They have a theatre group and a music group which fills the candlelit nights with passionate music.

It is traditional yet progressive; peaceful and revoluntionary; 'tranquilo' while hard-working and struggling for change, justice and self-sufficiency.

More rain, less food

Just like us here in Vancouver, El Lagartillo had above average rainfall in June. For this community the impacts of the rain were more severe than cancelled camping trips, rained-out skate sessions and wet days at the beach. The excess rain caused root rot in both their corn and bean crops, staple food for their community. This means finding funds to buy the food that they’re used to growing themselves.

Proceeds from this event will contribute to this task.

Hijos del Maíz - www.hijosdelmaiz.net

The proceeds of the fundraiser will go to the community of Lagartillo through Hijos del Maíz Campesino Spanish School

Hijos del Maíz enables the community to support it’s own projects with 20% of income going to a community fund. The aim is to help raise social and environmental consciousness in El Lagartillo and in neighbouring villages. Community projects include a community seed bank, organic coffee nursery, a conservation area, theatre group, music group and a traditional sugar-cane press.

Your donation will go the Hijos Del Maíz community fund with instructions for it to be used first and foremost to buy food staples for the community, with any extra to go towards any of these valuable projects.

*This is an excellent spanish school and a wonderful way to get to know this inspiring community. If you, or someone you know are interested in studying there, visit: www.hijosdelmaiz.net

Can’t come to the event, but would still like to donate to the cause?

You can use PayPal to send a secure on-line donation using your credit card or on-line banking.

Click here to:

Or contact me directly if you'd like to send a cheque.

Tax receipts – Unfortunately, I can not issue tax receipts for donations. To minimize red tape and to help get this money to the community ASAP, I am keeping this simple. Sorry.

Raffle Donations -

Massages, arts, yoga classes...

Contact me directly if you have something to donate towards a raffle that will be held at the event.

Lagartillo, and more broadly Nicaragua, is a very special place and I would love to share my experience there with you while contributing to an inspirational community - in rainy day solidarity.

event hosted generously by: