Lifetime Visit/Exchange with Finca del Medio, Family Agroecological Dream Farm in Taguasco, Cuba
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Maria WHittaker
May 20, 2019, 10:34:14 AM5/20/19
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This is a recent photo of the Casimiro family and guests on their farm, Finca Del Medio, a truly divine agroecologial farm on the national Cuban highway (Autopista Nacional), 349 km north of Taguasco, Cuba
(a rural, isolated and beautiful part of Cuba). I had the opportunity
to visit Finca del Medio and this family in May 2008 during Cuba's 2008
Biannual Organic Agriculture Conference! It was truly an inspiring and
beautiful farm and family with lots of hard, loving and skillful work,
beautiful and transcendentally still! I did not want to leave!
The family has built a simple but comfortable "bunkhouse" for visitors to stay.
I cannot recommend this opportunity highly enough. I am already planning my trip with another colleague! This family has so much wisdom about family farming agroecologically from a practical, scientific, family and spiritual point of view. And the farm itself is so beautiful and peaceful, it could even be called a retreat. As I shared above, back in 2008, I did not want to leave!
The Casimiro family immigrated to Cuba from the Canary Islands in Spain in 1993. It would be interesting to know what motivated this family to take this enormous leap to a whole new world! Now, three generations of the family live and work altogether, something challenging in itself, and from which alone there is much to learn. In 2001 they switched to agriculture without chemicals and now they are 100% agroecological. They are committed to all the shared principles of Agroecology, Permaculture, Slow Food, soil conservation and the family farm!!!!
As a family, the Casimiros have hosted and particpated in hundreds of events at their farm, nationally in Cuba and globally, sharing their work, agroecology and family farming in Cuba. They are familiar with all the problems of agroecological farming such as: degraded soils abandoned for their sterility.
Today, says Dr. Leidy Casimiro, the family has developed its own culture adopted to the needs of the family, the farm business, economic realities and climate change. Says Dr. Casimiro, we know how to conserve our produce and food and produce our own seeds. We have made so many mistakes, says Dr. Casimiro, and learned profound lessons from all of them!!! We, consequently, now have so much to share! We can share from our own experience that it is possible that the family farm can be a sovereign and sustainable institution with fair policies where the family can prosper as well as the nation, says Dr. Casimiro!
Dr. Casimiro continues, we have specialized in the use of renewable sources, efficient stoves, solar cooking, irrigation systems by gravity, installation and use of hydraulic rams, windmills, construction of biodigesters, bio-climatic housing, and animal and plant selection for small farms. We know how to make fruit liqueurs with cane honey grown on the farm, dry fruits, make our own bread with banana flour or yucca flour grown on the farm and made by ourselves. We also make our own vinegar and soap with coconut oil.
We have arrived to our dream of independence and resilience, says Dr. Casimiro! Our cuisine is quintessential Cuban and lacks no essential human minerals or nutritional ingredients. Complete mineralization of the crops, plus a public experience of almost 20 years sharing our table, we assure you that whoever eats at the Finca del Medio will never forget Cuba, says Dr. Casimiro! (Or the Casimiro Family: a thriving family!)
As I previously mentioned, the Casimiro family offers a charming and simple independent bunkhouse for guests. (See pictures below.) Meals are also available and advisable and included in the $25.00 CUC daily price!!!!
Their business is completely legal under Cuban law as they pay taxes as self employed workers, so the family wants to assure visitors that their visit will be completely relaxing, legal, worry free, educational, fun, enlightening and truly a once in a lifetime cross cultural and family consciousness-raising experience!!!! Guests are always welcome to return!!!!
As the family does all the work and there are now young children in the family, the family does have some limits and suggestions for those interested! Says Dra. Casimiro, we currently have two small children in the family who require a lot of care, so there will be some time everyday now when visitors will have free time. She suggests that visitors come in a group so you can go for a walk or do other things together to entertain yourselves during time when the family needs to attend uniquely to its own needs. Or, she suggests, you can just be prepared to have some time on your own to do your own work such as writing, playing a musical instrument, taking pictures, going for a walk, etc.
Dr. Casimiro also asks that those interested in visiting, should also book well in advance in order to secure a reservation that does not coincide with others who have previously booked. She asks that the minimum visit be 3 days and that the maximum be 7 days. Up to 6 people is perfect and again, a minimum of 2 is advised so visitors will not be alone when the family is attending to their personal needs.
We are currently speaking English at the 2nd grade level says Dr. Casimiro and and we can exchange (we teach Spanish and you teach us English, hahaha).
Says, Dr. Casimiro, we really hope those of you who love and aspire to this way of life, the family farm or farming will visit us, even if you do not have a farm but simply carry it in your soul. If you are new or aspiring farmers perfect, it is very nice as well!
We do not have ads, or paved roads, continues Dr. Casimiro. To be on this small, uniquely, Cuban family farm, to live with the family, to share with everyone at the table, to taste the complete delicacy, to the desserts for diabetics, to eat what is desired, whether vegetarian, vegan or celiac, and that every moment be experienced wholely and completely in itself is what we offer and share with you!!!
We hope that the friends who have eaten and lived with us will tell their story in defense of the small family farm in Cuba, in Puerto Rico, the Carribean, in the USA, In Latin America and all over the world!!!! We welcome you and look forward to learning from you as well.
.
Recently,
(2017), I had been wanting to visit this family and farm and stay for a
while, but I was not sure this idea would be interesting to the
Casimiro family!!! So I was excited when my young, brilliant and
beautiful colleague, PhD Agroecologist, farmer, and mother, Leidy
Casimiro (2nd from right in the picture above) shared this opportunity
with me for farmers, agroecologists and all those interested, to come,
visit and work on her family farm in Taguasco, Cuba for as long as a
week at a time for a reasonable price: per day, $25.00 CUC (Cuban Money)
(about $28.00 US Dollars) a day including board in a simple bunk house
and meals with the family.) They suggest a minimum of three days stay
and a maximum of seven days.
The family has built a simple but comfortable "bunkhouse" for visitors to stay.
I cannot recommend this opportunity highly enough. I am already planning my trip with another colleague! This family has so much wisdom about family farming agroecologically from a practical, scientific, family and spiritual point of view. And the farm itself is so beautiful and peaceful, it could even be called a retreat. As I shared above, back in 2008, I did not want to leave!
The Casimiro family immigrated to Cuba from the Canary Islands in Spain in 1993. It would be interesting to know what motivated this family to take this enormous leap to a whole new world! Now, three generations of the family live and work altogether, something challenging in itself, and from which alone there is much to learn. In 2001 they switched to agriculture without chemicals and now they are 100% agroecological. They are committed to all the shared principles of Agroecology, Permaculture, Slow Food, soil conservation and the family farm!!!!
As a family, the Casimiros have hosted and particpated in hundreds of events at their farm, nationally in Cuba and globally, sharing their work, agroecology and family farming in Cuba. They are familiar with all the problems of agroecological farming such as: degraded soils abandoned for their sterility.
Today, says Dr. Leidy Casimiro, the family has developed its own culture adopted to the needs of the family, the farm business, economic realities and climate change. Says Dr. Casimiro, we know how to conserve our produce and food and produce our own seeds. We have made so many mistakes, says Dr. Casimiro, and learned profound lessons from all of them!!! We, consequently, now have so much to share! We can share from our own experience that it is possible that the family farm can be a sovereign and sustainable institution with fair policies where the family can prosper as well as the nation, says Dr. Casimiro!
Dr. Casimiro continues, we have specialized in the use of renewable sources, efficient stoves, solar cooking, irrigation systems by gravity, installation and use of hydraulic rams, windmills, construction of biodigesters, bio-climatic housing, and animal and plant selection for small farms. We know how to make fruit liqueurs with cane honey grown on the farm, dry fruits, make our own bread with banana flour or yucca flour grown on the farm and made by ourselves. We also make our own vinegar and soap with coconut oil.
We have arrived to our dream of independence and resilience, says Dr. Casimiro! Our cuisine is quintessential Cuban and lacks no essential human minerals or nutritional ingredients. Complete mineralization of the crops, plus a public experience of almost 20 years sharing our table, we assure you that whoever eats at the Finca del Medio will never forget Cuba, says Dr. Casimiro! (Or the Casimiro Family: a thriving family!)
As I previously mentioned, the Casimiro family offers a charming and simple independent bunkhouse for guests. (See pictures below.) Meals are also available and advisable and included in the $25.00 CUC daily price!!!!
Their business is completely legal under Cuban law as they pay taxes as self employed workers, so the family wants to assure visitors that their visit will be completely relaxing, legal, worry free, educational, fun, enlightening and truly a once in a lifetime cross cultural and family consciousness-raising experience!!!! Guests are always welcome to return!!!!
As the family does all the work and there are now young children in the family, the family does have some limits and suggestions for those interested! Says Dra. Casimiro, we currently have two small children in the family who require a lot of care, so there will be some time everyday now when visitors will have free time. She suggests that visitors come in a group so you can go for a walk or do other things together to entertain yourselves during time when the family needs to attend uniquely to its own needs. Or, she suggests, you can just be prepared to have some time on your own to do your own work such as writing, playing a musical instrument, taking pictures, going for a walk, etc.
Dr. Casimiro also asks that those interested in visiting, should also book well in advance in order to secure a reservation that does not coincide with others who have previously booked. She asks that the minimum visit be 3 days and that the maximum be 7 days. Up to 6 people is perfect and again, a minimum of 2 is advised so visitors will not be alone when the family is attending to their personal needs.
We are currently speaking English at the 2nd grade level says Dr. Casimiro and and we can exchange (we teach Spanish and you teach us English, hahaha).
Says, Dr. Casimiro, we really hope those of you who love and aspire to this way of life, the family farm or farming will visit us, even if you do not have a farm but simply carry it in your soul. If you are new or aspiring farmers perfect, it is very nice as well!
We do not have ads, or paved roads, continues Dr. Casimiro. To be on this small, uniquely, Cuban family farm, to live with the family, to share with everyone at the table, to taste the complete delicacy, to the desserts for diabetics, to eat what is desired, whether vegetarian, vegan or celiac, and that every moment be experienced wholely and completely in itself is what we offer and share with you!!!
We hope that the friends who have eaten and lived with us will tell their story in defense of the small family farm in Cuba, in Puerto Rico, the Carribean, in the USA, In Latin America and all over the world!!!! We welcome you and look forward to learning from you as well.
If
interested please contact Dr. Leidy Casimiro at leid...@gmail.com
Cel and WhatsApp (+53)
52408610. Please let her know her colleague, Maria Whittaker of the USA,
referred you and please drop me a quick note at my personal email:
mariachrist...@gmail.com so I can follow generally your
experience to make sure Dr. Casimiro and myself are working on the same
playing field to generally bring a wonderful, educational and
transformative experience to all those interested in agroecology, the
family farm and Cuba!!!!
Maria Whittaker
Thich Nhat Hanh
Program Director
Kansas Chapter Family Farm Defenders
dba Local2Global Advocates for Food Sovereignty
Mailing Address Only
7001 Sea View Avenue
Suite 160-648
Seattle, WA
98117
USA
"Smile, breathe and go slowly."
"I open my heart and send forth my energy of love and understanding to everyone who has made me suffer, to those who have destroyed much of my life and the lives of those I love. I know now that these people have themselves undergone a lot of suffering and that their hearts are overloaded with pain, anger and hatred. I know that anyone who suffers that much will make those around them suffer. I know they may have been unlucky, never having the chance to be cared for and loved. Life and society have dealt them so many hardships. They have been wronged and abused. They have not been guided in the path of mindful living. They have accumulated wrong perceptions about life, about me, and about us. They have wronged us and the people we love. I pray to my ancestors in my blood and spiritual families to channel to those persons who have made us suffer the energy of love and protection, so that their hearts will be able to receive the nectar of love and blossom like a flower. I pray that they can be transformed to experience the joy of living, so that they will not continue to make themselves and others suffer. I see their suffering and do not want to hold any feelings of hatred or anger in myself toward them. I do not want them to suffer. I channel my energy of love and understanding to them and ask all my ancestors to help them."
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