Organic Garden

A big part of the U of I program in Ecuador is volunteering. Maria, our program director, mentioned various options for volunteering and the one I ended up choosing was working at an organic garden in the rural community Lumbisí. Part of the reason I chose the garden was because I wanted to do something I was slightly proficient at, and thanks to Annette Held Landscape Design I am very proficient at what we do in the garden -- digging large holes.
Every Friday morning Andrew, a fellow gringo in the program, and I go to Lumbisí. Lumbisí is a fantastic town about a twenty- minute bus ride away from Cumbaya . A relaxed air fills Lumbisi. Children are always playing in the streets and the occasional herd of sheep is one of the many interesting rural sights.

The garden itself provides vegetables to a lunch hall for the elderly and a local school. The garden isn’t gigantic, but has provided plenty of work so far.

(The garden goes back to the second greenhouse)

(Andrew, off to do something productive)

Today at the garden during one of our frequent water breaks, a horse trotted by the entrance. Livestock pass by on a fairly regular basis, but this was the first time I’d seen a horse. The modest sized horse passed by leisurely, stopping to chew a few patches of grass along the way. I stood in awe of this beautiful sight, not noticing the broken rope around the horses’ neck, and like any good city boy, took some pictures. As soon as the horse had turned the corner I was greeted by a swarm of 12 year old boys, sprinting madly in pursuit of the horse. Andrew and I pointed in the direction the horse had gone as the boys continued their chase. Whoops. Luckily, despite my awe of seeing a horse and lack of help, two calm older women returned the horse.

(This is when I took a photo...and didn´t try to get the horse)


It’s really nice to get out of the somewhat Americanized Cumbaya and go to an area that is completely different than anything I have ever experienced. When I walk through the back roads of Lumbisí and only hear the sound of the wind blowing through the fields of corn while a giant lush mountain towers over me at every second, I feel truly amazed by the beauty and diversity of Ecuador.