Mrs. Malach - Broughton Science

Day 4 - Mayan Culture

"Yesterday was such a great day of Mayan culture! We started with a visit to a sustainable farm. Chubs farm was simply amazing! He’s a local farmer supported by the Ya’axche group. They have taught him the practice of ingá alley cropping which is planting trees in rows and crops between the rows. The canopy of the trees helps control weeds and prevent the need for herbicides. His farm looks more like walking a natural forest but filled with fruit trees and ingá alley crop areas."

Inga Alley Cropping is a technique that plants fruit trees in rows with crops in between to control weeds and pests, and increase crops produced on farms.

This is Chub's farm map. We saw a very small portion of his farm and it felt huge!

Chub's home. His wife (in the middle) invited me in. Behind us is their living space and sleeping quarters (hammocks)

This is her kitchen. Behind the table is a small wood fire oven.

"On Chubs farm we saw and tasted many delicious fruits including mango, monkey apple, cacao, heart of palm, avocado, vanilla, limes, coconut, corn, habanero peppers, sugar cane, ginger, and I’m sure I’m forgetting something!

I was invited into their home and shown their kitchen. Their property was entirely built by Chub and his family. He noted that during the pandemic he had everything he needed growing on his own farm. This man works all day and into the evening every single day. He’s 63 and now has help from his sons and adorable grandsons!"

Cacao pod, almost ripe

We got to taste the sweet flesh that surrounds the cacao beans inside.

Chub cutting fresh heart of palm to taste.

Coffee beans are just another crop grown on Chub's farm. The variety of vegetables and fruits he grows is tremendous!

This turkey was a lot of fun... he followed us and let us know who was boss!

There are ducks as well as family dogs at Chub's farm.

Chub's grandsons toured the farm with us and are a big help to Chub.

Fresh coconut water for everyone on this hot day!

"From there we went to the Indian Creek Mayan Women’s arts group where we ground corn and and made tortillas, learned how to prepare palms for drying to weave into baskets (and did a little weaving), ground cocoa beans into chocolate and got to taste some delicious chocolates prepared by the women, and ended with learning traditional Mayan dances and phrases.

We are having a blast!"