A gardening initiative has been launched between the farm and the hostel, with the goal of working together to develop a food-producing, self-sufficient hostel as much as possible. Both locations are being developed in parallel, allowing plants to be started in a controlled environment at the hostel and later transferred to the farm for long-term growth. Some of the main crops currently being cultivated include avocados, chiles, mangoes, and aloe vera, among others.
Hostel
At the hostel, the first step was to prepare a functional and clean workspace. The outdoor area, which had previously been used to store tools and miscellaneous materials, was fully cleared to create an organized environment with sufficient space and natural light for plant care. This cleaned area now serves as the starting point for seedlings and young plants.
Once the plants reach a strong and stable size, they are relocated to the farm, where they can continue growing in natural soil conditions and benefit from a larger, more suitable environment.
Figure 1 shows the outdoor area after the cleanup process. With the space cleared, the next phase involved bringing in pots, soil, and seeds to begin the initial round of planting and establish the first stage of the gardening project.
To support the planting process and ensure we always have the materials we need, we also maintain a garden area at the back of the hostel. This space provides access to essential components such as compost, green and dry leaves, and additional trees that can be used for cuttings. The Host regularly leads workshops where volunteers and guests learn how to correctly identify, cut, and prepare plant material for potting. These workshops not only teach proper techniques but also help everyone understand the importance of sustainable growing practices.
As the project progressed, we gradually increased the number of plants. Figure 2 shows the expansion of our planting efforts, using a combination of seeds and cuttings collected from both the hostel’s backyard and the farm.
