« The poor and the earth are crying out. O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty. Praise be to you! »

(Prayers of Pope Francis for the protection of the planet, Laudato Si’, 246)

Sharing a little of experience with you :

During my time in the countryside the idea came to me of cultivating and commercialising products such as cherries and raspberries by growing them organically in order to protect our health and that of the planet. During this time I was preparing a diploma at the Technical Education Centre (CET) where I also learned to produce different fertilizers using animal waste, harvest residue and kitchen waste, all of this in order to produce compost, humus (lombriculture) and other fertilizers.

 

 

I took part in a collective of cultivators of native seeds and, under the wing of the North-East Centre for Family Health (CESFAM), I organised meetings with the farmers and inhabitants of the small town of Tucapel and now in the town of Los Angeles. This idea has been replicated in the rural dispensaries run by the same organisation.

 

I try to enthuse others to do the same

I have run workshops with chronic patients so that they can grow their own vegetables and produce compost organically on the terraces of their houses, using recycled material (throw-away bottles, plastic boxes, food wrapping, utensils no longer in use).

 

 

 

I have promoted the production of humus by giving Californian worms to those who want them and I have shared my recipies for making tea with fruit and carrots. On the small terrace of my house in town, I cultivate vegetables and flowers on shelves made from pallets, in throw-away bottles and in a variety of plastic pots. I put plants in egg-boxes and humus made with worms in large dust-bins

 

 

 

In all of these activities I have been able to count on the enthusiastic participation of the professionals of the CEFSAM from the north-east of Los Angeles, the farmers and especially my family.

Margarita De La Cruz, associate of the Daughters of Jesus, Chile

Community of Associates « Constructors of the Kingdom »