The Story of the Finca

So I am feeling like I didn’t convey the truly remarkable story of the people on the Finca. I have been concentrating too much lately on the bugs and the food and the insignificant parts of my trip and losing focus on the BIG PICTURE. One of the great people we met on our travels at the Finca has a blog. A true Frenchie from Montréal. He is still in Guatemala and his blog is much more diligently maintained than mine. And his write-up of the Finca is much more detailed and well-informed than mine could ever be, so I have taken the trouble to translate the story for you. With thanks, Guillaume. My last words on Guatemala, are his:

“I will tell you the history of the community of Nueva Alianza which is a true history of courage and tenacity. It starts with a man who owned the farm, known as el patron. Upon his death, he left the farm to his five sons, one of whom was named chief administrator. Partially corrupt and partially a bad businessman, the son was slow in paying his employees their wages (this was during the 90s.) It got to the point where eventually, he owed his employees in arrears of a million quetzals, or the equivalent of a year-and-a-half’s worth of wages.

Disillusioned, the “campésinos” left the farm on which many of them had been living for generations. In the meantime, the landlord went bankrupt. The former employees hear of this and the idea to take control of the farm starts to germinate. They ask for the support of the large trade unions of Guatemala and—to make a long story short—succeed in returning to their land. Despite receiving death threats from the former landlord, the workers of the community decide it is important to remain there at all costs.

A little later they acquire a loan from “Fundo de tierra” (an organization which facilitates access to the land by providing a loan that no one else would likely have given to a group of poor peasant farmers) and they take over the debt of 1,9 million quetzals from the former owner. However, the ground is dilapidated and not easily cultivable. This brings us to 2002. Over the course of this year, the community scrapes by by eating the plants which grow on the farm.

Today, 2007, we see first-hand a community of a little more than 200 inhabitants which has built a school, purifies its own water (which it sells to almost everywhere in western Guatemala), has an experimental biodiesel project and produces biogas with cow manure. It is also a community which cultivates macadamia nuts and coffee in organic and natural ways and which is about to become Fair Trade. WOW!!! And all that in less than five years. People here are quite simply incredible. Incredible for their heart and their broadmindedness. Here is a true example of change…”

And if I may add, men with little to no education, illiterate, but with the intelligence and the will to seek a better future for themselves and their children. And this, my friends, was what I did with my summer. I must never forget.

For those of you fellow French speakers, check out the rest of Guillaume’s blog if you're interested. He’s also got some cool photos:
http://www.zoomcoop.blogspot.com/