After traveling around different cities in Mexico and visiting each urban garden initiative, it was obvious to see that green activism has been on the forefront in Mexico for some time. Spaces within the cities that were previously abandoned and were often used as places for drug addicts to hang out have been transformed into amazing thriving permaculture gardens. These places have become a community hub where people can engage with nature, learn about composting, recycling, growing and other holistic and spiritual practices.
Huerto Roma Verde, in the Roma district of Mexico city is a thriving example of what can be achieved in just 11 years. The space is well established, yet is still growing and transforming, there is an active community who regularly volunteer to keep the place functioning.
They also hold many events, workshops and festivals but anyone from the general public can enter for free during its opening hours.
Walking around you will be amazed by how much is going on within the 500m2 plot of land.
In the centre of the space is a water tower that is the focal point of the permaculture garden. Around the water tower that is beautifully decorated are circle rows of raised beds, planted with many vegetables, fruits and herbs, all creating the beautiful shape of a mandala which i have not been able to capture very well in these photos.
However everything was documented on video and will be released in a special documentary on the youtube channel Leaf of Life Films so make sure to go subscribe and tap the bell to stay notified on its release.
The Huerto which litrally means a garden or allotment also has a farm shop but unfortunateltly was not open when i was there, but i was not dissapointed as there were many things to learn about in this community garden. Everywhere you can find banners and flyers of information teaching you about the project
they seemed to be doing many amazing things with compost, utilizing ancient wisdom with modern methods. We spoke to one of the workers there who explained all the science behind how he was creating new fertile earth from food scraps that are collected from around the city. You will be able to hear more about that in the up and coming documentary.
As you can see they have also been reusing and recycling plastic trash which accumulates quite a lot since people need plastic containers for drinking bottles.
It was a nice time of year in early October that I visited the Huerto, the flowers were blooming, the temperature was not too hot, nor too cool, there had been some rain which made everything green.
I was so enchanted by the beautiful flowers that I forgot to take many pictures of the vegetables. They were growing so much there, Hierloom corn, tomatoes, squashes all traditional foods that come from mesoamerica and can grow easily.
I spent hours at the Huerto and I can see why its such an important place within the community. I think many cities around the world can learn from the green movement going on in Mexico. I see places like London and Barcelona get completely gentrified with every last spot of land being used for apartment buildings. But sometimes we need to think less about what money can be made and more about investing in sustainability, biodiversity and our own health and mental well being... you can not put a price tag on that.
Let me know your thoughts....