¡¡Hola amigos!! Ben Quinn

Hi everyone, my name is Ben and coming to Oaxaca has been a very last minute decision for me, nonetheless, I am incredibly excited to travel with and meet all of you! I'm a junior global studies major and love to cook/learn about food and explore new places, both of which I'm looking forward to doing in Oaxaca. I'm sure I'll meet you all in person soon enough, can't wait.

"About Oaxaca" Research: Agricultural Practice - Sara Jean Whelan

Agriculture is one of the key industries in Oaxaca. Not only does its revenue account for 15% of the state's economy, but the majority of people living in Oaxaca are farmers. Some of the most important crops grown in the region include maize, beans, squash, coffee, and mangoes, among many others. With such a reliance on this industry, there is a strong push to enhance and maintain sustainable farming methods in the region.
The farmland throughout the state is widely degraded, as a result from naturally dry conditions in combination with many years of conventional farming. With the emergence of the Green Revolution in the later part of the twentieth century, monocultures dominated the once diverse fields. The lack of biodiversity lead to a depletion of nutrients in the soil, as well as less resistance towards pests and drought. The struggle to produce great yields also influenced the application of chemical fertilizers, which only worsened the condition of the land.
By the turn of the century, it was clear that the industrial farming model would not be sustainable in Oaxaca. Organizations like the Center for Integral Farmer Development (CEDICAM) have emerged to help mitigate the damages of conventional agriculture, through efforts of reforestation, conserving soils, and implementing sustainable agriculture. Across the state, farmers have been reinstituting traditional practices, such as milpa - the polyculture of maize beans and squash. By rotating crops, avoiding synthetic fertilizers, and reducing tillage, farmers improve the health of the land, plants, and people.
The agricultural practices in Oaxaca state are in a state of transition. There is a push from the community to return to the traditional methods of farming used by ancestors, rather than continue with the conventional model. Although there is a perceived economic benefit from industrial agriculture, the failure of the Green Revolution in Oaxaca is leading the public to find more sustainable methods of food production. The efforts to benefit the agricultural system in the region are, in turn, benefiting the entire community.

Sources:
http://ecotippingpoints.org/our-stories/indepth/mexico-oaxaca-community-reforestation-mixteca-region.html
http://commondreams.org/views/2015/08/15/four-ways-mexicos-indigenous-farmers-are-practicing-agriculture-future?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork
https://ceseedproduction.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/a-closer-look-at-oaxaca-mexico/
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/mexico/Michoac-n-Zacatecas/Oaxaca.html

HOLA! I'm Mollie!

Hola Amigos!

My name is Mollie! I just got accepted to the program a couple of days ago and I am thrilled to take part in  this adventure with all of you! I am a psychology major wit a dance minor. I want to work with children in the future (thinking something along the lines of a school psychologist) and plan to do so in Mexico! I love to travel! However, I haven't had the opportunity to in years. I am so excited I finally get to again! I love to experience new things and adventures! I know this experience will help us all grow in ways that I can't even fathom. I can't wait to meet all of you!

¡Bienvenidos a Oaxaca! (Claire)

¡Hola a todos!

My host bro and me in Oaxaca (2010)

And bienvenidos new Oaxaca students! I'm really excited to meet all of you within the next few months, and also just to see you through Skype and get to know each one of you individually. I'm Claire, and you'll all be seeing/hearing a lot from me when you're down in Oaxaca. I'm the In-Country Assistant Director of the program (I will be down there for the entire program) and will be helping you with questions you have about Oaxaca/Mexico, fun cultural stuff, program planning, group dinners, and just any type of support you need during the program.

So a little bit about me! I'm from Waterbury Center, Vermont, and I did the Oaxaca Program back in 2010. It was the best experience I had while being a UVM student, besides being in the Co-ed a cappella group, the Hit Paws :) Singing and Spanish were definitely my passions, and still are! I graduated in 2011, and moved back to Mexico in 2012, where I've been ever since. I started off volunteering on farms, then slowly became an English teacher, and finally started to work on the Oaxaca Program last year! I live part-time in Cuernavaca, Mexico teaching English at a school and online, and then head on down to Oaxaca for the other half of the year to work on this awesome study abroad!

Oaxaca is by far one of my favorite cities and states in Mexico. The food, colors, music, culture, history, art, etc are all candy for the soul and the senses. I hope you love Oaxaca as much as I do, and I'm looking forward to seeing how you all take this abroad experience and run with it!

Saludos from Mexico! Hasta Pronto!
Claire

Assignment 1: Lance

¡Hola compañeros!

My name is Lance Heinemann. I am a sophmore Biology major. I've been to México quite a few times since I'm from San Diego, but I've never had the chance to stay with native people and learn about their culture. I enjoy new places and am always welcome to anything.

¡Nos Vemos!

Assignment 1: Sara Jean

Hi Everyone,
My name is Sara Jean and I'm a sophomore majoring in Philosophy with a double minor in Food Systems and Anthropology. I love to learn, explore, and create, and I'm so excited to be able to do so in Oaxaca next semester! I hope to be an advocate for food justice in the future, and I think this program will give me a great new perspective. Can't wait to get to know you all!
Here's a photo of me with some bountiful tomatoes at the farm I worked at over the summer.