Concepts like sustainable, organic or eco-friendly can seem rare, foreign and unnecessary in Aguascalientes, a small state in central Mexico with very scarce natural resources and no recent history of environmental awareness. Our sustainable farm in the Sierra Fría provides a space to teach about the responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices. In cooperation with La Piedra del Tesoro and with the generous support of the Blum Center for Developing Economies at UC Davis, our project is designed to offer visitors and neighboring community members the opportunity to learn new sustainable practices related to their food safety, waste management and living habits.
Introduction
The rapid industrial development of Aguascalientes has made it urgent to protect its natural resources by educating children and teenagers. Nissan’s new $2-billion-dollar manufacturing complex is one of many examples of the billions of dollars in foreign direct investment poured into the state’s automotive industry in the last few years. The transformation in the state’s economic activity can be easily perceived while driving around the capital city of Aguascalientes where some billboards are now shown in Spanish and Japanese, or by talking to the population which is happily benefitting from the wide new supply of job opportunities.
In this setting, La Piedra del Tesoro, an organization whose mission has been to offer human development activities to large groups, is now providing a crash course in sustainability to children, teenagers and all other interested people in Aguascalientes. Near the town of La Congoja in the natural protected area of Sierra Fría, since 2011 La Piedra del Tesoro’s campground has offered team-building activities to school trips and company retreats. The beautiful protected landscape surrounding the campground is a key element of their program.
In this setting, La Piedra del Tesoro, an organization whose mission has been to offer human development activities to large groups, is now providing a crash course in sustainability to children, teenagers and all other interested people in Aguascalientes. Near the town of La Congoja in the natural protected area of Sierra Fría, since 2011 La Piedra del Tesoro’s campground has offered team-building activities to school trips and company retreats. The beautiful protected landscape surrounding the campground is a key element of their program.
Project Pilot (August, 2016)
Activities were introduced for the first time on August 1-5, 2016 during a summer camp organized for the families of the employees’ of MAHLE, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of automotive parts worldwide. Based in Germany, MAHLE produces systems and components for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, for example, pistons, camshafts, radiators, condensers, and filters. The company employs more than 9,000 people in its 13 plants around Mexico, which makes Mexico the second country with the most MAHLE employees after Germany.
A total of 95 children participated in this 5-day summer camp. This summer camp did not take place at La Piedra del Tesoro’s campground, but in MAHLE's facilities. However, it served as a pilot to test some of the activities and get some feedback from participants:
A total of 95 children participated in this 5-day summer camp. This summer camp did not take place at La Piedra del Tesoro’s campground, but in MAHLE's facilities. However, it served as a pilot to test some of the activities and get some feedback from participants:
Construction (September-November, 2016)
Construction of the chicken pen began in September, 2016 at La Piedra del Tesoro. This tall and sturdy barrier will hopefully require little supervision to protect chicken from the large number of potential predators in the Sierra Fría. Strong, durable, and rust resistant materials were used for the chicken pen and for the rabbit hutches.