Biodynamic agriculture
A fundamental principal of the earth-friendly biodynamic techniques is the awareness that farms in and of themselves are living organisms, made up of fields, orchards, plants, animals, soils, compost, people, and, most importantly to the Huichols, the spirit of the place. These approaches incorporate views held by Huichol farmers for thousands of years, which are in alignment with the rhythms and cycles of the earth and cosmos, and their influence on the growth and development of plants and animals.
Locating the school on the grounds of one of the Huichol Center's sustainable agriculture demonstration sites, enables the children to be participant/observers of all of the traditional and contemporary eco-technologies practiced at this learning center. Biodynamic farming and permaculture techniques are perfect venues to encompass the values that are so much a part of the Huichol belief system surrounding agriculture.
Traditional farming methods work hand in hand with the life-giving forces of nature that the Huichols consult with in their peyote ceremonies. Shamans channel communication with their creators, such as Grandmother Growth, Father Sun and the Rain Mothers, who reveal when would be the optimal times for sowing, transplanting, cultivating and harvesting, and what offerings need to be made to thank their deities in exchange for the blessings of healthy crops.
The “marriage” of age-old spiritual practices with contemporary methods used in biodynamic farming, not only fertilizes the seeds planted into the ground, but also regenerates the seeds of consciousness that promote their stewardship of nature.
University students from around the world, permaculture, aquaponic and biodynamic agriculture experts also work with the Huichol Center on various programs. The Center partners with the Instituto Tecnologicó José Mario Molina Pasquel y Henríquez Campus Huejuquilla's permaculture program and offers internships to its students. For individual and group study program opportunities please contact the Center.
Locating the school on the grounds of one of the Huichol Center's sustainable agriculture demonstration sites, enables the children to be participant/observers of all of the traditional and contemporary eco-technologies practiced at this learning center. Biodynamic farming and permaculture techniques are perfect venues to encompass the values that are so much a part of the Huichol belief system surrounding agriculture.
Traditional farming methods work hand in hand with the life-giving forces of nature that the Huichols consult with in their peyote ceremonies. Shamans channel communication with their creators, such as Grandmother Growth, Father Sun and the Rain Mothers, who reveal when would be the optimal times for sowing, transplanting, cultivating and harvesting, and what offerings need to be made to thank their deities in exchange for the blessings of healthy crops.
The “marriage” of age-old spiritual practices with contemporary methods used in biodynamic farming, not only fertilizes the seeds planted into the ground, but also regenerates the seeds of consciousness that promote their stewardship of nature.
University students from around the world, permaculture, aquaponic and biodynamic agriculture experts also work with the Huichol Center on various programs. The Center partners with the Instituto Tecnologicó José Mario Molina Pasquel y Henríquez Campus Huejuquilla's permaculture program and offers internships to its students. For individual and group study program opportunities please contact the Center.
The Huichol Center
2302 Del Monte Drive San Pablo, CA 94806 (510) 309-6403 |
info@thehuicholcenter.org
Centro Indígena Huichol, A.C. Calle Victoria # 24 Huejuquilla el Alto, Jalisco |