In Solola, Guatemala today we visited with Carlos B. His brother is the alcalde of one of the most important cofradias in town, the Cofradia Santa Cruz. And his family runs a beautiful Maya-style farm north of the town center on the shoulder of a ridge that plunges 1,000 feet into a river gorge below.
Here a special ceremonial corn is grown, maize rojo. Carlos thinks his is the only such crop in the department. He gladly arranges to provide us seeds for this beautiful specie to start a crop in the States. During the war, the family was ‘divided’ and sent to different areas of the country, forcibly removed from their farm since they were indigenous Kachquichel suspected of being guerrillas. Now, his extended family works the crops and plants forest trees in four separate wooded areas, each representing an element and a direction on the Mayan “cross” of four directions, or “puntos cardinales.”
What an incredible sight when Carlos ripped away the thick husk. This red corn is used to make a special ‘atol,’ a thick sweetened corn drink used in the cofradias on fiesta days. The rest of the farm’s production is sold in the huge outdoor market in central Solola.
Enormous natural rocks have been left in place. Beds for onions are cleared and raised, with deep irrigation channels from which water can be ‘bailed’ and splashed manually onto the seedlings. This farm also uses simple moveable sprinklers and water that comes to the surface from a natural underground spring year round.
This abode house in the middle of the farm is 150 years old and features a temescal sauna inside. The walls and roof are original except for some lamina added to allow light to enter. The family claims abode is more comfortable than block for homes because it better regulates temperature. However, due to earthquakes and mudslides, a cement block house is considered much safer.
All of the traditional Mayan farms in the area include a farm altar. There are three important calendar days each 260-day year when elaborate ceremonies take place to make offerings for a crop to be planted and offer thanks for a harvest. Carlos’ altar overlooks the attractive gardens and natural forests like a lighthouse.
After an afternoon with Carlos, we felt we could begin to plan our Maya Garden in the States. No chemicals. Companion plants matched with others to fight pests naturally. Creating forest areas to break the wind and hold the soil during storms. Most incredible of all, everyone working the farm was cheerful and full of life, whether teenagers, adults, or elderly.
