Join our mailing list:

News

Finally an evening on the foothills of the Andes

The “Coturco”(top left mountain) and the “Pencos”
sticking lonely and high up in the air welcome us back to the highlands.

This week’s update is, once again, bound to be short, as it’s only been a few days since I sent the most recent one out. Still, these days have been packed with a plethora of interesting activities (this is Kroka, after all!). Following our rather intense return to the farm here in Palugo, the members of the group took two days to clean their bodies, gear, and minds, as well as prepare the camp for the two week stay which lay ahead. On that first morning after our arrival, I awoke once more to the thorny, green mountains that surround us in the highlands, and knew that these weeks would have a different pace. Nearly immediately, we were back into a new schedule involving many of the things we had forgotten during a month of nomadic existence; elements such as milking at four a.m., cooking in a real kitchen, and having time for academics have came back into play, and the change was both melancholic and welcome. Of course, we have been filled with yearning for our amazing community in the jungle, for harvesting wild yuca and cooking it over an open fire. At the same time, it’s just so nice to have fresh salad and be back home!

The horses are waiting to be ridden, and they will be!!

Speaking of homecomings, we’ve had the chance to say hello once more to some familiar faces this week. It was delightful to receive Thomas, the third Dammer brother, as well as his other half, Marcia. Katie, the group medic and herbalist, was especially happy to receive the latter, who has been serving as a mentor to her in all things health and plant related. True to that title, Marcia spent Thursday morning teaching us how to make salves. Eager to gain some of this lovely lady’s tranquil knowledge, we gathered round the table while she poured different plants and oils, many of them local, into a pot while others chopped and melted beeswax.

Our new schedule, which allocates ample time for working on the written part of our big projects, also allowed us some afternoons to work on the solar water heater, which is now close to being done. I was very proud to work on the pipes with Brett, or stand up to my knees in mud while Nadino, Deborah, and I packed on the adobes that will insulate the water tank. As our projects are meant to be done by the start of our next expedition, the group also spent some time planning “mingas” for other people’s incredible projects. Finally, we decided that the upcoming Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday would be spent on felting hats, gloves, and bags as a group activity; stretching and tanning hide for Deb’s project; as well as hollowing and carving drums for Scott.

Saturday interrupted the pattern of our new schedule and presented us with some amazing opportunities. After our regular round of chores and cooking, we all jumped in the back of a truck, sailing through the highland country of Palugo and into the hustle bustle of Quito, finally landing in a sort of tranquility very different from the country-side we’re used to: the industrial district.

We soon began laughing hysterically as we arrived at Tatoo Adventure Gear, since an advertisement in the entryway involved a rather large picture of our group leader, Mathias. As we walked into the main white room of the factory, which was lined with hundreds of sewing machines and made lively by Ecuadorian music playing over the loudspeaker, we came to realize that almost every ad contained a picture of at least one of the Dammer brothers.

Our visit to Tatoo!!

We had all known that they were famous in Ecuador for their climbing and adventuring, but this was simply too much! We were hanging out with celebrities! That’s how it seemed, at least, until we found out that the brothers had known the entrepreneur who started the company since college. “We used to sell their shirts to our friends, and now they give us free gear for wearing their stuff and taking pictures,” said Mathias with a crooked smile. “Sometimes you gotta sell your soul to the devil.”

None of us had any complaints about devil-dealing, however, as the brothers’ connections had landed us with one of the coolest chances ever: to see how the adventure gear we use on a daily basis is made, and to make some ourselves! After taking a tour of the massive factory, we settled down to choose colors and cut fabric into patterns in order to sew pants. The employees were immensely skilled, and most of us reluctantly ended up handing our pants over to their eager hands as they politely giggled at the many mistakes we made. Still, we did learn something about how to use the machines, and gained confidence once we saw Nadino, who had come to visit the factory the year before and was now plugging away, fashion all sorts of fun accessories. At lunchtime, we were able to present our skilled friends with a meal of sandwiches and salad. Unbeknownst to us, since we often grab fresh greens from the garden, salad is not customary in Ecuador. As a result, there was quite a reaction to the arugula, which one of the men was certain was a weed that grows on the road side here.

Guillo is dedicated to show students the process of drawing and cutting the patterns

As the day went on, the group started to become more and more exhausted. We soon realized that sitting under fluorescent lights without physical activity was actually more draining that going for a good run or working on construction under the hot sun. We left that afternoon thankful for the experience and our new pairs of pants, though also aware of the sacrifices people must make to construct the items that we buy. For us, at least, a sedentary life just doesn’t cut it. We said our thankful goodbyes to our helpful companions and headed back to the farm in our trucks. As we pulled out, the same arugula conspiracy theorist from before picked up a weed from the side of the road and cheekily asked us, “arugula?”

Will learns and wonders at their skill on the machine.

Sunday rolled around quickly, and we students took our rest day to have a meeting about our personal money, some of which had been stolen on our expedition. We then dispersed to take walks, prepare the wool for felting, and have personal meetings with Marcela and Mathias. With little money left, we ventured into the nearby town of Pifo, where we made phone calls and shopped for a bake sale we had decided to have to raise some personal funds. After a lovely surprise dinner that Mathias and Marcela prepared for us, we changed chores and went to bed.

Upon returning from milking, I slept until breakfast, so I missed some of the morning—I was, however, able to be present for the meeting we had afterwards. It was the first group and staff check-in we’d had in a while, and thus lots of feelings came up about manners in which certain group dynamics could improve. In my opinion, it was among the most valuable gatherings I’ve been to in my life. People were honest, open, and willing to take some very straight-forward feedback.

As a final note, I’d like to say that it’s been a very interesting week, albeit more emotional than physical. Marcela and Mathias have handed over more responsibility to the group, and we have slowly been finding that independence, which of course brings up issues. I am merely very glad that, within this kind of lifestyle, things can be dealt with rather than avoided.

Take care, everyone, and thank you for checking up on us!

P.S. The email for the group, which we believe some parents have wrong, is semesterstudents@kroka.org

The girls were very focused on their pant design!!!.

Community News

• -Artichokes are at their peak, looking good and tasting amazing.
• Hannah, a student from the last semester, is arriving today to work and spend time with us on the farm; we are very excited.
• Michael and Thomas successfully finished a course for the Chachimbiro community on permaculture and in exchange, all farm workers are taking a day off on Friday (semester students will take over), to go out for Thermal Baths at the Chachimbiro community.
• Trilingual lessons are always on - please study and don’t forget.

Lettuce keeps coming on our CSA

Semester recipes - yummy! By Raina

Eucalyptus/Calendula skin balm

Courtesy of Marcia, this salve is amazing for aches and skin abrasions.

To make salves, oil mixed with several different plants is necessary. To make these oil mixes, harvest the plant, allow it to dry for at least a day, cut it into itsy-bitsy pieces, and then place it in a jar, preferably of dark-colored glass. Add olive or sunflower oil until it covers the crushed plant and then add about the same amount as the area the crushed plant takes up in the jar. Store in a dark, warm place, such as a greenhouse or an oven not being used until you make the salve.

In a small, thick pot, place 2 ¼ ounces rosemary oil. Add equal parts of plantain and calendula oil, so that the total weight adds up to 10 ½ ounces. Add six ounces of eucalyptus oil. Then add 1 ¾ ounces lavender oil, which is entirely for smell. The ideal total weight of the oils should be 18 ounces, but you can add more lavender oil until you reach the smell you desire.

Take the total weight of the oils (presumably 18) and divide by three for how many ounces you want to add of melted beeswax. Cut the beeswax into thin strips, add it to the oils, and place the pot in a larger pot with water on it. Heat slowly over the stove or fire, and do not allow it to boil—this makes the oils evaporate. Once the mix is entirely melted, take the pot off and allow it to cool to check the consistency. Heat once more at least an hour later, make any mixture changes you’d like, and pour into the final container.

Environmental Tip

By Katie

Grow your own herbs to make your own tea so you don’t use tea bags! Fresh mint and Chamomile are especially lovely. Or, buy loose leaf tea and prepare your tea with reusable tea bags. Most everything you can grow for yourself will save on transportation and fossil fuel.