Visit to a New Community

A couple from Ocotitlan, about 30 minutes from Olinala, showed up at the garden reunion on Sunday. They had heard about it from Leovigilda. They patiently sat through the garden talk and jumped at the chance to find out more about the dry latrines and cisterns. They want to build a cistern at their house with their own money as soon as possible, to show everyone else in their community how beneficial it is. They also invited me to a community meeting the next day to share information about the dry latrines, cisterns, family gardens and fuel efficient stoves with everyone. So in the afternoon I headed out with a bunch of "props" to talk about what we do. I had a great time. It was fascinating to watch the decision making process at work after my presentation. First a small group of men talked. Then gradually more people joined in. While the men carried my props back to the truck, the women swarmed around me to talk more about the fuel efficient stoves.
In the end, the community decided to hold another meeting the next day to figure out who is interested in what technology. Many of them expressed interest in coming to the Sunday meeting to talk more about organzing and finding money for these projects. One again, there was some powerful energy present.