Cooking with Grain Amaranth

Here, Heidy is teaching a group of women how to cook with grain amaranth. The grain has more protein, fiber and fat than corn, rice and wheat. It is rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals that help to prevent and cure diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies. Babies that are fed amaranth are found to improve in weight and prosper ahead of schedule. Only two pounds of seed are needed to plant an acre of land and it requires 50% less water than corn. Lysine in Amaranth, makes it particularly helpful to HIV/AIDS patients. Lysine heals and inhibits the spreading of sores as well as boosts the immune system. In Uganda doctors are obtaining better results with moringa and amaranth than with anti-retroviral drugs.

Feeding Center in Cambalcol

Hungry?? This little girl is enjoying one of the two meals provided to her each week through one of BPD´s three feeding centers. The meals are prepared by BPD staff and mothers who want to learn how they can improve the nutrition and health of their families using low cost, locally available ingredients.

Macadamia

Farmers from five San Martín communities are learning about the benefits of producing organic macadamia. They will be planting 5,000 trees within the next month. Macadamia nuts are a good source of fiber, protein, vitamin E and mono-unsaturated fats which have been shown to lower cholesterol. The goals of this project are to reforest, improve nutrition and supplement incomes. All other vegetables inter-cropped with the macadamia will also be farmed organically; positively affecting the environment, local health and the value of vegetables sold at market.

Family Garden

This family from Cambalcol has a variety of vegetables planted in a well protected area. They are providing an excellent example to other community members as to how someone can take small steps to greatly improve the lives of their families.

School Garden

A student at San Antonio el Cornejo happily picks beets. The students harvested over 100 pounds in total. They learned how to grow vegetables using container gardens and raised beds. This project enabled them to make better use of their patios, eat healthier and sell extra produce for a profit.