Food Security at Home

Below are some photos of my kitchen, shared with my landlady Adriana.  Lastnight we made supper together, and it included some really fresh veggies bought at a local farmers' market, held every weekend here in Santa Rosa de Copan. 


The farmers' markets are preferrable to supermarkets for several reasons, namely, the produce is really fresh, it's generally cheaper than in the stores, and all the money is going directly to small producers, cutting out the middlemen.  I also preferencially shop at boothes run by women, because there's lots of research that shows that women farmers face many kinds of disadvantages in their businesses such as: lacking access to land, lacking decision making power in their households, lacking access to capital & therefore borrowing capabilities, etc.  Research also shows that in general, women will spend significantly more of the money (funds they have direct control over), on the wellbeing of the family and on their children.  Men, generally, are less likely to spend as much of their money on family necessities.  These findings hold true for both North American and Honduran (and beyond) agriculture.  Don't shoot the messenger, these are the statistically significant differences folks.

In the photos below, you will notice a big water bottle.  Bottled water is a necessity, not a luxury, in these parts.  The tap water is too contaminated to risk drinking without first boiling or chlorinating it.  When I was in the countryside in a very small town a couple weeks ago, I was warned not to even brush my teeth with the tap water there.  In my previous blog, you will note a photo of a stream filled with refuse.  Hence, the lack of clean water.  However, a study done in this town has shown that even the bottled water is contaminated with faecal matter.  There was only one brand that came out clean, the one that we are using in my house.  I only know this because my boss is a medical doctor, and has access to this kind of health information.  Water is a big deal here.  Water is a big deal globally.

The makings of a very tasty supper, including freshly made beet and carrot juice. 

Blend 2 cut carrots, with 1/2 beet and about 500 mL of water. 

Strain liquid to separate the beet and carrot pulp, add sugar if desired.  Fresh, I mean super fresh, healthy veggy drink. The veggies here kick ass.