Agriculture feeds our students and provides income for our programs! The produce that we grow is delivered to our school kitchens each week for our cooks to prepare delicious and nutritious meals for the Vida students – and the surplus is sold on the domestic market to help sustain the ministry.
Why Agriculture?
Children in Guatemala are deeply affected by malnutrition and by stunting due to lack of nutrition. These issues are especially prevalent in Indigenous areas, such as the areas in and around Tactic. Despite living in a climate that is well-suited for growing a variety of vegetables and tropical fruits, most communities grow only corn and eat a diet of tortillas and beans.
Impact Ministries Agriculture Projects provide examples to the community of what is possible, while also supporting the daily nutrition program at the Vida schools. Our prayer is that the food we provide for the body will also provide the opportunity to feed the soul. May the Lord bless the harvest!
The profits from our agriculture & sustainability initiatives are funneled back into providing education for children in Guatemala and fund some of the operating costs of the Vida Schools.
What do you grow?
In the greenhouse on our Chisac property, we are producing hundreds of thousands of seedlings annually. Seedlings are planted in our own fields, and extras are sold to local growers. Our crops are planted to ensure optimal harvest for our schools, and the surplus is sold in the local market.
We grow over a dozen different crops including tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, carrots, güisquil (a type of squash), broccoli, cauliflower, tomatillos, swiss chard, kale, celery, leeks, beets, onions, and cilantro.
We also have a coffee plantation on the Chisac property. Coffee beans are sold on the local market, and some are processed on site and then roasted in partnership with a local coffee roaster. Teams coming to Guatemala are able to purchase Vida Guatemala Fine Coffee in a variety of roasts to take home as souvenirs.
Who works in agriculture?
We usually provide employment to about a dozen seasonal agricultural workers in our fields and greenhouses – up to 60 when we have a large harvest. Elmer Felipe Sierra supervises our agricultural & sustainability projects.
The agricultural team also provides educational student tours for regional agronomy programs.
We’re excited to see Guatemalan leaders like Felipe and his coworkers training the next generation of men and women in nutrition and sound agricultural practices.
Giving Opportunities
Your donation allows us to purchase a variety of local seeds and to pay the agricultural workers who are helping the seeds grow into an abundant harvest!
Special thanks to Houweling’s Tomatoes, KUBO Greenhouse Projects, and many other generous donors who supported our Seeds of Tomorrow project to make our greenhouse, irrigation system, and agriculture project possible
