I am pleased to report on some great recent developments!
~On Sunday La Manzanilla Hermosa had its first ever info booth at the beautiful Fiesta del Arte. We shared a table with the youth garden project, El Huerto Escolar, talked to lots of interested people, and promoted the upcoming Eco Fest event on Feb 10.
~On Monday a group of enthusiastic volunteers cleaned up the future recycling collection site (named "Las Hormigas", "The Ants", by the students). Thanks to all!
~On Wednesday the lot was cleared of debris by Ariel with his heavy equipment. Thanks Ariel!
~This week two engineers from La Huerta municipality, Carlos Nava and Jorge, are in town working on recycling logistics, and assessing the overall solid waste situation. As we strengthen our partnership we can all work together to accomplish shared goals.
~ The first ever "Eco Fest" to be held at El Huerto Escolar (youth garden) next Saturday, Feb 10 is shaping up to be a major event! In addition to the buffet dinner starting at 6pm, there will be exciting animal exhibits on biodiversity from the University of Guadalajara students, and environmental education activities, speakers, and games. This is a great opportunity to bring people from the community to the garden, which many have no idea about.
We are getting wonderful response and support from everyone! For those who have been wondering how to help out La Manzanilla Hermosa, we would love to have your participation in the Feb 10 Eco Fest event. If you have ideas or materials for activities and games, or want to help out at the event, please contact me and we can get the ball rolling.
You can also attend the next La Manzanilla Hermosa Steering Committee next week. Date to be announced. The agenda will be posted under a separate heading here and on the dedicated message board. All are welcome.
Thanks to you Stephanie, and everyone else who has been "hoarding" their recyclables at home!!
We are so close to accepting plastic, along with other recyclables at the new drop off site behind the Primaria. What we are lacking now is an organized, tidy set up for collecting the materials. Keeping it clean and easy to use is essential to sustaining this project.
The great news is we won't have to wait much longer, AND we will all be able to recycle more types of waste material! The recyclables will be picked up regularly by Recicladora Tenacatita, a small family owned business that has been an active partner in the effort to clean up La Manzanilla and the surrounding communities.
This is a big week for this project, and hopefully we will be up and running next week sometime. At that time we will post info on what can be accepted, and where to put it. Setting up the Primaria site is the first step. We also hope to have some great signage about separation of recyclables at the site, and to offer more environmental education on waste reduction (and other topics) at the schools, and for the community at large.
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone associated with this project, and for showing what can be done with the spirit and determination to transform La Manz (land the world) into a healthier, more sustainable environment.
Unless there has been a change in the recycling station's name since October that I am unaware, the primary school is calling it Reciclados Hormigas (Recycling Ants).
The school's director organized a naming contest in which students were invited to participate. There was an accompanying picture with this entry, with a drawing of the planet with a few ants marching above it.