LOVE, ART, AND AGROECOLOGY.

Hello, dear Hiver!
Last Sunday was one of those special days at La Finquita del Arte. The project organizers had called for an event to kick off the summer—an open invitation to everyone in the Playa Baracoa community, as well as to those living in other cities and provinces who are already part of this big family. The day was lively, filled with various participatory activities and a friendly atmosphere among all the participants.

My adventure began very early, after confirming by phone with Mendiola—my fellow painter and the lead coordinator of La Finquita del Arte—that the event was indeed going ahead. I hurried to a spot at the edge of town to find a ride, since taxis are scarce on Sundays. Fortunately, a truck driver agreed to take me a good part of the way. Later, a man gave me a lift in his old car as far as the next village, and I walked the final two kilometers.

Upon arriving at the entrance to La Finquita del Arte, I saw a group of young foreigners who, after waiting, decided to head down the green path leading to the facilities.

I didn't stop; I followed in their footsteps, venturing in wonder into that setting teeming with greenery and life. Suddenly, I was surrounded by plants—banana, papaya, guava, chili peppers, spinach, plums, garlic, rosemary, oregano, and many others—cultivated there for the personal consumption of the families, workers, and collaborators. They also serve the community as a source of sustenance and as an agro-ecological classroom where children and young people learn to farm and care for nature.

Upon arriving at the workshop classroom, I discovered some bicycles and a group of young people who had come from the neighboring province of Havana. It was a great joy to run into @nanixxxa beloved Hiver—who, as you know, loves embarking on bicycle adventures.

Children from the community were already gathering in the courtyard, along with their families... and with the arrival of the cyclists and the young foreigners, we were coming together as a warm, diverse family.

A little further on, busy hands were preparing everything needed for lunch—a type of hearty broth we call "Caldosa" here, a dish very typical of our gatherings.

I eventually learned that the young foreigners I saw arriving are from Brazil and affiliated with the Landless Workers' Movement; they are currently studying medicine at the Latin American School of Medicine, located near Playa Baracoa. They donated some painting supplies.

The day began with Mendiola extending a welcome and outlining the schedule of planned activities.

The youngest participants led the first activity: painting a mural featuring elements of nature—specifically animals—which the children rendered with magical virtuosity.

As the Visual Arts Instructor at the Casa de la Cultura, Mendiola led the activity, guiding the children through the process.

A colleague asked me to assist him in working with the children. That is how we met when I worked as a Visual Arts Instructor at the Cultural Center. Working with the little ones is a passion we both share.

As time went by, the children had managed to create a universe of butterflies, flowers, birds, fish, and many other beautifully colorful images.

Of course, the children didn't paint alone; grandmothers and parents also collaborated to create such a beautiful work of art.

The time had come to enjoy some tasty coconut water. Elio, Mendiola’s son, was chopping open coconuts for everyone; and while we certainly enjoyed them, I have to tell you that the animals at the little farm love this treat, too. This mother hen and her tiny chicks are just one example—pigs, dogs, goats, and others also love to savor this delicious delicacy.

In the early afternoon, the group decided to visit "La Laguna del Doctor." We set off in single file, walking through the scrubland toward the lagoon—a site that was once a saltworks but is now a reservoir of stagnant, polluted water.

Despite everything, it is a photogenic area with unusual landscapes. Yet one of its virtues is serving as a refuge for many migratory birds that make this place their home for a time, especially during the months of April and May.

We went for a walk around the lagoon—sometimes through the grass, other times among the trees surrounding it. There I was, taking photos so I could tell you all about it later, while my dear @nanixxx was busy capturing the most captivating details of the adventure with her lens.

We stopped at the edge of the lagoon, and the trees suddenly acquired names when Elio gave us a talk about the area's mangroves. According to him, all four mangrove varieties found in Cuba are represented there; pointing to the species around us, he showed us how to distinguish between them.

Eager for knowledge, other questions arose. Mendiola then told us about the history of "La Laguna del Doctor" and the coastal town of Playa Baracoa. I learned, for instance, that a quarry once existed nearby, producing stone for major construction projects in Havana.

When we returned to the Finquita facilities, the caldosa was already ready. Lunch began, as did the time for sharing and getting to know one another, since many of us were meeting for the first time. I hadn't realized that the tradition of drinking mate is also widespread in Brazil, or that they drink coffee differently; we also discussed plants and seeds—such as flaxseed and blueberries—and I asked for their help in propagating them in Cuba due to their nutritional and medicinal properties.

While we were having lunch, Gilberto Duran and his wife—artists from the community—shared their art with us through songs, boleros, and a few international numbers.

Later, Anita, a music instructor from the House of Culture, joined us. It had been a long day, and the music gave us the joy of sharing. It was a perfect end to a wonderful day filled with good energy.

This time, I’ve shown you a bit more of what goes on at La Finquita del Arte. For other stories, you can look up my previous posts or wait for future adventures. Here, nature and art come together for all those who dare to dream of a better future!

All images were taken with my Moto G82 phone.

Translated into English using Google Translate.