Seeds for a Future is assisting rural mothers in Guatemala to cultivate nutritious food at home, regardless of space limitations, through initiatives such as home gardening with recycled materials. The project, led by Guatemalan student Kharla Vides, demonstrates the potential of small areas to produce food while enhancing family economies and nutrition. Chocola, Guatemala serves as the beta site for this integrated rural development initiative focused on food security and education.

1. Fighting Malnutrition
Via Family Gardens
Food Security doesn’t mean your food has
an alarm system, it means you and your
family have enough to eat.
Seeds for a Future is working with rural
moms in Guatemala to share knowledge
about growing nutritious foods at home --
even if the available space is very small.

2. These photos show a field work project by Kharla Vides, a
Guatemalan graduate student.
Her project focused on home gardening with recycled and
locally available materials, to demonstrate that even the
smallest spaces can be used to produce nutritious food.
Kharla was supported in her project by Seeds for a Future, a
non-profit working with the people of Chocola, Guatemala, to
help them create a better future for themselves and their
families.
Chocola is the beta-site for testing Seeds for a Future’s model
program for integrated rural development focusing on food
security and nutrition, improving agriculture (and thus the
family's economy), and enhanced learning opportunities for all
ages and levels of literacy.

3. Gardening in small spaces
A Tripod
can be used
in a very
small
space, and
also uses
recycled
plastic
bottles to
hold the
plants.

4. Gardening in small spaces
Another tripod, with
locally available
bamboo to hold the
plants and soil.

5. Gardening in small spaces
This tripod
combines
bamboo
and
recycled
plastic
bottles

6. Gardening in small spaces
This bamboo
pyramid uses
recycled
plastic
bottles to
hold the
plants

7. Gardening in small spaces
Finally! A good use for old shoes!

8. Gardening in small spaces
If you
have a
few
blocks
left over,
they can
be put to
good use

9. Gardening in small spaces
Another
way to use
blocks to
increase
your
gardening
space

10. Gardening in small spaces
Plant boxes made of left-over lumber

12. Gardening in small spaces
Another
tripod, with
locally
available
bamboo to
hold the
plants and
soil.