Teaching Laredo's Poor Self-Sufficiency Through Farming

We are very excited about the En Gedi Ranch and the potential for it to be such a great program.  We are already seeing the fruit from this labor of love.

WHAT IS THE EN GEDI RANCH?
The En Gedi Ranch is part of the second phase of The Bubble Home Project.  Some of the last few mobile homes were placed on the outskirts of the city where there is little to no community help.  For example, they do not even have a fire department.  The area is rural in nature and its inhabitants are some of the poorest in Laredo and its surrounding regions.

Even though the residents of this community may live in a trailer or shack, it is common for them to own their own lots.  When the Bubble Homes were placed in this community, we got the idea of helping those families maximize that resource which they do have, land.  By teaching the families the skills they need in farming and husbandry they could make the best use of their land.  

At En Gedi, the families are being taught how to plant and nurture their own produce.  This is a way for families to cut some of their costs by growing their own food, but it also connects them back to the land.  These are skills that have been forgotten, but essential for self-sufficiency, and skills they can put to use on their own lots.

At the ranch we are growing squash, cucumbers, onions, zucchini, cucumbers, for example.  We also have fruit trees and livestock.  The produce is then sold at the Farmer's market.  Earnings from the farmer's market are used back at the ranch to cover expenses.  Families that contribute and volunteer at the ranch also collect their share of the produce.

Watch the clip from a local news station on our Ranch. 

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
The ranch also offers an after-school program for the children.  Many of the adults in this community work late so the children were spending a lot of time just roaming around the streets on their own.  We have built a center with a computer lab where the kids will be able to do their homework and have a place to hang out.  As part of the after school program, the children will also be taught to care for farm animals to keep them occupied while their parents are at work, but also as a way to help their families.  They are being taught how to take care of rabbits, chickens and quails as part of their daily chores.

Once again, just like in the Bubble Home Project, this is a community effort with volunteers from different agencies and organizations.  A family with agricultural experience has left the comforts of their home to live in a trailer on the ranch and supervise and help with ranch activities.  Others will be coming to give classes for the children and adults at the ranch.  The Bubble Home Families themselves have contributed through their fundraising activities. And we always have he help of missionaries that come and lend a hand however they can.

YOUR HELP
We are making a concerted effort to grow the produce organically.  However, we have found that some of the pests here in Texas are making this difficult.  We would be interested in anyone that could provide their expertise in this area to minimize and/or eliminate the use of pesticides.  If you are interested in volunteering/donating to help us with the ranch in anyway, please contact Pastora Lucy.