Rotary Club 585 - Los Banos California

Silvana Bastidas from Ecuador.
10/27/09

Our speaker this week was Bill Nunes from Gustine Rotary and Silvana
Bastidas from Ecuador.

As you may remember, Bill and Silvana came earlier this year to tell us
about the farming apprenticeship Silvana had embarked upon here with Bill.
Silvana has studied "Sustainable Farming Techniques" this year under
Bill's tutelage.

She is returning to Ecuador to teach these techniques to farmers there.
Silvana will also help to organize a CSA [Community Support Agriculture]
business in Ecuador.

CSA is a means of connecting the small farmer directly with the local
population.

The area Silvana will be working in has about the same weather
conditions we're experiencing here now, all year around.
So, they don't have a large variety of crops.
CSA is the business plan Bill is currently using.
He grows and delivers produce to customers who "subscribe" to his service.
Silvana will help the farmers learn to grow, package and distribute
their produce.

They will initially be working with 3 organizations of about 50 people
each and will begin by delivering about 20 baskets of produce a week.
The goal is to at least double this distribution number in order for the
farmers to become self-sustaining.

We, the Los Banos Rotary have combined with the Gustine Rotary to
support this endeavor.

Lowe's will be supplying irrigation materials.

Bill and Mark Jones are planning a trip to Ecuador to help install and
train the farmers on how to use drip irrigation.

Bill & Silvana have whittled down the initial budget for this project
from over $7,000 to about $4,100.

CESA a non-government organization has agreed to oversee the spending of
this project.

Bill is working on getting matching funds from Rotary Interational.
Los Banos and Gustine rotary have raised $1,076 so far this year.
Today, Gene presented a check to Silvana from our Los Banos Rotary for $500.

Meeting notes by S.P.

Silvana Bastidas from Ecuador