Oaxaca Family Adventure: Pat, Mary, and Permaculture

We met former Maryknoll workers and current Oaxacan residents, Pat and Mary, outside of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption which I was able to snap a few photos of while trying not to disturb those in prayer. Even though we are near the church daily, we finally entered it, and I definitely want to return in order to get a better look at some of the shrines. It has a very sacred feeling which is probably secured in the energies projected of those in prayer more than the objects and relics on the receiving end.

Pat and Mary have lived in Oaxaca region for the last 16 years. They retired from Maryknoll in the mid 2000's when the organization pulled out of Oaxaca, and they decided to stay building a sustainable home and small farm as a model, resource, and tool for organization. They were kind enough to meet us and show us where they live in the Sandial region of San Andreas Huayapam, a small town in the hills north east of Oaxaca city. After purchasing land from a farmer/neighbor they built an adobe home, dug a well, and erected a clever solar panel mechanism designed to follow the sun and perpetually collect its energies like a mechanized sun flower. They grow corn, beans, and squash organically, and otherwise have eco toilets and other conservationist practices. On Thursday they will have a local farmer bring his team of bulls and plow over to sow their patch of land. One man prods the team of bulls with a stick while another follows behind dropping and covering up the seeds. We were fortunate enough to see this process in action while driving to the town. While they used to have chickens and turkeys, they no longer keep them, but they do have a dog, two cats, and a burra named Bonita. The kids were sat on her back and feed her some salt, and she nuzzled Abe while we rested on the cool porch to take in the view.

For our main meal, we drove into the town, past the 17th century church to a local restaurant that happened to be closed. (This seems to be a common pattern in our trip) So we stopped for some roadside tejate, a labor intensive corn drink that is sweetened and consumed like a pre-hispanic energy drink. We drove a little further to a park area with several outdoor comedor restaurants on the banks of a damned lake. Under its shelter we talked to the ducks, dogs, and each other as we watched the storm come in, but blues skies returned as we rounded out our meal with a guitar serenade complete with some lyrics in Zapotec (our first time hearing the indigenous language spoken).

It was such a treat to not only spend time in the country with endearing animals (especially Bonita), but to witness the committed lifestyle of a pair dedicated to the landscape of Oaxaca. The kids were delighted that our friends spoke English. I think they miss hearing a language that they understand, and we miss having conversations that expand above and beyond our basic needs of eating and maneuvering in a city. I think we all came away inspired to continue to question prescribed lifestyles, to make more deliberate and perhaps adventurous choices, and to get ourselves a donkey if our chosen lifestyle allows for one. May she be as lovely as Bonita!