After two weeks with my family in Brumadinho, I was ready to
move on.
I loved them and the time I spent with them. I had learned
so much from them, but I was ready for my next adventure.
I had kept in touch with the organization that organize the
agrobiodiversity workshop that Avery and I went to. They also work in alternative agriculture technologies with
small-scale farmers in the eastern, coffee-growing zone of Minas Gerais state.
I got their phone number on Thursday, called them, and told
them that I would be there on Monday.
They said that was cool - at least that's what I think they said. My
phone Portuguese is improving, but it's not quite as good as my in-person
Portuguese, which still needs improvement.
I had an address, a phone number, and no clue what I would
be doing. With those things and my
backpack, I hopped on a bus an early morning bus from Belo Horizonte.
The town where the NGO is based is called Simonesia. You
won't find it in any guidebooks. It's seven hours from BH, heading town the
Atlantic Coast, in an area with coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, and one
of the most endangered ecosystems in Brazil - the Mata Atlantica.
I figured that if this place didn't work out, I would just
take the bus back to BH and find something else to do. Luckily, this place worked
out.
The NGO I worked with in Simonesia is REDE. They have worked
for over a decade in the area on projects promoting agroecology. If you feel
your Portuguese is good, you can read about their projects here. Otherwise,
you're going to have to stay tuned to the upcoming posts on this blog.
When I arrived in Simonesia, I told the staff that I wanted
to help in any way that I could. I told them that I liked working in the field
but would also be more than happy helping them in the office.
They contacted some of the famers and groups in the area and
organized for me to spend a few days with each, learning about and assisting in
the projects. I could not be any more thankful for the help they provided.
Over the next couple weeks, I will be posting about my
adventures in coffee country.
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