Potable & Accessible Water Project in El Bálsamo
This is a huge new project! The neighboring village of El Bálsamo (to El Jocote) currently does not have electricity nor water access on properties or in homes. This project will bring potable water through pipes to every one of the 50 homes in the community. A new well has been hand-dug by the very hard working and well organized people of the community. The next step will be designing a pump system, powered by solar panels, and building the water tank.
Studies around the world address the problems of water quantity while others have worked on water quality. There is no definitive answer as to which leads to better health in a community. For more information, you can check out this article on Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion which discusses the difference, mainly that contamination (leading to health problems) may not frequently come from contaminated water but rather dirty hands or poor hygiene, making water quantity more important so people have enough water for hygiene activities.
This project will address both issues of quality and quantity, and we hope to see improved health along with more time freed up for women who spend a significant amount of time collecting water every day. How much time? That we can report back on soon, as surveys are being done in the community currently, gathering this information.
Studies around the world address the problems of water quantity while others have worked on water quality. There is no definitive answer as to which leads to better health in a community. For more information, you can check out this article on Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion which discusses the difference, mainly that contamination (leading to health problems) may not frequently come from contaminated water but rather dirty hands or poor hygiene, making water quantity more important so people have enough water for hygiene activities.
This project will address both issues of quality and quantity, and we hope to see improved health along with more time freed up for women who spend a significant amount of time collecting water every day. How much time? That we can report back on soon, as surveys are being done in the community currently, gathering this information.
Reforestation for Health & Environment
Trees are amazing. They give the planet remarkable gifts by strengthening the watershed, purifying the air, and making diversely-useful wood.
Fruit trees give even more. Currently in El Jocote there are nearly no fruit trees, just some jocote trees of course (tiny grape like fruit) and several mango trees. With the planting of about 90 new trees, we hope that in 10 years there will be significant amount of fruit circulating throughout the community, offering the nutrients and calories of over 10 types of fruit. Simultaneously, the 50 trees planted near the water source will help to protect the community's water supply.
The major challenge of this project will be the care of the young trees in the summer (December through May) when El Jocote gets extremely dry and each tree will need to be watered individually twice a week. To address this, contracts have been made with two families to care for the trees on their land, with this accountability piece and the motivation of a future orchard, we believe the trees will be successful.
We completed a reforestation workshop in El Balsamo and distributed 400 trees throughout the community, 7 to each household. 400 more hardwood trees are currently being planted in El Jocote. Next week, 400 more fruit trees will be planted in El Balsamo with the families that have the space and water to provide for the trees. The reason we plant 400 at a time is because that is the maximum that we can transport from the nursery at one time.
Fruit trees give even more. Currently in El Jocote there are nearly no fruit trees, just some jocote trees of course (tiny grape like fruit) and several mango trees. With the planting of about 90 new trees, we hope that in 10 years there will be significant amount of fruit circulating throughout the community, offering the nutrients and calories of over 10 types of fruit. Simultaneously, the 50 trees planted near the water source will help to protect the community's water supply.
The major challenge of this project will be the care of the young trees in the summer (December through May) when El Jocote gets extremely dry and each tree will need to be watered individually twice a week. To address this, contracts have been made with two families to care for the trees on their land, with this accountability piece and the motivation of a future orchard, we believe the trees will be successful.
We completed a reforestation workshop in El Balsamo and distributed 400 trees throughout the community, 7 to each household. 400 more hardwood trees are currently being planted in El Jocote. Next week, 400 more fruit trees will be planted in El Balsamo with the families that have the space and water to provide for the trees. The reason we plant 400 at a time is because that is the maximum that we can transport from the nursery at one time.
Compost Latrines - "Letrinas Aboneras"
A compost latrine is one of the most ecological forms of a toilet in a rural environment. In the community of El Jocote, only 1/4 of the homes have any sort of latrine or toilet.
Contained compost latrines don't harm or contaminate soil, rivers and springs.
No water is used, which in many villages is already in short supply.
It works by composting feces into a usable soil supplement. After each use, ash or dried crumpled leaves are added to keep the moisture down. The urine is diverted into a canister, diluted with water, and used as a great fertilizer. There are two chambers, after one is filled, it is covered and the other is used. By the time both are filled (about 1.5-2 years), the first chamber has composted and is ready to use in the garden. Properly maintained, it has no smell.
We continue to do check-ups on the latrines to work with families on the behavioral side.
Contained compost latrines don't harm or contaminate soil, rivers and springs.
No water is used, which in many villages is already in short supply.
It works by composting feces into a usable soil supplement. After each use, ash or dried crumpled leaves are added to keep the moisture down. The urine is diverted into a canister, diluted with water, and used as a great fertilizer. There are two chambers, after one is filled, it is covered and the other is used. By the time both are filled (about 1.5-2 years), the first chamber has composted and is ready to use in the garden. Properly maintained, it has no smell.
We continue to do check-ups on the latrines to work with families on the behavioral side.
Solar Panels
Many of the homes in El Jocote now have solar panels, giving families access to electricity. The electricity is used to power light-bulbs in the evening, recharge cellphones that connect to employers and family members, and the occasional telenovela, aka 45 minutes of pure Spanish drama.
The panels are subsidized by AsoFenix, and the families use microfinancing to pay for about half of the real cost of the system.
In El Jocote, a solar array (left) also powers the water pump that supplies the town with its drinking water.
We've had the opportunity to help install a few panels and help the electricians connect all of the lights in homes.
The panels are subsidized by AsoFenix, and the families use microfinancing to pay for about half of the real cost of the system.
In El Jocote, a solar array (left) also powers the water pump that supplies the town with its drinking water.
We've had the opportunity to help install a few panels and help the electricians connect all of the lights in homes.
Solar Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture
Solar panels power water pumps placed at the bottom of wells. Water is pumped from the well to storage tanks elevated above the ground. From there, gravity helps the water flow down to crops through a drip irrigation system.
During the dry season, farmers usually do not have enough water to grow anything. However, with these solar irrigation systems, they can grow crops all year long, and stay in Nicaragua, instead having to find work in Costa Rica.
During the dry season, farmers usually do not have enough water to grow anything. However, with these solar irrigation systems, they can grow crops all year long, and stay in Nicaragua, instead having to find work in Costa Rica.
Improved Cookstoves
These stoves use about half the amount of wood as your traditional open fire stove that most Nicaraguans use. The design also drastically limits the amount of smoke released into the room, thus making it both a more healthy and more comfortable alternative.The diagram on the left shows the path of the smoke produced by the fire.
Women have to spend less time collecting wood and no longer need to inhale such large quantities of smoke on a regular basis.
Women have to spend less time collecting wood and no longer need to inhale such large quantities of smoke on a regular basis.