Digging Lima

At face value, Lima is gigantic, the traffic flow is completely disorganized, the air is immensely poluted, the streets of most neighborhoods are dirty and full of pety crime and the people in the busses wear tragic expressions. It is definitely not a city in which I could ever live, but I find myself facinated with it´s complexity and feel lucky to be learning about it from a perspective a bit below the surface.

A few weeks ago, I experienced yet another side of Lima. Through WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), I lived at a health facility that provides natural treatments, primarily raw food as medicine, for (mainly) low-income patients with cancer and other illnesses. There I worked side by side with Peruvian farmers on a beautiful, young organic garden that provides food for the clinic. I hold much respect for these hard-working, good hearted guys who willingly taught me their daily routines.

On day one, I weeded around the beets, carrots, basil and tomatoes and then in the evening, I helped to pick, wash, and bundle the beautiful produce for delivery. Day two held a back-breaking day of shoveling cow manure at a nearby stable. We loaded the "goods" into big, heavy bags, crammed the van full, and delivered it to the gardens which are currently undergoing expansion. I kept up well with the boys...just call me Libby the tough! The third day I weeded more and then had a lesson in planting seeds of lettuce, alfalfa, cilantro, and parsley. I was so happy to get a good look at the majority of the processes.

The garden, Biodinamica, founded by the very generous, community oriented, and intelligent Dinko Vlahovic is separate from the health facility, Casanova, but they are very much interconnected via family and purpose. Both organizations exist solely to provide healthy options for the community and they do not seek capital gain. The clean, fully organic practices of both stand out in a community, country and even in the world at large where money most often reigns over health and the general well being of the people.

Dinko´s father-in-law Dr. Carlos Casanova Lenti is the founder of the clinic, Casanova and I was amazed to learn that he has been practicing with raw food as a medicine for 50 or 60 years. His work is world renown and I understand that his facility that previously existed in Cajamarca, Peru is somewhat of a famous attraction for Peruvians and tourists alike. I was pleased to have the chance to meet Dr. Casanova, and from just one brief encounter (as well as a few informative conversations with his son-in-law) it is fully evident that the doctor has devoted his entire life to the pursuit of helping others through naturopathy.

My three days working for Biodinamica were surely comprised of hard work, but I also reaped the benefits at meal time! I stayed in a room at the clinic and the nurses and staff there took incredible care of me. For the entire time, my diet consisted of big, healthy portions of raw, organic fruits and vegetables. Each meal included three fruits such as papaya, mango, and grapes, three healthy juices, the first of beets, the second of pecans and pinapple, and the third a small shot of parsley. Additionally, for lunch (the biggest meal) a lovely salad was also made especially for me.

This urban gardening experience gave me a beautiful look at an opearation that I was incredibly surprised to find in Lima. The work was tough, particularly under the intense summer sun and in the humidity of Lima, but I was welcomed with the utmost kindness. My time there was invaluable and worth every drop of sweat! Hats off to the farmers of Biodinamica and to all of the staff at Casanova.