Union Zapata Hosts Biodiversity Fair in Oaxaca, Mexico
Union Zapata is a small pueblo that is at off the Pan-American Highway Mexico 190, near San Pablo Villa de Mitla, about five miles from where I live. They grow organic corn, squash and beans just like many villages throughout the state of Oaxaca. But, the native crops indigenous to Mexico are at risk as […]
The Season for Blue Corn in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca
This morning I awaken to the smell of the wood fire. The smoke drifts through the air like a voice into my sleeping room, calling me. Magdalena is at the outdoor comal preparing tortillas. This is the season for blue corn. This is ancient corn — maize — organic, grown from kernels cultivated here in […]
Tribute to the Women of Oaxaca by Lila Downs. Disfruta bien! Enjoy!
“Era importante para mí hacer un tributo a algunas mujeres de mi país que muelen maíz y lo llevan al canto y lo celebran como un milagro que a mí me ha inspirado mucho para poder seguir caminando y cantando.” ~ Lila Downs “It was important for me to honor the women of my country […]
Baptismo, Mercado, Massaje: Just Another Day in Teotitlan
The sound of familiar music drew me to the doors of the village church and another celebration. [My guess is that village life is a mutual support society. Families support each other by providing and paying for the services needed to sustain the constant celebration of life. There is incredible joy for families, and economic […]
Amazing Maize: First Cultivated in Oaxaca 6,000+ Years Ago
It’s amazing to know that in a farming area southeast of Oaxaca City, likely somewhere in the highlands past Mitla or Matatlan, is where maize originated. Maize is different from the huge kernel, yellow corn we know in the U.S. Its variegated, multi-colored kernels are smaller and full of healthy richness. The Oaxaca region is […]