We help Mexican vulnerable people re-integrate into the workforce and society
One of our most unexpected and magical workshops in September was called Mushroom Growing in Urban Areas and it revolved around the theme of food sovereignty. In this single session, Carlos Briones Pérez, an ethnomycologist dedicated to the cultivation of culturally important mushrooms, began with a brief talk on the history of mushrooms in pre-Hispanic times and the first cave paintings, and then went on to the practical part in which they were able to create the suitable conditions for the cultivation of fungi. The workshop had the objective of disseminating and training the valedores in the cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms from easily accessible organic waste such as cardboard, cigarette butts and newspapers.
An additional benefit of this workshop is that the valedores who are interested find a space where to carry out this practice, as it has a “do what you can with what you have” approach.
It was an unprecedented experience to be able to share with the valedores, authentic and very funny people, a little about the wonderful world of mushrooms and the art of their cultivation.
This activity is part of a social work that, as a biologist, and in collaboration with other colleagues in different facets of my career, we promote in various settings and between specific social sectors (generally the least informed on the subject), to inform, sensitize and make them aware of the environmental, cultural, and biotechnological potential of fungi to solve problems of current global interest.
The idea is to inspire people so they can become more actively involved in caring for the habitats of fungi and valuing their traditional culture; as well as providing them with the tools (biotechnological transfer) so they will be able to undertake an applied science project with fungi, which may have a positive socio-environmental impact on their communities. And this is where I see mushroom cultivation as an opportunity.
“If I were a botanist, I would do it through the promotion of orchards, if an entomologist, surely inspired by beekeeping. It is about giving back from our field of study, to the world ”.
On November 18th, our very first collective exhibition was inaugurated, showcasing a collection of photographs, written texts, and drawings made by Valedores as well as some of our close collaborators. After six years of continuous work, we accepted La Laguna’s invitation to exhibit a demonstration of our combined efforts. Born from the idea of community […]
The word community detonates multiple reflections in the paper’s participants. This time, the concept was a central theme that allowed them to develop and expand on different works.
Get to know the Valedores’ creative process in preparation for Mirada Camarada, our first collective exhibition!
We are very happy to announce that on November 18th we will inaugurate our first collective exhibition, comprised of photography, drawings, and texts with which we seek to open dialogue within our community to share ideas through the work of the Valedores and some of our beloved collaborators The exhibition will take place in Laguna, […]
“The plan was to add color to the houses because all of them made a gray patch.” This is part of what Dione Anguiano, head of Iztapalapa, said when an urban improvement program was launched in August 2016 to paint 2,500 houses in Cerro del Peñón, a neighboring area between the municipality and Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, […]
