Just a few days ago, I traveled to the small town of Rancho Grande. It is small in comparison with the city I live in here in Matagalpa, but it was rather large compared to the even smaller communities that surround it. The purpose of my visit, which was a 3.5 hours journey on a somewhat paved, and mostly dirt road, was to visit Anna, a fellow PCV in the health sector, with a project she started at the Casa Materna in Rancho. With the help of some donors from the USA as well as the support of her local health center, mayor's office, and community, she and the workers of the Casa Materna will be starting a milling business. Now, a milling business in the US might not seem like a good idea, but considering one of the staple foods in Nicaragua is corn tortillas that are made from freshly milled corn daily, it is a great idea. That and according to popular lore, women who have recently given birth are only allowed about 4 foods for the first 40 days after giving birth, one of which is Pinol, a corn beverage that needs... you guessed it! Milled corn!!
So after picking up the mill in Matagalpa, (which ironically has a Leeson motor powering it... small world right?) we headed off with the Ministry of Health Director, Administrator, Anna and I in their pick-up truck and made the long journey back to their community arriving at 11pm. The next morning, Anna showed me around town, introducing me to just about everyone we met, it's one of the blessings and curses of living in a small site... you know everyone and they all know about you! We then later had a meeting with the individuals that will be in charge of overseeing the mill and worked on record keeping. It was about all we could get through, because the little building that will hold the now present mill is still not completed. I will most likely need to return once the mill is fully functional, but in the meantime, we were able to clarify some things and make a plan for the running of the mill. Overall it was a productive exchange and I had a wonderful time in Rancho Grande.
On my last day there, Anna and I took a walk out into the campo and went to call on some friends of her's who live on a finca or farm. When we arrived, the mother and her three daughters were making fresh cheese which they later served us with a fresh warm tortilla. I even got some to take home with me! This family was truly wonderful, they showed me all over their farm, and I happily followed taking pictures and being amazed at seeing cacao trees, bean bushes, banana trees, and even a red headed woodpecker! I also got to try the fruit from a cacao tree. Little did I know that you can eat or rather suck on the creamy white flesh that surrounds cacao beans. It was sweet and sour, and slimy and very tasty. I have a feeling that my visit to this farm will be one of my favorite memories of Nicaragua.
Here are some pictures from that awesome trip!
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| Anna supervising the moving of the mill into the truck |
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| Anna and her wet and dry mill |
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| It fit!!! |
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| Anna hard at work at her radio station gig! She talks about sexual and reproductive health weekly on the Catholic Radio station |
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| Me in the back of the truck getting excited for the journey... we ended up riding in the cab, but it was fun to pretend |
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| The Catholic Church in Rancho Grande |
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| A beautiful view of Rancho |
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| I just felt like striking a pose |
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| Anna in front of the Casa Materna |
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| The horse parking lot hahaha |
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| Explaining the importance of recordkeeping... although I realize I look mad hahaha |
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| Don Chico working on his record sheet |
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| Anna watching the ladies enter their first "sale" of the day |
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| Anna and those who will be responsible for overseeing the mill that can be seen in the background |
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| A barber shop, but with an audience outside watching the tv |
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| View from inside a beautiful chapel at the technical school |
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| A picturesque view of a barrio of Rancho Grande, honestly, more what I thought would be my living situation in the Peace Corps... I am not complaining though! |
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| Me in lovely Rancho Grande! |
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| A man leading his horse up to graze |
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| So pretty right? |
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| Two young cows battling it out over a female! Or just goofing around |
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| Anna and Dona Claudia at the finca |
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| A river runs through it! |
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| Anna helping to make fresh cheese, Cuajada |
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| After they make the cheese curds, they have to mill it to form the ball ready to eat... I guess we could say they are Nica Cheese balls! |
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| A Cacao fruit |
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| A woodpecker |
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| Not ripe Cacao hanging on the tree |
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| Their bean field... gallo pinto has to come from somewhere right? |
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| A Cacao fruit opened up... you can eat the white fleshy bit around the cacao beans and it is soooo good |
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| Varieties of Cacao pods and their colors |
PS, this is my 100th post! Awesome!!!
Congratulations on your 100th blog post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun, productive, and educational trip. Loved the picture of the store where you can purchase milling equipment, sporting goods, and guitars all in one place! And the farm looks like a beautiful place to spend some time.