New Edition of the “Lending a Hand” Agroecology Workshop
The program kicks off this Friday, 24 October, with soil‑fertility expert Rico Horn visiting the Ángel Garden in Tefía and the Gavia of Nacho’s Oven. Wool‑transformation sessions will run from 27‑29 October, followed by an Origami‑and‑Wool mobile workshop on 30 October.
The “Arrimando el Hombro” agroecology workshop is part of the “Oasis Climáticos Majoreros” project, funded by GDR Maxorata through the participatory local‑development strategy LEADER for Fuerteventura, within the 2023‑2027 EU Common Agricultural Policy framework.
The workshop is organized in collaboration with:
- Cabildo Insular de Fuerteventura
- Ayuntamiento de Betancuria
- Fundación Chequipa
- Compost Majorero
- Associations Limpiaventura and Erdenwert
Activities will take place 24‑26 October in the Valle de Santa Inés, coordinated by Jorge Federico “Rico” Horn, a member of the Hamburg‑based Erdenwert Association. The program blends online training with hands‑on sessions at the Virama farm.
Agenda and Activities
- Friday, 24 October – Field visit to the Ángel Garden (Tefía) and the Gavia of Nacho’s Oven, followed by a lecture titled “A Good News” and an exhibition of paintings by Sonia Hernández at the Santa Inés Cultural Center.
- Weekend (Saturday‑Sunday) – Practical workshops at the Virama farm, with morning and afternoon sessions, concluding on Sunday with a community lunch.
- Complementary Workshops
- Wool‑Transformation Introductory Course (27‑29 October) – led by artisan Beatriz Ballester Morón.
- Origami‑and‑Wool Mobile Workshop (30 October) – led by Celine Müller‑Berg.
- Both sessions will be held at the Santa Inés Cultural Center with limited capacity.
Soil Fertility, Agroecology, and the Erdenwert Association
Agroecology has been gaining ground on the island, and the Erdenwert Association has contributed to this growth through a series of training initiatives over recent years.
To create “climatic oases” in Fuerteventura, Rico Horn and his team advocate not only the restoration and use of gavías and nateros (traditional water‑catching structures) but also the fostering of community ties and the revitalization of traditional practices.
“The goal is to demonstrate that restoring the Majorero landscape requires shared knowledge and community action,” Horn has emphasized on multiple occasions.
Interested participants can request further information or reserve a place by emailing ricoloobo@gmx.