sustainfarming

Pueblo Escondido

At Pueblo Escondido, our goal is holistic farming.
Farming methods draw from the traditions of the
Maya and more modern approaches to sustainable
cultivation.

Contrary to the popular view, indigenous systems of
agriculture in pre-columbian Belize were not based
purely on slash and burn "milpa" cultivation.
Pre-columbian Maya farmers in this area of Belize
re-vitalised their fields with silt which they
periodically excavated from the bottom of the ponds
in the dry season to maintain their terraces. There
was little cultivation of the soil since, the Maya
understood, more than most, that the soils under the
forest canopy were extremely delicate.

We are adopting this practice from the Maya to our
great gain. To this practice we add drip irrigation
as needed. We use natural manure fertilizers on our
fruit trees as well as in the vegetable garden.

Our orchards are mixed hardwood/fruit trees, which
is a significant positive factor in both pest control
and enhanced wildlife presence.

The fruit trees in the poultry yard provide shade for
the birds and are in turn naturally fertilised by them.

One mixed orchard, near the main house has craboo,
boatan, citrus, negrito, banana, sapodilla as well as
ornamentals and flowering shrubs, wild orchids and
bromeliads, are plentiful throughout Pueblo
Escondido.

The pineapple "walk" is planted with the native
variety as well as an imported hybrid. The first
time these plants bore fruit, we understood just how
much birds love to eat pineapples.