Semilla Nueva’s Food and Nutritional Security classes are by far the most happenin’ places to be in el campo, the countryside. Every other week, women from a community gather at one member’s house to cook, laugh and catch up. During these classes women learn new recipes that incorporate the nutritious crops SN promotes; chaya, Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and pigeonpea, as well as the nutritional value of each crop. (more…)

We have always felt that Semilla Nueva has a deep promise to fulfill; that so much passion from so many people had to be leading to something big. 2013 was the year we truly began to see that promise become a reality. Four times as many farmers experimented with new farming techniques this year. We ran a census that showed  hundreds of families following our farmer leaders’ examples and changing their practices. (more…)

“Purchasing pigeonpea from small-holder farmers in Guatemala and selling it internationally to create a market that will increase income for farmers and make Semilla Nueva financially stable”, that is Curt Bowen’s vision.

(more…)

Last week three donors flew down to Guatemala from Boise, Idaho with one goal: to see, feel, smell and taste the work of Semilla Nueva. This trip is designed for people who want to be at the heart of the hands-on, day-to-day work of Semilla Nueva in rural communities. Donors immersed themselves in Guatemalan culture by spending a week working alongside farmers in their communities.

(more…)

What is a Global Grant?

Individual Rotary clubs are helping communities help themselves all over the world in a number of incredible, impactful projects. Then along came Rotary International’s (RI) Global Grant – a new idea that combines the contributions of several individual clubs, matches those contributions at the Rotary District and International level, and creates significant financial support for a project.    (more…)