On Thursday, June 16th, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, Abraham Noe-Hays, a local designer and builder of composting toilets, will show slides and talk about his journey through Guatemala and his insights into its people and its agriculture. The event, “Guatemala: Permaculture for the People of Corn,” will take place at the new Putney Public Library.
Guatemala is a land of astounding diversity, where indigenous culture is strong and celebrated, and over twenty distinct Mayan languages are spoken. Its climates range from steaming jungle coastlines to high and windswept snow-dusted plains.
Noe-Hays, of Putney, traveled to Guatemala for a month this spring, in order to build composting toilets at an indigenous midwifery clinic. This work was his first step toward fulfilling a long-term dream—to help subsistence farmers to improve the fertility of their soils and become independent of chemical fertilizers, while at the same time creating affordable sanitation, through the use of composting toilets.
In his presentation, Noe-Hays will share stories and images of his journey, which include life with two farming families, participation in the lavish and beautiful Easter celebrations in San Pedro la Laguna, and of course the construction of the toilet. He will also discuss how composting toilets fit into the larger themes of sustainable agriculture, permaculture, and environmental protection, and how they are an affordable tool that subsistence farmers around the world can use to lessen their problems of water scarcity and pollution, poor sanitation, and hunger.
This event is free and handicapped accessible. For information, call 387-4102, or email paull@sover.net.