Building Resiliency with Plenitud PR
After Hurricane María, all of our lives changed - even those of us who practiced rainwater harvesting and had barrels for collecting water for the plants. For my family, my wife and 2 young children, our inverter and a boat battery to generate electricity that we use during the last hurricanes only lasted 1-2 days. This time, the challenge of where to get rainwater or electricity hit hard and made us think outside the box. We should be resilient.
Later in the month of December 2017, somebody shared with me that Plenitud PR was hosting the “Festival de Plenitud Boricua” in Las Marías. And I said to myself: What's that all about? We took the plunge and there we learned what Plenitud PR is, and heard about their great contribution to the immediate community. From that moment I became very interested in emergency solar systems or “off grid” spaces that are not reliant on public infrastructure for things like electricity and water. I exchanged ideas with Co-Director Owen Ingley to improve the system I already had installed, such as methods for filtering water that were able to be used during emergencies. And so, the art and music of the festival was excellent, the food and especially all the activities for the children, and idea of visiting Plenitud PR’s farm stayed with me.
While I participated in the agroecological course from El Josco Bravo at a different project site, the opportunity arose to visit the farm of Plenitud PR with Agriculture Programs Director Rebekah Sánchez, while I was a volunteer. I was so surprised with all of the elements of permaculture in their maximum expression that I saw there: bioconstruction with Superdobe, rainwater harvesting, agroecology, and a sense of community where one can feel whole.
There I completely understood the ‘why’ of Plenitud PR. Sometimes when you are little, you are programmed to want to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc. Without realizing it, you learn all of this and then eventually have to unlearn it.
And it's in these moments that you realize that to have your feet standing firmly on the ground and to do something meaningful to you is much more important than following what you were taught is meaningful to someone else.
And so one thing led to another: I focused first on improving the solar energy system to reach a capacity to cover all my needs, and that of my immediate neighbors, for at least during the daytime. If another hurricane comes through, I can be an energy oasis. Once that project was complete, I acquired the manual ¡Siembra Boricua!: An agricultural manual in harmony with nature. Using the manual, I began the creation of a home garden during the pandemic, and I got my kids involved too. In much the same way, we built a solar system together, and we also built a lithium battery.
Above: Rainwater Harvesting Installations I have been a part of.
And so my family and I created a home garden together, with the hope that my children will pass on their knowledge to their friends. Once the home garden was started, I learned about Plenitud PR’s rainwater harvesting course and applied with the hope that a spot would open up. Luckily, there was space, and I was able to attend the workshop series - I had a spectacular morning where I learned a lot and the environment was amazing, also. The workshop participants were served the same delicious food that was made with love for the Amo mis Abus program - it is amazing! With this experience and acquired knowledge, I started with my kids to make rainwater cisterns for watering the gardens.
Everything was excellent, and as part of the course, I had another opportunity to practice rainwater harvesting. I was so excited because I was going to have a hands-on learning experience, and at the same time install a system for a local community member.
And I don’t know about you all, but helping my neighbors recharges my batteries to 100%. I recommend these service experiences - if you have the opportunity to participate in a brigade of volunteers… do it! It's very gratifying. After my experience in the workshop, my family and I started installed our own rainwater harvesting system to be connected and supply the whole house with rainwater. We are currently working on the filtration of this system! Even our littlest one is participating!
I have so much to thank Plenitud PR for - they have helped and motivated me to become more resilient and even help out our community. And we are slowly reaching our goal…
