After a couple of flight delays due to the rainy days of June in Caquetá, we finally arrived. We were warmly greeted by our friend Ignacio who works in the local Chamber of Commerce. The President of the Chamber invited us to his office for some coffee and to discuss our shared vision. We even had the pleasure of being interviewed by a local news team. The real fun started once we arrived in the community. Vereda Agua Caliente is a group of 150 farming families that produce primarily milk. Cows are the pride of this region of Colombia, with the Caqueteños always boasting that their area has more cows than people. Aside from dairy, the locals produce plantains, cassava, cacao, corn, and various vegetables. Cars are not to be found in this rural region as horses are still the primary means of transportation. I felt as though I had been transported back to the farms I always heard about in the stories of my grandmother’s childhood in the early 20th century. Nobody has a television. The leader of the community, Hector, warmly greeted us, showing us all around the land. We surveyed the plot they have dedicated to the community garden, and we spent time getting to know the different families in the area. These are genuinely good people. We spent the first night in the home of one of the families, sharing meals with them and talking about their lives and ambitions. Early next week we’ll be meeting with the National Training Service so that we can work out the remaining logistics and break ground. The project is off to an exciting start.

Connor and Darren being interviewed at the Chamber of Commerce in Florencia, Colombia by the local news agency, Lente Regional.

Cattle are the pride and joy of the people of Caquetá. These are three of the countless cows that call Vereda Agua Caliente home.

Connor and Darren taking a tour of the land with local leader Hector.

This local store serves as the community center for all things social. It is run by a man named John and his family, with whom we had the pleasure of spending our first night.

Hector with two other local farmers, on their way to show us the local lagoon.