Surf’s Up in Canoa


Greetings from Canoa, one of Ecuador’s most likeable beach towns. We’re spending the day relaxing after a busy week studying sustainable agriculture at Rio Muchacho.

This morning, everyone took a surfing lesson to great success. Most people were able to standup on the boards and catch some waves. Now the group is either hanging on the beach or working on their bartering skills. The vibe in town is muy tranquilo and I think everyone is enjoying the change of scenery after 6 days on a working farm.

Tomorrow, we are going to Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador’s ‘Eco-city,’ for a community fundraiser supporting Rio Muchacho’s ‘environmental school,’ which is teaching many of the local children about sustainable agriculture in addition to reading, writing, math, and English. This is a truly important initiative for the community since the Rio Muchacho valley is economically dependent on a healthy agriculture sector, but previous generations of farmers are not being good stewards of the land. Slash and burn agriculture, overgrazing of cattle, and monoculture farming (planting only one crop without diversification) have led to soil degradation and lower crop yields. The situation is not sustainable, environmentally or economically, and the hope is that by teaching today’s children to better care for the land, we are creating a better future for everyone. On Tuesday, we will also be doing a service project at the school. More to come on both of these exciting events. Until later, adios!

Ethan coming in from a surf session
Ethan coming in from a surf session
Jamie, Sophie, and Anna negotiating for some handmade jewelry with a local.
Jamie, Sophie, and Anna negotiating for some handmade jewelry with a local.