Vetiver Grass

==================== We would like to see every drop of rain water that falls on the sloping fields of the typical campesino in Oaxaca soak in there and serve the needs of the growing crops. That's not going to happen without help. Of all the possible techniques to strive toward that goal (including terraces, contour ditches, etc.), the technique we have settled on to promote vigorously is the use of vetiver grass closely planted on contour lines to provide barriers to the water that wants to rush down hill. There is an international organization that promotes this technique and can provide the interested reader with much background information (thus saving us a lot of typing).

Vetiver is relatively new to the Oaxaca area, having been introduced in 1995 by Kevin O'Sullivan. Through Kevin's and other's efforts, a Vetiver Project was started in Oaxaca that has multiplied the available supply to the point where organizations such as AMEXTRA can start spreading the knowledge and planting stock among poor farmers to actually start conserving water and soil. We were happy to ride on the shoulders of these pioneers.

Beginning on 15 March 1997, we planted a nursery of some 6,000 plants on land belonging to our landlord, Hector Gonzalez Hernandez. The progeny of these plants, together with others contributed by the Vetiver Project, will be introduced to communities and campensinos in surrounding areas.