By Ella Miller-Hodge
For the first time since arriving at camp we ventured off the preserve to tour a nearby cacao farm, nestled in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed and each equipped with a walking stick before starting the slippery ascent up the hillside the farm was planted on. As we walked, our host kept up a constant dialogue consisting of the family farm’s history and upkeep, an intimate understanding of each and every plant and its uses and properties, and the greater significance of each to the Mayan culture.
Bursting with greenery, we learned that the cacao farm grew not just cacao trees but an abundance of other crops ranging from foods and spices to companion plants and traditional medicines. Incorporating many aspects of permaculture, the hillside was planted in an intricate system, with each piece playing a role to ensure the health of the farm and maximize productivity. Mahogany trees were planted throughout to act as a windbreaker to protect the delicate cacao flowers, and banana trees were planted at a one-to-one ratio to provide a water dense mulch for each cacao tree during the dry months. Our guide told us both the mahogany trees and cacao grafts were provided to the farm by our partner organization Ya’axché, along with lessons in how to graft their own trees to expand their farm. As we summited the hill, we paused to observe the view which stretched all the way to the mountains of Guatemala, before starting back down.
Our descent was just as informative as we were made aware of even more plants that had previously gone unnoticed. Our host pointed out each one in turn, crumpling a leaf here and cracking open a seed pod there to illustrate his points: hibiscus flower petals are a good source of iron for women after their menstrual cycles, and bathing in boiled lemon leaves can help reduce a fever. While allspice berries can be used to spice foods, its leaves act as a local anesthetic when crushed, and its smoke work as a bug repellent when burned. A particular rock growing, fern-like species is a temporary anti-venom to a fer-de-lance bite (the most dangerous snake in the area and one of the most venomous in the world) when chewed into a paste and applied topically.
Safely on flat ground once more, we tried our hand at processing the cacao into chocolate. It quickly became evident that it is a skillful process as we butchered the smooth actions modeled for us. Despite our spilling of the precious cacao nibs we were rewarded with a cup of hot chocolate. In the ancient Mayan culture, we were told, chocolate was seen as sacred and only Mayan royalty were permitted to consume it. Our host proclaimed that today we were all treated as royalty as we lifted our cups in a toast.
