5 days to Cuba!

In just under a week, I and 13 other participants will be taking that infamous 90 mile trip between the United States and Havana, Cuba. Yes, it's possible for educational purposes like this one through Oakland-based Institute for Food and Development Policy, more commonly known as Food First. For me, it's a dream come true. As part of an agroecology tour, I will experience what I have only read about until now: the transition from a petroleum-dependent, monoculture form of industrial agriculture to state-sanctioned and supported rural cooperative, independent farms, and urban organic growing systems feeding cities. Because Cuban policies are predicated on the belief that food security is national security, meaning every person has the right to be fed, this change required a complete reversal of food growing systems--in only a few short years know as "The Special Period."  It is a model that people from all over the world come to experience, to assess, to learn. It's doubly exciting for me since the process of this transition in urban and rural Cuba inspired and informed the research for my book, simply garden small!

Well, I still have a lot to read before May 9th (we were provided 150 pages of background articles)...
...and to pack to meet my weight limit of 44 pounds. While there won't be rum or Cuban cigars in my bag on the return I'm making room for the mementos of art and music and photos that I can share back here along with all the new ideas, information and experiences cultivated from 10 days in the island nation.

(Photo from Food First)

It is sad that we continue to harbor fear about the socialist protocols after so many decades. It is my hope that as I and others return and share our experiences we can erase more of those old Cold War myths that no longer serve either our country or our Cuban neighbors and refocus on how we can exchange what really matters: information and resources to improve lives on both sides of the Straits of Florida not just for today but for our future as well.

For more information on this tour and other agroecology and food sovereignty tours through Food First, check out their website. And stay tuned after May 20th for blog posts about the tour.