One of San Miguel’s most innovative environmental projects is just past the mushroom  farm near the village of San Jose de Gracia, on the road to Rodriguez. Tikkun EcoCenter is a bit off  the beaten path, but you know you’ve come to the right place w​hen you’re welcomed to an oasis  of green by a bunch of brown and black hens.

Tikkun EcoCenter is a model of Permaculture, a philosophy of farming and land use  that  emphasizes harmony with the natural environment. Here, that means green building, organic   gardens, rainwater collection, seed saving, and a lot more.

Victoria Collier and Ben Ptashnik established the center 12 years ago to create what they call a  ‘food forest’. They have so far built solar-powered adobe structures from local  materials,  installed beehives and a wind generator, engineered a series of ponds to collect rainwater and  farm tilapia, and planted a fruit tree orchard. Their 2 acres of community farm is all drip  irrigated, plowed by a couple of sturdy horses, and the free-range chickens — more than 100 of them — manage the grasshopper population (Victoria’s growing flock follow her  everywhere,  earning her the honorary title, Mother of Chickens). On the farm’s periphery, Victoria and Ben  have transformed a tired, dry landscape with native cactus, trees, and shrubs.

​Ben – previously a state senator in Vermont and advocate for organic farming — emphasizes that  Permaculture is not just food production, but a more comprehensive way of thinking about how we live.  He explains the bigger goal of the center is “preparing for the implosion  from climate change, and that means working with the local communities here.”; In addition to employing a number of local residents, Ben and Victoria collaborate with their neighbors  on  projects to harvest rainwater and develop small community gardens. These efforts provide an  opening to share ideas and generational knowledge about land stewardship and healthy foods.

Victoria and Ben are also planning to conduct workshops in 2022 on subjects like  organic  gardening, seed saving, and bee keeping. Victoria and Ben don’t stop with farm management  and education projects. When the pandemic hit last year, many of their neighbors lost their jobs.

For almost two years, the center has been providing organic farm produce to more than 50 local families, amounting to over 50,000 meals. ​Victoria explains “We’re a food bank now. We don’t sell food. People shouldn’t have to be hungry because they don’t have money.”

The Tikkun EcoCenter is as much an expression of Ben and Victoria’s world view as their  day jobs – leading a large US organization that advocates for election  security.  https://www.electiondefense.org/.

Victoria says their work on election security complements their work at the center: “If you don’t  have democracy, you are going to get corruption and policies that put corporate profits ahead of  a sustainable environment.”

​Their dream? At this point, they’re ready to be a part of an environmental movement in  San Miguel, and to turn the center into a demonstration project to inspire others.  As Victoria  explains, “Yes, we want to fight the bad system but, even more, we want to create a good  system.”

If you want to learn more about the important work of the Tikkun EcoCenter or volunteer, check out their website or pay them a visit. https://www.tikkunsanmiguel.mx/ 

They could also use support for their work with local communities. Donations are tax deductible in the US.  https://www.tikkunsanmiguel.mx/donate