urban gardening

Disaster Relief Efforts in Galapagos

With our study abroad programs cancelled, we are struggling to stay in business and depend on you more than ever. We are so grateful to those who have donated, spread the word, and participated in our fundraising efforts. A big thanks to UM alumni Carley Belanger and Sam Waddell for getting our first fundraiser started in May!

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With your financial support, we have been able to donate basic 'food kits' to the families of the Galapagos initiative "Sustainable Isabela". These food kits, with staples like oil, rice, and lentils, are used by families in addition to the produce from their gardens.

In addition to providing 'food kits' for our families, we have also put together agricultural kits. These kits were donated to farmers in our sustainable agriculture program guarantee continuous local production and quality of local produce. The resulting produce is commercialized at the local outdoor food market in a continuous effort to ensure food security on the island.

 
This project is carried out in agreement with the Governing Council and the technical assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture.

This project is carried out in agreement with the Governing Council and the technical assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

You can be a part of it by signing up for a future trip (send us an email to hear about our great offers), you can donate, or simply spread the word! (@ioiabroad on social media)

IOI Needs Your Help

All of our summer study abroad groups and volunteer programs have been cancelled due to COVID-19.
We need your help to be able to continue to serve our communities and the families you love! 

 

Until now, IOI had been the only organization in the Galapagos working to increase food sovereignty from continental Ecuador while reducing the carbon footprint of products sent to the archipelago. Amid the crisis, the gravity of the islands' dependence on external provisions became abundantly clear, and the government is launching a program to strengthen local production.

In turn, our sustainable agriculture and urban gardening project is now the model for the statewide implementation of similar initiatives. IOI will be the coordinating agent of this government effort in Isabela County, reducing dependency on mainland shipments by 15%. Additionally, IOI staff and members of our Isabela Sostenible group will lead an effort to triple the amount of urban gardens in Puerto Villamil to 75.

As part of this effort, IOI will additionally coordinate the government’s disaster relief efforts in Isabela, serving as a food bank for local residents. The program will distribute weekly market baskets of produce from the agricultural program to 60 families in economic distress.

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Our host families and community members update us through a WhatsApp chat about their harvests!

Our host families and community members update us through a WhatsApp chat about their harvests!

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

100% of your donations will go directly towards supporting IOI's food production and disaster relief efforts. Our committed front line staff and your host-families depend on your donations. Please help the survival of IOI during this crisis!

Learn more about how IOI is working through the pandemic in our May Newsletter and on our COVID-19 Response Page

Outside the IOI EcoGarden

Although we do not currently have participants at IOI, we have plenty of wonderful stories and memories from previous volunteers.

A sustainable agriculture volunteer wrote this lovely post about our EcoGarden at IOI:

While working in the IOI EcoGarden I heard a cacophony of chirping and noticed a finch flying into a nest built into the cactus in the IOI yard. It is a beautiful nest with lots of small twigs and natural cotton – did you know there is a native Galapagos Cotton Tree? Cactus finches nest in these Opuntia and they are back this year.

Can’t wait to see the babies!

Photo descriptions in order from left to right — Photo 1: Dad standing guard over the nest — Photo 2: Dad paying a visit to hatchlings — Photo 3: A protective mama chirps warnings at us when we get too close — Photo 4: The softest nest of cotton on a bed of needles

Just a few days later after they hatched, the finches have fledged!

I walked out of the second floor dorm room at IOI and looked at the beautiful Miyuyo tree, a native of Galapagos, with its beautiful yellow flowers. There in the top branches were two baby finches! They were a little wobbly on their legs and awkward as they few/hopped across the branches as they gave their wings a try. One male, one female, it appears. They are too cute!

Photo descriptions: Babies out of their nests and working on hopping! Did you know baby finches have pale beaks that will grow darker over time?

Quick Tips from IOI's EcoGarden

A big “thank you” to social media volunteer, Stefan Ascherl for these tips and photos!

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As spring ends in the southern hemisphere, and approaches in the northern hemisphere, we'd love to share some quick gardening tips from our EcoGarden in Isabela Island, Galapagos. This garden, right outside of our IOI office, is used as a model for our urban farming program and for hands on activities/learning for children and adults!

What is an EcoGarden? It's gardening with the environment in mind - gardening sustainabily and with native plants. Interested in gardening, farming, and agriculture? Check out our sustainable farming and urban agriculture volunteer program!

Empty egg boxes are the perfect base for growing young plants!

Empty egg boxes are the perfect base for growing young plants!

Flowers are always appreciated, so we give them some space in our garden between all the green vegetables to give our garden a pop of color!

Flowers are always appreciated, so we give them some space in our garden between all the green vegetables to give our garden a pop of color!

Although we don't encourage using single-use-coffee-cups, if there are any around, then use them to grow young plants like we do!

Although we don't encourage using single-use-coffee-cups, if there are any around, then use them to grow young plants like we do!

You can upcycle empty plastic bottles to grow plants in them. Just cut them in half and color them up!

You can upcycle empty plastic bottles to grow plants in them. Just cut them in half and color them up!

Stay tuned TO our social media for your chance to win an IOI t-shirt with quick quizzes from our garden!