Today, we visited local farms and had a unique experience. So far, most of the plantations we have visited have been large farms with lots of land, workers, and machinery. However, today, on the smaller farms, we saw the amount of creativity and determination it takes to run a small family-owned farm. Despite the success seen by these farms, there are many difficulties that arise. There is often limited access to land, which is also quite expensive. Francini, one of the farm owners, brought us into her house and explained how she built her house little by little to avoid taking a loan out, but this process took much longer. However, Francini has a great passion for her work and her community which is what keeps her going.

The surrounding community is very supportive of all the local farming efforts. Francini’s farm is not just a business, but also a place for education. Students from nearby schools come to the farm and spend a lot of time learning about the crops, the growing process, and sustainability. Francini also works with other local farmers to help with reforestation efforts for the biological corridor. This involves farmers planting trees and then sending them to people in other areas to plant in their gardens or backyards to help rebuild a jungle. This community has an opportunity for everyone to benefit, whether that is from education, business practices, or sustainable efforts.

In addition to sustainable practices, Francini does with other farms, on her own farm, she does things a little differently than big commercial operations. For example, Francini does not use plastic bags on her bananas when growing, like large corporations do. These bags act as insecticides, but she would rather let birds and insects eat a little than mess with the acts of nature. She also keeps the banana flowers on the plant and uses them as a natural signal for when the fruit is ready. Many corporations detach the flowers because they would rather have the plant use its energy to produce bigger bananas than flowers. Although Francini’s way of farming may take a little longer, she acts in a more mindful way that is full of care and shows her respect for the environment.