In the communities of El Limón and El Escobal, 71-year-old Ángel Vivas is affectionately known as “Lito.” Lito is a gifted farmer with a true passion for working the land and sharing its wealth. 

Over the years, community members have come to expect Lito’s visits as he walks through town, carrying a brimming supply of grains, bananas, yuca, yam, or coffee in the motet strapped to his back. When he sells his produce door-to-door, he also checks in on his neighbors, sharing any news and flashing his magnificent smile. His routine is a beloved part of the rhythm of both communities. These days, though, he’s been eager to share a whole lot that’s new. 

He’s added a bounty of new vegetables like celery, carrots, beans, lettuce, cabbage, beets, parsley, tomatoes, and peppers to his motet. But it’s not just new vegetables that he’s sharing. He’s sharing how these vegetables are helping him transform the way he stewards the land. By diversifying the crops he grows, he’s actually working to regenerate his land. 

Since partnering with Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) over a year ago, crop diversification is one of many regenerative agricultural practices Ángel has implemented.

When SHI field trainers first visited El Limón and El Escobal, they held a training to discuss how slash-and-burn agriculture and agrochemicals were poisoning the environment and the community. When Ángel first heard them talk, he knew deep in his bones the importance of the conversation. “It was easy for me to understand,” Angel noted, “because I had seen it and lived through it, but I did not know how else I could produce food without causing those problems.”

Ángel grew up farming alongside his father and other family members in a rural community in Chilibre, Panama. From his earliest years, he formed a deep bond with the land, and a lasting appreciation for the great diversity of resources that the tropical forests supported. 

But like the generations before him, Ángel practiced slash-and-burn agriculture. He also used agrochemicals, primarily herbicides but also fertilizer and insecticide on a smaller scale. But the herbicides did not just stop at killing unwanted weeds; instead, they eliminated all vegetation in the areas under cultivation. This ended up degrading the quality of his soil. When it rained, Ángel would watch the soil simply wash away, streaming down the steep slopes of his land and leaving the roots of his crops exposed. He recognized that these practices came with a hefty ecological price but did not know what else he could do.

Now, working alongside SHI field trainers, he’s using dead barriers and mulch to prevent soil erosion. He no longer pays for nor uses herbicide or other agrochemicals. Instead, he’s producing his own organic fertilizer and repellents to control pests and diseases. And in just over a year, he’s already seen clear improvements in the soil quality. “Now that I am using organic practices,” Ángel tells us, “I have improved my income, I have managed to improve the conditions of the soil, and we consume food that we know is healthy.” With increased income and diversified crops, he and his family are not just meeting their basic needs but also investing in the things that matter most to them.

Ángel and his wife, María Andrea Hernández, have so much that’s worthy of investment. As a young couple, they established themselves in El Escobal, the community adjacent to where María was raised. They’ve been working the land ever since, producing enough food to feed their family and extra to sell in the community. And after forty-two years together, they’ve certainly seen the rewards of their labors. Today, they are the proud parents of eight children, grandparents of twenty-five, and great-grandparents of three. And through every cycle of life, it was their plot of land in El Escobal that sustained this ever-expanding family tree. 

Watching their great-grandchildren play and grow up, Ángel and María are looking towards the future. By regenerating the soil that provided for them, they are making it possible for their grandchildren’s future families to take root here, too.

For Ángel, partnering with SHI is about strengthening skills he’s developed over a lifetime of working the land. Ángel, for example, has always known the importance of seed-saving. Each saved seed preserves his autonomy, cultural heritage, and generational knowledge. Partnering with SHI, he’s doing just that, while making his family and his land healthier and more resilient.

As he’s making changes on his own land, he’s actively sharing his knowledge and skills with other community members. Together, they’re sharing their experiences and encouraging each other along the way.

Since partnering with SHI, Ángel has participated in every single SHI training held in the area. He’s shown other community members that they, too, can grow nutritious and healthy food for their families. He’s helping challenge a long-held community belief that the soil close to houses is not suitable for agricultural production. His experience is a testament to the wonders of a home garden that can feed a growing family, save money, and increase income. 

At the heart of SHI’s methodology is a respect for farmers’ wisdom and personal experience. Field trainers recognize that farmers often have the answers already, just waiting to be tapped. At 71 years old, Ángel’s wisdom runs deep. But even in his seventh decade on this planet, he’s still an eager learner, always ready to grow. Partnering with farmers like Ángel is an honor for SHI field trainers.

As Ángel continues his journey as a regenerative agriculture practitioner and advocate, he’s walking shoulder-to-shoulder with his entire community. We are thrilled to see where they go.