Tanya (USA) and Bardia (Switzerland) were assigned to work with a very
interesting organisation, the CorGEN, which is operating 25 km from
Antofagasta in the middle of the desert. The story started 30 years ago. Some
university professors, who lost their jobs because of the dictatorship, went in
the desert and started to experiment the possibility of a sustainable life in the middle of nowhere.
They planted trees and were working
on creating a life which could help families who also lost their jobs. It was a
huge work as literally it never rains in this region. After the dictatorship most
of the people went back in the town to work, but some enthusiastic people
stayed and have been working on advertising this lifestyle.
Nowadays the oasis serves as a recreation and agricultural area where
Bolivian immigrant families are cultivating the field and then selling the
vegetable in the markets of Antofagasta. In the 1000 km circle you will not
find such a green oasis in the desert, this is a truly unique phenomenal in this
region.
|
Under the shade of the trees |
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Shelter for the kids |
|
Little inhabitant of the oasis |
|
Desert all around |
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The soil to cultivate |
|
Bolivian families cultivating the field |
Carlos, the owner took us around and
talked about his plans with great enthusiasm. He is young and works in
this oasis because he truly believes in its message. That he and his
team can create a place where people can move out of the town, where not
the mining is in focus, but a place which enriches people’s life. We
saw the shady gardens and the plantation fields and also saw the big
potential of this initiative.
|
Carlos showing around |
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Water in the desert is a must |
Everyone can enter and visit the place for a small fee. It is even possible
to buy the vegetables cultivated here. They are 100% organic and cost
almost nothing. We also bought some, and they had such an intense and fresh
smell.
|
Pablo is harvesting the vegetable for our group |
|
The vegetables we bought |
|
Organic and smells great |
About Tiny Girl With Big Bag
Hobby writer and autodidact photographer whose passion is to travel and get to know new people and cultures. She has been on 4 continents and 30 countries, and the outcome is this travel blog where she shares travel stories, thoughts, tips and photography always through a subjective eye.
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I liked the article! Your blog is such a great inspiration. Btw I renamed "allthingsicelandic" into "avikingtravels" :)
ReplyDeleteHey, that's you!! I keep following your pictures, which are great.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, I had my last radish today :)