Last week I shared a little about the Tuckers, and their work to help Hope for Home become more sustainable, provide healthy food to the children’s homes, and provide some employment in the local area.
Among their challenges and triumphs, they have gotten to know many of the local farmers, and drawn interest at this gringo family farms the land. They have gained interested conversations, helpful advice and methods for agriculture in this area, and relationships in the process. The Tuckers have about 3 part time employees at this time.
Below Kelly shares the story of Don Filipe, an older man who had been working the field next to them.
“Yeah, the property has been a cool opportunity to get to know locals and be able to provide income. So, the story of hiring Don Filipe- He is about 60 years old and was working at the neighboring property. There was an accident years ago and he only has use of one hand and one arm, but he was working at the neighboring property using a machete and using his big hoe to till the land to get ready to plant”.
“We kinda got to know him while he was working there, saying hi, or a little bit of chitchat. You know, he was always kind of watching what we were doing because we do different things than what most Guatemalans are planting. After that job he came over one day asking Josh if we could get him a shirt. Josh said, ‘well, we don't hand out things, but we might be able to have some work for you’. So yeah, we hired him and he has been working almost full time for almost a year for us”.
“He is a hard worker, sometimes a little scattered, and we enjoy him being on the property, and teaching us about the more traditional crops like corn and beans, and some of the more traditional practices. He is very determined to be working. He doesn’t like to not having anything to do. At one time, he was not able to come for some weeks because he had to finish up another project he was working on, but we still had a lot of land to celar. So he said, well, my dad can come. Josh and I were both kind of like, what? Your dad?? He is still alive and can still work the fields?? Sure enough, he came! I think he is in his 80’s, but he used his machete, slow and steady, and cleared a bunch of shoulder high weeds for us. He’s a character"!
"So yes, we have very much enjoyed getting to know Filipe and learning how to be better managers with our employees as we go”.
It's encouraging to our team to learn how Josh and Kelly are engaged not only in planting and harvesting crops, but growing and nourishing relationships. To learn more about the Tucker's and their work at campo de Esperanza, check them out on instagram at @jk_tuckedaway
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