The day was bright and sunny with some sporadic stratus clouds surrounding the area. It almost fell like our spring time in Chicago but the chilly breeze that blew our hair and made the oyamel pine trees rattle reminded us that we were not experiencing spring in Chicago, we were in el Santuario Sierra Chincua a Monarch Reserve in the State of Michoacan, about to explore nature at its fullest. After three long days of hard work with different people in the community just staring at the tall oyamel trees throughout our day was very therapeutical. The smell that we inhaled cleared our lungs and the sounds of nature made it seemed like we were in a fairy tale story.We were greeted by a team member of the reserve and explained to us why conserving the Monarch butterfly habitat is important. For example, we learned about the Monarch’s migration to Canada, US and Mexico and learned that there are five different generations that migrate among these countries. We learned about the threats that the Monarch butterflies encounter such as extreme weather, their adaptation to different climates, predators and deforestation during their migration. The team member also explained that current scientists are investigating further the Monarch butterfly to understand it a bit more. Within the State of Mexico and Michoacan there are different counties that the butterfly travel through such as San Felipe del Progreso, Donato Guera, Villa de Alende, Contepec, Senguio, Angangueo, Ocampo, Zitacuaro y Aporo. Because the Monarch butterfly travels through these counties, it is important that these counties make everything possible to restore forests and conserve habitat for the butterfly. Aside from conserving habitat it is also important to work with the people of these counties and work together to avoid devastating situations like deforestation and make a difference in nature. This is where groups like Alternare help people of these counties grow their own vegetation rather than cut trees for means of survival, basically bringing back the old customs from our ancestors, such as planting, vegetation and using natural fertilizers to help preserve the environment.
Once we learned about the risks and ways that people in the community are conserving the Monarch habitat we walked the trail that lead us to the Monarch butterflies. Like I mentioned before the trail exposed so much green life, the rays of the sun made leaves sparkle green and random butterflies appeared while walking our trail, which almost seemed like they were greeting us. As we got closer to all the butterflies the excitement amongst us was greater and all the oohhs and ahhs from all of us was not enough to describe what our eyes were seeing. Once we got to our destination we couldn’t help but take pictures and just admire how the butterflies flew around us. The unique yet light sound of the butterflies sounded like leaves just falling to the ground. The sun was smiling its bright light on us and warmed our atmosphere enough for the butterflies to migrate from one tree to the next. I sat on top of rock and just started into the oyamel trees full of butterflies and examined the way they flew and how they choose their place of landing while they were flying. The peaceful sound the butterflies made and the orange that flashed into my eyes made our long trip up the trail worth it. After observing and relaxing with the butterflies for half an hour our tour guide had a surprise for us. We walked away from the butterflies and hiked further up the trail for another ten minutes… as we hiked our ears pop and just looking down the trail a noticing how high up we were, I couldn’t help the adrenaline rush running through my body. As we approach the top, our tour guide says, “este es el mirador”, this is the mirador, which is place located at the top of a mountain. Again the adrenaline rush was high in our bodies and all we could see were more mountains and small tiny village. Our eyes had no limit to how far we could see. The entire team had a moment of silence… as we did the hauling winds surrounded our bodies that once again cleared our lungs. As the wind blew our hair and felt it in our faces another moment of relaxation was felt. Our energies were high.. and for a moment I thought about how free I felt just sitting there and absorbing energy and feeling a deep connection with the Pachamama, Mother Nature.. each in our own way made a photographic memory in our minds about the view and said our goodbyes to Mother nature.
Going down our hiking trail, we were so overwhelmed with the experience but at the same time felt peaceful. Although I only observed these butterflies for that small time, they taught us how important internal peace and appreciation for mother earth, something that we don’t tend to seek in our every day lives.
As we headed back to Alternare I felt so good inside as if I had just been cleaned out from all the negative vibes that were surrounding me. Experiencing that wonder till this day, still has me thinking of good way to describe what my eyes saw and what my body felt, because what I just described to you is only part of. There are no words or sensations to really describe what we all experienced that day. Its something beyond words and expressions is something that only one can describe and feel in their inner self.
The day at Sierra Chincua along with the rest of our days in Michoacan really showed us that life has a greater meaning that just working and doing our ‘normal’ things we tend to do in every day life… but that life is free, full of energy but more importantly a connection with spiritual self.
My day at Macheros.....
In our day at Alternare our entire team decided to break up into small teams and work in different communities. My team was Mike Rizo and I (Jennifer Juarez). We headed to Macheros where one of the Monarch butterfly reserve is located. At this site we worked with Don Hilario who is the instructor for this group. The group consisted of three women and two males. The three women and one male were all related to each other. At this site we helped create the fence for the chicken house that they had already built. The day was great and the sun beamed down on our faces as we worked. The three women and I started to make holes in the ground so that the wooden poles fit. However, it became difficult for us since the soil was full of rocks and hard to dig. After we dug out all the holes needed, two women then brought the wooden poles and placed them on the holes. After all the poles were in their place we then started to place the metal net that was the fence, around the poles. This became difficult because the fence did no align well with the poles so the work became tedious but fun at the same time because as a team we all strategize ways to align the fence and the poles. While putting up the poles and the fence I spoke with the women and told me there stories of how they live and how hard it is sometimes to keep up with the work and hard to bring good income. They told me about their vegetation, where they grow onions, lettuce and herbs and also the remedies that they use for when their children get sick They also showed me their trucha arcoiris fish, which is another source for food and income.This team is very grateful because they say they have learned much since they formed part of Alternare. Don Hilario was telling me a story about a remedy that his group had created with herbs that they grown for the cure of cancer and how certain herbs can really help you cure. The women mentioned that sometimes its difficult to get the their team members together and work on the project since they all have jobs. This group is strong and hard working. When they mean business they mean business. I noticed the gender difference between the two men and three women. I don’t know if it’s just a thing men do but I noticed that the men tended to do the ‘hard work’ such as putting up the fence and trying to dig the holes but what’s interesting is that the women were not timid nor believed that they were not able to do the hard work. They told me that some people in the community called them crazy for growing their own vegetables and trying to do what should be a male’s work. I noticed that they feel empowered even more when people in the community call them crazy.
I was glad we had the chance to work with Don Hilarios group because they treated us like a part of their family and let us in on their problems and stories. After a long day of work our finished job looked great! Afterwards we ate carnitas, frijoles and arroz and chatted more about their everyday lives and asked me about my life in Chicago.
It was a pleasure working with this powerful and dedicated team!!!
Jennifer Juarez
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