Thousands of plant species grow in tropical Panama, and many of them are edible. Nevertheless the daily food consumption of the rural inhabitants is based mainly on corn and rice, and traditional useful plants are being forgotten.

In western Panama, in the educational garden of the non-profit organization lo tuyo e.V. agronomists, school classes, and everyone else, is welcome to get to know and to try local agricultural crops. Seeds and seedlings come from nearby farmers and the Ngöbe-Buglé, the indigenous people from the mountains north of Las Lajas. lo tuyo’s plant ark provides further species. The lo tuyo team collects and documents information and develops bio-diverse, close-to-natural versions of land use together with the farmers.

All grades of the local primary school Las Lajas Adentro have already been on lo tuyo to get to know the project. Besides guided tours lo tuyo is now able to offer a vacation program including cooking classes, theater, painting and much more – the interest is great. The kids walk through the garden with big eyes, ready to try the plentiful supply. They tell us how their grandmas used one or the other plant and are excited to take seeds and seedlings home. This way the next generation is shown the value of local agricultural crops from early on – so that these will never be forgotten.

lo tuyo e.V. is registered in the local court of Munich, Germany and approved as a non-profit organization founded to lend developing aid. Many volunteer workers and an employee maintain the educational garden on site. We also work closely with local agricultural and educational institutions.

At the moment we need financial support for the costs of the educational garden, as well as materials for the educational program.

Thanks for your help!