Potential+Action+Plan

HOME | ACTION PLAN | EDUCATION PLANNING | NUTRITION IN GUATEMALA | STAKEHOLDERS ANALYSIS | PROPOSED NEEDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | COLD CLIMATE FRUIT TREES | STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION | PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS Preliminary Action Plan

Phase 1 - Building Partnerships

 * Explore the possibility of this project continuing during UNIV 392
 * Involve other Cal Poly students from different fields of study
 * Develop fruit leather recipe & production methods
 * Work with Pacheco Elementary to begin cultivating their school garden as a sister garden
 * Learn more about San Pablo, the people of the community, and their lives and share that with the Pacheco students as their school garden is being developed


 * Establish relationship with teachers, students and parents at Pacheco Elementary in order to research the viability of a sister garden in San Luis Obispo
 * Introduce UN FAO "School Garden Manual" as a reference for program development
 * [[file:FAO School Garden Manual.pdf]]


 * Continue research and writing of a nutrition education curriculum for the school
 * Use UN FAO tripartite approach as a model and FAO publication "Nutrition Education in Primary" Schools as a guide
 * Encourage teachers in San Pablo to guide curriculum development
 * Test curriculum with students at Pacheco Elementary


 * Build relationships and establish trust with the San Pablo community
 * Continue communication with Las Mujeres
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reach out to San Pablo school and investigate integration of community garden and fruit leather production into saturday apprenticeships
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reach out to all the stakeholder’s within the community that would be affected by this project: Men and Women, Young and Old, Farmers, Teachers, Parents
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Involve the community in the design process:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask for their opinion of the current plan
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask what could make it better, and
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How could this plan best serve them or do they have a better alternative
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Assemble a committee within San Pablo of people that are interested and willing to participate and share responsibility for the garden and test plot (or alternate plan as defined by the community)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Phase 2 - Site Evaluations

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Visit San Pablo through the Guateca program
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Establish what is already working for the community
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are there areas of nutrient availability, food security, agriculture, etc. in which they fare better than other rural villagers in Guatemala?
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Research various local factors that could affect the overall plan (soil quality, pests, dietary intake, nutrient deficiencies, availability of tools, supplies, ingredients, etc.)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Communicate with the locals, and
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Run tests/experiments
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Visit potential sites for “test plot” and asses for suitability (arable, affordable, accessible, etc.)


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Continue research on suitable fruits for the cold, high elevation climate of San Pablo
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask the people of San Pablo if they have any ideas of fruits they would like to try growing (particularly fruits from local markets that we may not be aware of)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Provide them with examples of suitable crops based on our research
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Conduct soil testing and research pests, climate and other growing conditions
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Research agricultural methods that would be effective, sustainable and accepted by the villagers of San Pablo


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Find sources for seeds and/or saplings and supplies that are economically viable
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aim local for continued availability, decreased transportation cost, supporting the Guatemalan economy, and lower environmental impact


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perform dietary analysis and anthropometric and biochemical testing for specific nutrient deficiencies and complications
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dietary analysis
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">24 hour food recall to assess for missing nutrients
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anthropometric
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Height for age (stunting)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Weight for height (under- or overweight)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arm circumference and Triceps skinfold thickness (muscle to adipose ratio)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Biochemical
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fasting blood glucose
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Serum iron
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Serum lipids
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Specific vitamin and mineral tests dependent on intake


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Modify fruit leather recipe to accommodate the level of cooking technology and available resources in San Pablo.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Research addition of nutrient supplements based on specific deficiencies if they exist
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Involve the garden committee and any other interested parties and seek their input
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Provide samples of fruit leather to community members and ask for their feedback


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Work with teachers in San Pablo to revise nutrition education curriculum to suit the needs of the community
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Provide locals with UN FAO publications for reference
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Nutrition Education in Primary Schools" (Too many files to link, but also available in .pdf format)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Family Nutrition Guide"
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[[file:Family-nutrition-guide-en.pdf]]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> [[file:Family-nutrition-guide-es.pdf]]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"School Garden Manual"
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[[file:FAO School Garden Manual.pdf]]


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Evaluate the plan based on new information gathered through research and discussion with locals
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Local committee must be responsible for this stage of evaluation in order to create sustainable and lasting solution. Americans serve only as advisors and consultants.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Existing plan can serve as a framework and basis for the final plan, but the final design must be based on the needs and desires of the San Pablo community.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stress and support self-development through educational programs

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(May differ if plan evolves through community input)

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Obtain funding to begin implementation (grant, micro finance, charitable contributions)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Purchase necessary supplies (see proposed needs)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hire administrators to oversee the various aspects of the program
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Print program materials


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Develop test plot in San Pablo and begin cultivation of various types of fruits
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Work with the citizens of San Pablo so they feel accountable and involved with the project
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Encourage farmers to try new crops and sustainable practices without the consequence of failure of their own cash crops
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Determine which fruit crops are viable in this region


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Expand existing greenhouse as necessary or alternatively build high tunnels
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Extend growing season for existing fruit and vegetable crops
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Test cultivation of crops previously not suited to the climate


 * Introduce Educational curricula in schools, the community, and Saturday apprenticeships
 * Nutrition education in classrooms, in community kitchens, and in the garden and greenhouse
 * Agriculture education primarily in the garden and greenhouse - hands on learning
 * Saturday apprenticeships in sustainable agriculture, cooking nutritious foods, and fruit leather production
 * Integration of fruit cultivation and fruit leather production into the school curricula


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Increase cultivation of those fruits that thrive and are accepted by the local community and the consumers at markets in Tacana and elsewhere
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Establish income from sale of excess fruit to continue funding the programs


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Increase production of fruit leather as a business
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Use newly established fruit crop
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Establish income from sale of excess fruit leather to surrounding communities
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Implement the consumption of fruit leather into the schools snack time

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Follow Up and Evolution

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Research change in intake and nutrient status with introduction of fruit and fruit leather
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Determine whether the steps taken in San Pablo could have benefits for villagers in other rural areas for Guatemala.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How could the people of San Pablo export their successes to others?
 * Could we assist interested individuals in obtaining grant funding or foundation of a non-profit organization for that purpose?