About

Our Mission

Maya architecture next to trees

We promote the value of the regenerative farming cycle that builds tropical woodlands to meet the necessities of life.

 Exploring Solutions Past, a nonprofit organization, began consulting contemporary Maya farmers to learn about the ancient agricultural traditions while excavating an ancient Maya city.

This collaboration inspired the Maya forest gardeners to educate not only the researchers but also their community. Traditional farmers in Belize and Guatemala united as the El Pilar Forest Garden Network in 2008 to share their unique knowledge of forest gardening, plant use, and ecology. 

Our Vision

Encourage sustainable agricultural practices based on forest gardening

Encourage sustainable agricultural practices based on forest gardening

Expand traditional knowledge of plants and plant use

Expand traditional knowledge of plants and plant use

Teach the cultural heritage of the Maya

Teach the cultural heritage of the Maya

Photo by Teccino

Explore the economic potential for sustainable Maya Forest products

Photo by Teccino

Our Network’s Projects

Kanan K’aax School Garden

We created an active forest garden at the primary school in the village of Santa Familia to re-introduce forest gardening to children

Garden Tours

We offer forest garden tours to the public as an opportunity to see creative approaches to forest gardening, as well as the incredible beauty of the Maya forest.

Education Outreach

A group of environmentalists from Sacred Heart Junior College helped bridge the generation gap between older Maya farmers and a new generation of potential forest gardeners.

maya glyph of

Your Support Grows the Earth

Stand up for the conservation of the Maya forest gardening tradition. Your support will help this valuable knowledge survive for centuries to come, while helping us cultivate solutions for our global environmental crisis.

Maya Forest Gardeners is a project of Exploring Solutions Past, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are fully tax-deductible.