Seasonal Calendars and Community Maps

Seasonal calendars can be used illustrate the connections between seasonal signs in the sky (the sun, moon and stars) and in nature (flowering, bird songs, the first appearance of migratory species), and seasonal human activities related to food production (wild harvest, agriculture, fishing, hunting), and their associated cultural events.

There has been a resurgence of interest in creating ‘calendarios’, closely tied to a desire to document, discuss, preserve and share –both within and between generations– important and relevant local seasonal knowledge. Such knowledge is in decline in many places due to factors such as the loss of traditional food production activities, the introduction of wage labour and non-traditional livelihoods, the imposition of a national school curriculum, and the degradation or loss of traditional foodways and surrounding natural areas. ‘Calendarios’ take various forms: circular diagrams, a linear series, or a connection of seasonal indicators with a specific food production activity. They also use different artistic approaches: murals, sculptures, fibre art, performances, songs. They may be created for a range of purposes, including to (re-)build connection to place; to develop and celebrate a sense of local culture; to share local seasonal knowledge that may potentially be useful in directing the timing of food production activities; and to raise awareness of climate change.

CALENDARIOS

REFLECTING UPON SEASONAL CYCLES AS A TOOL TO STRENGTHEN TRADITIONAL FOODWAYS

Webinar

In this webinar, People and Plants partners share practical advice, experiences, and lessons learned from calendario-related projects in their home areas of Veracruz, Mexico and British Columbia, Canada. This event is the third in a series of webinars exploring tools and methodologies associated with knowledge exchange, drawing upon People and Plants' decades-long experience. Learn more.

CALENDARS FOR community REFLECTION

CHALLENGES FACED BY LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE SIERRA DE ZONGOLICA

Activities in this region include a series of workshops with campesinos, weavers and charcoal producers to facilitate collective reflections on local traditional food systems. Workshops include use of the Nahua calendar as a tool to understand climate change and its impact on traditional food systems. Educational activities to explore local food systems with elementary school students, teachers and supervisors, as well as secondary education and university students, are also facilitated.

The Core Team 

Mary Stockdale and Belinda Contreras Jaimes.

Farmers, artisans, teachers and cooks from the communities of Duraznotla, Tequila, Tehuipango, Zongolica, Atlahuilco, Tlaquilpa and Atlahuilapa, in the Sierra de Zongolica. Citlalli López and Miguel Ángel Vega.

Partners