Written by: Zacha Muñiz (RAFI / NFFC / Agroempresarias de Puerto Rico, Finca Flor del Ají, Boricuá)

Throughout the last couple of weeks, I feel like I have found a new family. From October 4th through the 9th, I visited Wheelock Mountain Farm in Vermont to attend the 2024 People’s Agroecology Short Course. The premise was simple: go to Vermont, meet and work alongside farmers by joining brigades on their farms, and participate in conversations to deepen our knowledge of agriculture and agroecology practices in the Northeast. As a farmer from Puerto Rico, I was intrigued by how brigade work and agroecology were being practiced in the continental U.S.

Wheelock Mountain Farm’s group picture before starting the Short Course in People’s Agroecology.

Little did I know I would fall in love with all of it. Sharing our struggles, successes, and hopes brought us together in a way I hadn’t anticipated. In a profession where isolation can often feel like the norm—especially when facing the immense challenges of climate change and the overwhelming sense that we are swimming against the stream—this space made me feel safe and heard. The connections we built, especially with allies from Vermont, Canada, Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and beyond, were transformative. I know I can count on my newfound friends, and I will be reaching out regularly to continue nurturing this community, even if we are not geographically close.

The experience solidified for me the power of community, mutual learning, and the hands-on work we engaged in together. From planting garlic, preparing garden beds, and stacking firewood to learning about poultry foraging, composting, cooperativism, harm reduction, and resilient movements, it became evident how agroecology, when practiced on a community scale, becomes a vehicle for empowerment, collaboration, and healing.

‘Mística’ before work brigade at Dawn Land Farm, Barre VT.

The work brigades, the exchange of knowledge with farmers like Tom Gilbert and Bruce Kaufmann, and even the lighter moments with the younger generation like Aymé and Taboa—all of this reminded me that we are part of something larger, a movement toward justice and sustainability. Being surrounded by others who share the same vision showed me that we don’t have to face these battles alone. I now feel more connected than ever to a larger movement of farmers and organizers working to build justice and sustainability through agroecology.

Garden bed prep for garlic planting.

As I reflect on my experience during the 2024 People’s Agroecology Short Course, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and pride. As a female agroecological farmer from Puerto Rico and the president of Agroempresarias de Puerto Rico, I carry the responsibility of representing not only my farm, Finca Flor del Ají, but also the women and farmers of my island who work tirelessly to create resilient, sustainable food systems. This was an opportunity to deepen my commitment to agroecology and food sovereignty, principles that guide both my personal and professional life.

Squash harvest and tour of Abenaki Gardens for Indigenous food security.

This course was not just a moment; it was a movement. I will be going back to Vermont. More than that, it has reaffirmed my belief in the power of community and collaboration, something I will continue to foster with my new friends and colleagues as we work toward a better future for all of us.

Short course in People’s Agroecology group picture.