Author: Mickey Herrera

 

The Paper Apocalypse I Call an Office: Herrera ’20 at DIF Corregidora in Corregidora, Mexico

Oct 26, 2018
 

My co-op job is in a quiet small town in Mexico called Corregidora, Queretaro. Unfortunately, the office I work in does not channel the vibes of the town. Once you step in, it is chaos.

I work at DIF Corregidora, a government organization that focuses on helping families have a better life. We offer food, medical, and transportation services to families in need. The process to be approved to receive such services is quite lengthy, especially as only 10 people work in that department. The outside of the building is homey, relaxing, and—for lack of a better word—cute, but the inside is completely different. Once you step inside the office, files on top of papers on top of more files cover most of the desks and there are people running around looking for a missing signature, photo, or file.

Despite this, I really enjoy working here. I come from a big family so I’m used to chaos and often feel at peace in the middle of this unorganized disaster. There are also times when I step away from the copy machine and actually interact with people, and I am never disappointed. I tend to forget how vastly different people are and the interesting little facts about them, so at the end of every meeting, I have learned something new.

Photo credit: https://difcorregidora.gob.mx/ 

 

The Cult That Wasn’t a Cult: Herrera ’20 at Camphill Kimberton in Kimberton, PA

Feb 07, 2018
 

Before my interview, I was 50% sure Camphill Kimberton was a cult.

“We are a silent village, meditation is a big part of our… lifestyle. We also encourage newcomers to disconnect from technology and connect with the world around us. I don’t know how much you know about us but we follow the teachings of our founder in all aspects of life here… we are also affiliated with the ‘Christian’ community although we practice all religions.”

After my interview, I was 90% sure Camphill Kimberton was a cult.

Kimberton Hills Village is located in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania. The entrance is on a backcountry road and the only indicator of activity is a small worn-out sign that reads “CAFE INSIDE.” Once inside, there is a whole village full of houses, farms, cafes, shops, and gardens. It can take you 20 minutes of walking to get from one end of the village to the other. Everything is well kept, the air is fresh, and bird calls can be heard all around.

After arriving at Camphill Kimberton, I was 99% sure it was a cult.

Camphill Village is a small community with a focus on therapeutic life-sharing for people with and without learning disabilities.

I work in a biodynamic garden that provides fruits and vegetables to the entire village. Biodynamic gardening is all about recognizing the spiritual side of farming, connecting with mother nature, and being balanced. To the untrained eye, it looks like witchcraft.

It means harmonizing soil with climate and planting irregular seeds, or seeds from any crop that is not native. There is also an emphasis on keeping soil as healthy as possible, which includes curing compost; rotating, covering, and diversifying crops; controlling drainage; and airing out the soil.

Animals also play an important part; in biodynamic farming, we generate our own fertilizer and compost, so healthy animal manure is vital. We also practice rotational grazing patterns where large herbivores (such as cows or horses) graze pastures in a certain pattern and for a certain amount of time which helps the legumes in grass grow, which in turn ensures healthy soil.

Biodynamic farming has many rules and specific ways to do things, but that doesn’t excuse gatekeeping. Almost everybody physically able to work at the garden has worked there at least once, and we like to include the village in the work to strengthen the relationship between the farm, community, and our food.

Despite being told that it was a “quiet” village and my initial introduction to the place, it’s a pretty noisy place if you know where to look. The village can be stressful, noisy, and infuriating, just as it’s fun, relaxing, and amazing. I’ve been here for six months and, hopefully, I can return for more time in the future.

I’m still not fully convinced it’s not a cult though.

Some videos from my time at Camphill Kimberton: