Solidarity means having the sensitivity to recognize situations of vulnerability, injustice, or need, and acting to change them and help those in need, without seeking any benefit in return other than the satisfaction of knowing we're doing the right thing. The project to which I've dedicated my energies over the past six months, Gaia Terra, directs its spirit of solidarity toward Mother Earth, which needs to be saved from the hands of humankind that are suffocating her, and toward society as a whole, which requires a transformation that puts people and life at the center.

In essence, Gaia Terra is a project that embraces a sustainable and ecological lifestyle, working the land according to the principles of permaculture and natural agriculture, striving to have the least possible impact on the environment (or even a positive impact), and creating a community of people who share their lives intentionally and consciously, both permanently and temporarily. In this way, it aims to be an example of healthy and sustainable living in every aspect. The main activities include gardening, cooking, eco-building, and cleaning, but there are also other activities such as exchanges with local farmers, the self-production of various products like probiotic soap or plant-based milk. Ultimately, it's about paying attention to every small daily action, because real change comes from the sum of habits.

Personally, I was particularly drawn to all aspects of working the land. I learned to grow food while considering not only our own needs, but also those of the Earth, with which we interact and which nourishes us. This means making decisions like not using pesticides, nourishing the soil naturally without chemicals, and using techniques like green manure or mulching.
But at Gaia Terra, it's not just about living a functional lifestyle, but also about building a community that nourishes people and fosters personal and collective growth. For this reason, the community gathers in circles where emotions are shared and collective decisions are made, which helps cultivate a sense of belonging.

It's wonderful to build community through these circles where we listen, understand, and act from that space. This makes it easier to accept our vulnerabilities and understand that, as human beings, we are nothing without one another. The idea is this: to give and receive, to nourish one another, and to understand that a sustainable life, both ecologically and relationally, requires community.

This aspect particularly interested me, and I wanted to understand how a project like this is born: how the idea is born, how it grows from nothing, why each person decides to spend time in this place, and why some people choose to make it the center of their life plan. That's why I decided to dedicate my personal project To understand Gaia Terra's history and put it into writing. I had the opportunity to speak with the people who live here about the paths that brought them here, and it was a very enriching and inspiring personal experience.

Now that my volunteer experience is coming to an end, I feel very fortunate to have been able to collaborate on a project like this, one I believe in and from which I learned so much. I would do it again without hesitation.

Nerea Fernández de Aguirre Pérez