CAFÉ & LIBRERÍA
Cultivamos la mente
HUERTO URBANO
Cultivamos la tierra
Café Cultiva´s Vision
At Café Cultiva we recognize that we currently live, consume and generate waste much faster than the length at which nature can absorb our waste and regenerate resources. We believe in three rules that promote diversity and the survival of the community as a whole without favoring any species over the rest.
The three basic rules are:
- do not exterminate your competition for food
- do not destroy your competitors’ food supply to grow your own
- do not deny access to food to others
At Café Cultiva we aim to cultivate the minds on the importance of cultivating the soil. We embrace a holistic approach to food production and consumption.
El Huerto:
productive, aesthetic and educational 🌱
Why do we think cultivating the soil is important?
Here are three principles that are being sustained through growing one’s own food, and we believe that they are all key in maintaining a good living environment for us all, humans and non-humans:
Self-Sufficiency and Resilience
Growing one’s food empowers individuals and communities to become more self-sufficient. In times of economic instability or food supply disruptions, having the skills to produce food can be a critical asset.
Environmental Sustainability
Sustainable eating involves making choices that minimize the environmental impact of food production. This includes reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation and supporting practices that conserve natural resources. Thus, we should grow our food locally and use agricultural practices that work with nature, not against it.
Mind-Body-TERRITORY Connection
We understand that the health and well-being of people is intrinsically linked to the planet’s health and environment. Working in a garden or on a farm promotes our mindfulness, satisfaction, gratitude, and emotional well-being, reduces stress, and reconnects us as people with the natural world. We promote the interconnection of these elements, recognizing that an informed and conscious mind can drive actions that benefit both human well-being and the planet’s health.
What is our Huerto going to be like:
We want to design our Huerto by inspiring ourselves both by traditional agricultural wisdom and by permaculture principles. One example of this is how we want to use the diamond shape to design the Huerto, which is a symbol of fertility in traditional wisdom. This will make the Huerto particularly productive, aesthetic and rooted in our culture.
Our Huerto will also be educational through its plant library, in which visitors will get the chance to see endemic plants of the region of Chiapas. Endemic plants are unfortunately becoming more and more scarce, and we thus must preserve these species.
In our Huerto, you will also be able to discover our medicinal plants. Medicinal plants are often more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pharmaceuticals. These plants have been used for centuries by the indigenous communities of Los Altos de Chiapas and continue being used. We are lucky to be the receptacles of Indigenous wisdom, providing us with insights into sustainable and holistic approaches to healthcare that are deeply connected to the local environment.
What is permaculture?
At once a science, a philosophy and a way of life, permaculture is a global concept that takes nature as a model to create sustainable, energy-efficient facilities that respect the environment and living beings.
The primary objective of permaculture is sustainable human life on this planet by designing sustainable and efficient systems. This is achieved through a method called permaculture design, which can be applied on many different scales and in many different fields! Creating an ecological design enables us to set up an environment that will meet our needs while promoting life in all its forms.
Permaculture principles are rooted in the idea of working with, not against, nature. This approach can help regenerate ecosystems, restore soil health, and combat issues like soil erosion and desertification.
What are Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS)?
At UNESCO, the LINKS program recognizes them as reference contributors to the wisdom and practices to combat climate change. LINKS are systems comprising a variety of local indigenous knowledge about agriculture, ecology, traditional medicine, spirituality, and other aspects of life. This knowledge is passed down through generations within specific communities, cultures, or regions and is rooted in local, indigenous, or traditional farming systems adapted to a particular area’s specific environmental and climatic conditions. Thus they represent a valuable part of the world’s cultural heritage and biocultural diversity and are fundamental for sustainable natural resource management in their territories.
What will you be able to do in the Huerto?
- Donate plants and small trees
- Exchange seeds at the seed library
- Bring your food waste for composting
- Get your hands in the soil during the participative workshops
- Sign up for a workshop to learn about how to grow your own food, traditional agricultural knowledge, and regenerative agriculture principles.
- Learn about the cultural and ethnobotanical significance of medicinal plants, as well as their roles in indigenous healing practices and rituals.
- Gain skills in propagation methods such as seed, root, plant cuttings and dividing plants!
- Come give us a hand with our compost!
Benefits of nature in the city
Did you know …? Nature in the city brings air and water quality improvement, flood mitigation, biodiversity support, stress reduction and mental health, pollination services, as well as resilience to extreme events, and more!
Green spaces in cities provide a wide range of ecological services –provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services – that contribute to the ecosystems’ well-being and to the functioning of urban areas!
Here you can discover more examples of how nature can benefit us and our cities:
You can read a report on “letting nature do her thing”.
You can also learn about the benefits of nature for individuals: What Is Ecotherapy? A Detailed Scientific Guide on the Healing Power of Nature! or Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective.
El café ☕
All the products served at Tercer Espacio are organic and produced following agroecological production methods. In the future, we would like that part of the food we offer you comes from our own vegetable garden. However, in the meantime, we offer you homemade cuisine based on fresh, local and seasonal products while minimizing waste.
The café will also be a space for discussions, a space to question our food habits and to understand the need for more healthy, local and sustainable eating.
Take a closer look at our practices:
- sourcing locally: we prioritize sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers. These efforts support the local economy, reduce transportation emissions, and ensure fresh, seasonal products.
- organic and sustainable products: we aim at buying only organic and sustainable products because, through organic and sustainable farming methods, producers promote nutrient-dense foods, soil health and protect ecosystems. And by buying their products, we support their meaningful work!
- waste reduction: we compost, recycle, and minimize our food waste!
- community engagement: we engage with the local community through educational events, documentaries, workshops and partnerships. Through this, we want to help raise awareness about sustainable food practices and build a sense of community.
- fair trade: we prioritize fair trade products, ensuring that producers are paid fair wages and work in safe conditions.
- commitment to environmentally friendly cleaning practices: we refrain from using detergent in our cleaning processes.
A question ?
CONTACT
+52 967 135 95 25