La Feria de las Semillas - Oberá

On September 25th, I attended the Seeds Fair of Oberá, Misiones. The purpose of the seeds fairs is to create an open forum for local farmers of small farms (chacras) to exchange knowledge and seeds. The fair is part of the Seed Movement - a movement created by farmers, agricultural technicians, and organizers in the province of Misiones, that is working towards sustainable alternatives to the dominant forces of the transgenetic and hybrid seeds of the major companies in the U.S.
In the morning, several farmers and technicians gave talks on issues of water conservation, deforestation, and the problems that pine trees create in the province. In the afternoon, the farmers exchanged seeds and plants with one another to create or maintain the biodiversity of their small farms. My supervisor, Malena Parras, and I shared a biblical reflection with the group, as church organizers that are supporting and accompanying farmers in the Seed Movement. Here is our reflection in Spanish and English:


Buenos días, compañeros y compañeras. Queremos compartir una breve reflexión. Cada uno ve un tema desde su punto de vista. Nuestra ventana es la palabra de Dios. Venimos de la IELU. Queremos compartir la lectura de Marcos 4:30-32.

También decía: ¿A qué compararemos el reino de Dios, o con qué parábola lo describiremos? Es como un grano de mostaza, el cual, cuando se siembra en la tierra, aunque es más pequeño que todas las semillas que hay en la tierra, sin embargo, cuando es sembrado, crece y llega a ser más grande que todas las hortalizas y echa grandes ramas, tanto que LAS AVES DEL CIELO pueden ANIDAR BAJO SU SOMBRA.

¿Que piensan ustedes que puede ser en sus chacras la semilla mas pequeña que crecer tan grande hasta que los pájaros del cielo se cobijan a su sombra?

Cuando estábamos reflexionando nosotros sobre de esta lectura, identificábamos que los pequeños productores son como estas semillas y pueden ser las semillas de la esperanza. Vemos que las chacras pueden ser un modelo de la mayor justicia, equidad y respeto de la creación de Dios. Como la semilla de mostaza es lo mas pequeña, pero crece mucho, queremos que las chacras crecen en la justicia y la esperanza para los que miran desde afuera. Ustedes, pequeñas productores, no solamente siembran semillas, pero también, siembran su vida, cultura, economía e historia. El Reino de Dios, nosotros vemos las chacras que mas diversificadas con mas respeto a la creación, a las personan que convivan y a las que están alrededor. EN cambios, hay otros modelos que están en contra, por el uso de los agro tóxicos, porque no respetan el suelo, representan un esclavitud para el trabajador, porque no recibe su precio justo para su producto.

Así, al principio dijimos que esto e nuestro punto de vista, hay muchos otros puntos de vistas. Por eso decimos, que sólo entre todos sabemos todo. Y tenemos que compartir nuestras ideas y aprender entre todos.

¡Esperamos que podamos ser semillas de la esperanza hoy y para siempre! En el nombre de Cristo, Amen.





Good morning companions. We would like to share a short reflection. Everyone sees a theme from their point of view. Our window is the word of God. We come from the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (Argentina & Uruguay). We would like to share the passage from Mark 4:30-32.

He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

What do you think could be the smallest seed in your small farms that could grow so that the birds of the air can make nest in the shade?

When we reflected on this passage, we identified that the small farmers are like these small seeds and that you can be the seeds of hope. We see that the small farms can be a model of the best justice, equality and respect of the creation of God. Just as the mustard seed is the smallest, but grows much, we want the small farms to grow in justice and hope for those that are looking from outside. You all, small producers, not only sow the seeds, but you also sow your life, your culture, your economy and your history. We see that the Reign of God is the small farms that are more diverse, that have more respect for creation, for the people who live in the farms and for those who live around the farms. However, there are other models that are against creation, those that use toxic agricultural chemicals, those that do not respect the soil, and those that represent slavery for the worker, because they do not receive a fair price for their product.

In the beginning, we said that this is our point of view, and there are many points of view. We say this because only between all of us can we know everything. And we have to share our ideas and learn from each other.

We hope that you can be seeds of hope for today and forever! In the name of Christ, Amen.



¡SEMILLAS EN MANOS DE LOS PRODUCTORES!

SEEDS IN THE HANDS OF THE FARMERS!