Alfonso Tzul ~ Elder

Alfonso Tzul, a modern Maya farmer and retired agricultural extension officer, is a great fount of knowledge. His fluent Mayan, eloquent English, and clear Spanish make him accessible all over the Maya forest. Comfortable in the forest garden on a tree stump with Narciso, at ease giving a talk for the Prime Minister, and able to answer any question put to him, Alfonso is an intellectual treasure.

Alfonso describes how forest gardens came to be:

“God created plants and animals and the world around us. Trees grew in the forest, seeds spread, birds sang, and animals flourished. All was already there. Man came along and preferred this plant, favored that seed, enjoyed those birds, and supported certain animals, creating and using the forest as a garden to sustain those plants and animals. The job of the forest gardener is to manage the forest by adding, removing, nurturing, and directing to cultivate a plentiful and safe environment for all.”

As an elder, Alfonso has knowledge of many traditional Maya strategies. He learned how to bleed chicle as a youth and recalls his first time out with vivid descriptions of living off the Maya forest garden as well as the trials of working in the rain. He speaks on the changes he has seen and his frustrations with modern industrial farming.

“If you live on the farm, you should be able to eat the things on the farm, to raise something on the farm that will help you cope with your economic needs. If I live on a farm, why should I go buy eggs in the shop, I don’t think I should buy eggs, I think I will

have eggs to eat…(People) should not just plant whatever comes in their way, but rather plant with a clear objective in mind. Plant the trees that have a future.”

Today, Alfonso still is experimenting in his milpa.  He has been selecting maize that shares valuable characteristics while planting a variety of other crops.  He makes time for teaching, spending time in the Känan K’aax primary school garden teaching children the importance of the plants.  He is also an advocate of the Mayan language and takes every opportunity to speak it.