Primary School Forest Garden, Känan K’aax

In 2008, Exploring Solutions Past, working with the El Pilar Forest Garden Network, established an educational school garden called Känan K’aax, meaning “well tended forest” in Mayan.  This hands-on educational resource is a growing part of the village school curriculum and can be visited and supported by regional and international visitors.

Located in the village of Santa Familia near San Ignacio in Cayo, Belize, Känan K’aax provides a space for youth to learn first-hand about the dominant plants found in Maya forest gardens and the importance of Maya heritage.  Garden curricula center on teaching children the role of forest gardens in preserving habitat, conserving biodiversity, nurturing culture, and sustaining families.

Senior forest gardeners in the community are central to Känan K’aax, from the caretaking of the site to the instruction of teachers and students.  As many Maya forest gardeners are reaching old age and passing on, it is imperative to encourage excitement and interest in learning from these remarkable elders. Without their knowledge and understanding of the forest, future generations locally and worldwide will lose the opportunity to learn and understand their secrets of conservation and prosperity.

This unique model provides:

· A living garden of native and traditional useful plants

· An opportunity for inspiring outdoor learning

· An understanding of key traditional practices

Watch Belize Local News Coverage of Känan K’aax:

Read our article, Teaching Secrets of Conservation and Prosperity in the Maya Forest,  published in Popular Archaeology.

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