University of Puerto Rico at Ponce

English Department
ENGL4021 L03

DATE: November 20, 2022

TO: Professor Pier Le Compte
FROM: Lala Boria: Secretary and timekeeper
Isabelle González: Language coach and materials manager
Oscar Green: Researcher and information gatherer
Angélica Vega: Leader
SUBJECT: Progress Report on Huerto Atabey at University of Puerto Rico at Ponce

Introductory summary
At the beginning of the course ENGL4021, Professor Le Compte assigned the class a project that
would be carried out throughout the entire semester. The task consisted of completing eight hours
of community service at an agroecological farm or at the Huerto Atabey at the University of Puerto
Rico at Ponce. Our group decided to do community service in the garden of the university. As a
group we made the decision to visit the garden in our free time and carry out the tasks according
to the needs of this place. The purpose of this report is to detail the work carried out at the Huerto
Atabey by each member of our group and highlight what has been learned. The report will also
consider the discussions held throughout the semester, which are interconnected with this project.

Background
Huerto Atabey is a garden located in the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. It was founded in
2014 by Prof. Villalón in addition to a group of students from the University of Puerto Rico at
Ponce as an awareness project against hunger in Puerto Rico. The main goal was to involve the
university community, not just a determined number of students for one class. The project then
started with a six foot long, two-foot-wide patch of dirt and more land has been acquired
throughout the years. Since 2014, students and professors have harvested broccoli, eggplants,
lettuce, spinach, beans, and other fruits and vegetables. The work done by the community at the
garden was so honorable that community service hours were fomented, and Prof. Le Compte added
service hours as a requirement for her ENGL4021 course. In March of 2020, the maintenance of
Huerto Atabey was stopped due to the pandemic and in August of 2020, with the necessary
protocols, the conservation of the patch began until the present date.

Work planned
The Coalición Estudiantil Pro-Agricultura (CEPA), is the student association responsible for the
Huerto Atabey and its maintenance. For the fall semester of the academic year 2022-2023, CEPA
planned to renew the garden and re-grow plants to be harvested at the Huerto Atabey. On behalf
of CEPA’s goal, we intended to complete the eight community service hours together as a team,
by executing the tasks assigned by leaders of CEPA and to learn about planting, composting,
garden maintenance and the importance of agriculture. The strategy of completing the hours
together was not possible due to the vast difference between schedules among the group members,
therefore, we completed our hours individually and had different experiences in the garden.

Tasks performed
The tasks were assigned by leaders of the CEPA student organization. Tasks were well
explained, supervised, and distributed as follows:

Group member name Tasks assigned

Lala Boria • To prepare a seedling tray
• To sow thyme and basil seeds
• To remove weeds
• To mount two tarps
• To water the patches
Isabelle González • To plow a section of land
• To sow pumpkin seeds
• To remove weeds from patches
• To weed common areas with a hoe
• Watering
Oscar Green • To plow a section of land
• To water the patches
• To remove weeds from patches
• To clean up the garbage
• To dig up holes with a shovel and
carry dirt
Angélica Vega • To plow a section of land
• To remove weeds from patches
• To weed common areas with a hoe
• To water the patches

Materials
The materials used to during the service hours at the Huerto Atabey were:
Water hose Tarp
Bag of dirt Cutting pliers
Basil seeds Rake
Pumpkin seeds Hoe
Thyme seeds Wheelbarrow
Seedling tray Gloves
Wire Post hole digger

Required clothing:
Sweatpants T-shirts
Leggings Closed shoes
Problems encountered
Our group encountered various limitations to carry out community service in the Huerto Atabey:
• The poor organization of service hours by the members of the CEPA.
• The academic recess due to the passage of Hurricane Fiona through Puerto Rico.
• The constant rain that prevented maintenance work in the garden.

Future plans
Future plans that CEPA has for the organization and the student community include reviving the
Atabey Agricultural Fair, growing a variety of crops for sale and creating more raised beds.
Specifically, the raised beds are not only for Huerto Atabey but also to engage with the student
community by teaching them how to make a raised bed and the after care at their homes. Apart
from these plans, the organization could incorporate their own plants into investigations done in
the university as a main component in experiments such as cloning. Also, since the working area
and around the rest of the university the quantity of mosquitoes increases over the rainy months
such as fall and winter. During those months, the organization could plant natural repellents found
in nature such as mint, basil, and rosemary to harvest in different spots of the working area so that
volunteers are able work without being bothered.

Final overview
In the final report, we highlight all the work performed at the Huerto Atabey. Each group member
performed their tasks at the garden in a respectful and careful manner to ensure no damaging to
the crops. While working on the patch, CEPA leaders taught volunteers how to properly take care
of a garden, while at the same time fomenting basic skills for survival. Throughout this activity,
they highlighted the importance of using non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods and
how beneficial it is for people and the environment. They taught us that using non-GMO seeds
could lead to a healthier lifestyle and environment. While doing long and hard-working hours
under the sun, a new respect and appreciation for taking care of crops was developed which led to
personal growth. By working with new people as a group with the goal of doing the best job
possible, we developed leadership, humbleness, respect for each other and admiration for the
people that dedicate their lives to making the world a healthier place. After watching the
documentary on “The Future of Food”, becoming aware corporations such as Monsanto, and
working firsthand at the Huerto Atabey, we have been compelled to perform the tasks necessary
to care for agriculture and learned the benefits it has regarding our health, the land and the air we
need to live.
Appendix A: Progress report meetings minutes

First minutes
Second minutes
Third minutes
Fourth minutes
Appendix B: Service log documents
Appendix C: Photos

Photo 1 Photo 2
In this photo, Angelica is cleaning with In this photo, you can see a part of the
the rake Huerto Atabey in the morning

Photo taken by Isabelle Gonzalez Photo taken by Angelica Vega

October 2022 November 2022

Photo 3 Photo 4
In this photo, Angelica is with her classmates In this photo, Isabelle is removing
preparing the ground with the hoe to be able to sow weeds from the ground

Photo taken by Arelis Acevedo Photo taken by Angélica Vega

October 2022 October 2022
 Photo 5 Photo 6
In this photo, you can see the pumpkin seeds In this photo, you can see the pumpkin
Isabelle planted sprout Isabelle planted

Photo taken by Isabelle González Photo taken by Isabelle González

October 2022 November 2022

Photo 7 Photo 8
In this photo, you can see the growing In this photo, Lala is mounting a tarp
pumpkin plants over a shed

Photo taken by Isabelle González Photo taken by Laura Masso

November 2022 November 2022
 Photo 9 Photo 10
In this photo, Lala is weeding In this photo, you can see the basil seeds
Lala planted

Photo taken by Laura Masso Photo taken by Lala Boria

November 2022 November 2022

Photo 11 Photo 12
In this photo, you can see the thyme In this photo, you can see the seedling
seeds Lala planted tray Lala made

Photo taken by Lala Boria Photo taken by Lala Boria

November 2022 November 2022
 Photo 13 Photo 14
In this photo, Oscar finished laying the dirt In this photo, Oscar is watering

Photo taken by Angel Arocho Photo taken by Miguel Costas Sabatier

November 2022 November 2022

Photo 15 Photo 16
In this photo, Oscar weeded the inside of In this photo, you can see the finished
the tires spiral

Photo taken by Oscar Green Colón Photo taken by Oscar Green Colón
November 2022 November 2022
Appendix D: Self – Reflection on Project Work