My Nonprofit Reviews

I could not have asked for more from my experience with BioNica. When I contacted Michael Richardson I didn’t know what to expect, and I wasn’t even completely sure what Biointensive meant. After attending a workshop, visiting different farms of apprentices, and learning/working at the training center for more than a week, I feel that I have come to really know and understand the mission and work of BioNica. It seems this training center has developed at an important time – Nicaraguans who supposedly live off the land are suffering from lack of productivity and diversity in their crops and diets. My sentiments were summed up perfectly by one of the apprentices, who said that if apprentices like himself can go back to their communities and be an example of the method and way of living that the Biointensive method represents, more and more people can benefit from it. It was truly inspiring for me to see several of the apprentices dream of having their own farms, while continuing to teach others and engage in their communities. Seeing the will and desire of the BioNica apprentices to create positive change through gardening has given me the motivation I needed to do something similar with communities in the U.S. struggling for access to good, fresh food. It’s ironic to me that I had to travel all the way to Nicaragua to learn about this method and to see people putting it in action in their homes and communities. My life has changed because of the knowledge I gained and the people I met and worked with through BioNica, and I know that the apprentices and others involved with the center can echo that sentiment. While I may be living in the U.S. right now, I know that BioNica will continue to be an organization that I stay involved with. Anyone looking to learn more about the Biointensive method, work in a sustainable gardening capacity, or contribute to a non-profit that is actually creating positive change should consider volunteering with and supporting BioNica.