ECPA Renewable Energy Conference

Teaching about solar panels and pumps

Lecturing on composting toilets

Demonstrating the biodigester

Converting a propane stove to use bio-gas

Basking in the glow of a "bottle bulb"

Well, it’s been a busy week in San Luis de Canete, my home town, out here on the edge of the desert prairie. The ECPA Renewable Energy conference has come and gone. Over 30 PCVs and community partners got a good basis education in renewable energy topics, including climate change, solar panels, passive solar, biodigesters, improved cook stoves, bottle bulbs and composting toilets. I was pleased that we presented not only classroom instruction, but hands-on demonstrations, as well. The Duenas family at the Goat Farm were perfect hosts. They served up some beautiful, classic Canete dishes : Sopa Seca and papas Huancaina, Loma Saltado and Seca Canetano. We also enjoyed yogurt and cheese samples and play time with the goats and Odie dog. We rounded out the work with some touristy trips to Castle Unanue and the Cerro de Oro. Everyone, from the farm to the bus driver to the El Dorado hotel performed brilliantly (and on time) to make the conference a success.

The only glitch in the schedule was that it ended the day before Mothers Day, when buses are full, transporting sons and daughters home to visit with their Moms. This is one of the biggest holidays in Peru – eclipsed only by Easter and Anniversary. Vast bundles of flowers were sold in front of the cemetery. All of them destined for the crypts of dead Moms. Last year, I offended Margarita by getting her flowers – just not done here. I got invited to two dinners and attended both, which was not appreciated by my digestive apparatus. Still and all, a wonderfully sweet day – so many folks scurrying around town to honor their Moms. And a nice day to remember my Mom and the MANY gifts she gave me.