University of Puerto Rico at Ponce

English Department
ENGL 4021 M06
__________________________________________________________

MEMORANDUM

DATE: December 1, 2020

TO: Pier LeCompte Zambrana, Professor
FROM: Angel Santos, Fabio Santiago, and Jon Rodriguez, Students
SUBJECT: Progress Report on Farm Service

BACKGROUND
On November 21, 2020, we, Angel Santos, Fabio Santiago, and Jon Rodriguez went to
Carite 3.0 Farm. The day we started working was at the beginning of the second week of
November. Angel Santos made the corresponsive calls, and he found this farm, which belongs to
the Guatemalan farmer, Fernando Maldonado. Carite 3.0, which has 9 terrain ropes of land for
cultivation, is located in Guayama, Puerto Rico and Carite Neighborhood, precisely on kilometer
11.1. The right protocols for COVID-19 were followed, as notified.

PURPOSE
We are writing this report to inform about the progress as group not only in the practical
area, but also the knowledge we acquired before, during, and after our visit to Carite 3.0 Farm.
Through the document will be available photos and the farm’s owner signature that evidences
our presence and the different tasks we did with its purpose.

STATUS AND TASKS

By completing the practical area in the farm, we had completed 50% of the Progress
Report. On November 21, 2020 we arrived at 8:30am at Carite 3.0 Farm and we were welcomed
with information about the farm. The owner said that before doing anything, we must know what
the farm is about. The tasks we did in the four service hours were weeding five lines of eggplants
and later cutting vetiver grass to put them near the eggplants so they could serve as compost.
Also, we helped assembling two scaffoldings to remove a plastic cover from the top of the
nursery garden to replace it for a new one.

INFORMATION GIVEN
Carite 3.0 is a secondary forest that works with an Agroforestry System, in which the
planting of trees and forest crops are sequentially encountered for the combination of practices of
soil conservation. It is also based in Regenerative Agriculture, which promotes relations between
animals, plants, and microorganisms from the soil to create a sustainable and chemicals free
ecology. Later, these topics will be explained.
WORK COMPLETED

WHAT WE DID
On the day of collaboration, November 21, 2020, Fernando Maldonado gave us a
description of what the farm is about. As a group, we talked to him about the importance of our
work in his farm. As biologists, we talked about what carries using herbicides and chemicals into
the agriculture. Fernando was explaining to us about the Regenerative System that his farm
supports. Carite 3.0 base their system in bio-ferments, compost and coverts as methods of
fertilization.

Fernando told us to get to work in the weed of five lines of eggplants together. We were
supposed to remove with our hands weeds from the root to avoid their replication. Removing
these plants from the surroundings and between the eggplants avoids plagues and
microorganisms that can cause sickness or death to the plants.

Between the eggplants were lines of vetiver grass. With scissors, we had to cut them and
throw them near the eggplants and their surroundings, so they could act as compost. The usage of
vetiver grass as compost is to repel mosquitos and plagues from damaging plants and its fruits.

After that, we helped in the assemble of two scaffoldings to remove the plastic cover
from the top of the nursery garden. We were told that they had to remove it because of the
damage it had caused by the rain. It can eventually cause fungus that can damage the ecology.

AT THIS POINT
Days later, we started working in the organization and we also did collect the information
Fernando said in the farm. Posterior to it, Angel Santos texted the owner of the farm to ask him
two questions we had as group in terms of the farm and how it works. He was asked about the
importance of the compost and had a conversation about our experience in the farm, which
included our interests. We talked to him about getting back to the farm any Saturday, which is
the day he receives visitors, so we could work with him more hours and learn how to work in a
farm and with animals because of our future interests and academic area. We divided the work in
equal parts. Approximately each of us had 33% of the report.

WERE THERE ANY PROBLEMS?

We didn’t mention only the good things, but also what we consider as a problem for us.
Carite 3.0 has a way that leads to an artificial lake. For Angel it is not considered a problem, but
because they don’t use it they can consider using it in a future. Fernando is looking up for cattle
animals and they can use the lake as a place for feeding, drinking and rest of the animals. Fabio
said that the only thing he considered as a problem was the lack of protection when assembling
the scaffoldings. They could use helmets to avoid injuries if somebody falls when doing the
action. We did it even though we had the boots covered in mud. The place we worked in was
steep. Jon recommends that Carite 3.0 should do accessible pathways to avoid slipping while
walking.
WHAT WILL WE DO?
While working in the farm, Fernando said that every four months different types of
species are moved through the farm so they can adapt themselves and get stronger. For now, we
are planning to go again in the next weeks because the movement of plants is coming soon. Also,
Fernando is planning to teach us how to do compost using the weed we removed.

WORK PLANNED
Via WhatsApp messaging, this is final schedule for the report.
November 8: Communication and confirmation for assistance
November 21: Farm visit
November 23: Division of work
November 30: Assembling of different parts
December 1: Submission of the final report
WORK IN AND OUT THE FARM

Angel J. Santos
In the farm:
 Took notes of information
 Removal of weed
 Cut vetiver grass and put it through the eggplants
 Scaffoldings assemble
 Photographer

Out the farm:

 Communication with farm’s owner
 Responsible for the Body in the report

Fabio Santiago
In the farm:
 Took notes of information
 Removal of weed
 Cut vetiver grass and put it through the eggplants
 Scaffoldings assemble and responsible for the search of its materials
 Service Log responsible
 Photographer

Out the farm:

 Responsible for communication with the professor
 Responsible for the Background and evidence of work in the report

Jon B. Rodriguez
In the farm:
 Took notes of information
 Removal of weed
 Cut vetiver grass and put it through the eggplants
 Scaffoldings assemble
 Photographer

Out the farm:

 Responsible for the Conclusion of the report
 Responsible for assembling the whole document and convert it to .pdf
Evidence Catalog

Photos taken by Jon B. Rodriguez

Fernando, Angel, and Fabio removing the weed from the eggplants.

Photo taken by Fabio Santiago

Final result of the weed’s removal.
 Photos taken by Angel Santos
Result of the eggplants surroundings.
 Photo taken by Fabio Santiago
Result of cutting the vetiver grass and using it as compost for the eggplants.

Photo taken by Angel Santos Photo taken by Jon Rodriguez

Fabio, Jon Rodriguez, and Angelito (one of the farm’s workers) assembling a scaffolding (left
side photo) and the final result of it (right side photo).
Service Log

Name: Angel J. Santos Course Section: M06

Group/Team: Fabio Santiago, Jon Rodriguez

Selected service site: Carite 3.0 Farm, Guayama, Puerto Rico

Tasks performed:

___ 1. Planting/Plowing DATES: # Hours: Initials:

_X_ 2. Composting November 21, 4 AJSL
2020
_X_ 3. Cleaning garden, removing weeds
___ 4. Creating seedlings
___ 5. Painting or building
___ 6. Watering
___ 7. Sowing
_X_ 8. Other Specify: Assembling two scaffoldings

Contribution /Donation (optional):

_______________________________________________________________

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that Angel J. Santos Lewis completed 4 hours of service at Carite
3.0 Farm, Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Supervisor’s signature: Date: November 21, 2020

PRINTED NAME: Fernando Maldonado
Service Log

Name: Fabio Santiago Course Section: M06

Group/Team: Angel J. Santos, Jon Rodriguez

Selected service site: Carite 3.0 Farm, Guayama, Puerto Rico

Tasks performed:

___ 1. Planting/Plowing DATES: # Hours: Initials:

_X_ 2. Composting November 21, 4 FMSG
2020
_X_ 3. Cleaning garden, removing weeds
___ 4. Creating seedlings
___ 5. Painting or building
___ 6. Watering
___ 7. Sowing
_X_ 8. Other Specify: Assembling two scaffoldings

Contribution /Donation (optional):

_______________________________________________________________

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that Fabio M. Santiago Giraldo completed 4 hours of service at

Carite 3.0 Farm, Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Supervisor’s signature: Date: November 21, 2020

PRINTED NAME: Fernando Maldonado
Service Log

Name: Jon Rodriguez Velazquez Course Section: M06

Group/Team: Angel J. Santos, Fabio Santiago

Selected service site: Carite 3.0 Farm, Guayama, Puerto Rico

Tasks performed:

___ 1. Planting/Plowing DATES: # Hours: Initials:

_X_ 2. Composting November 21, 4 JBRV
2020
_X_ 3. Cleaning garden, removing weeds
___ 4. Creating seedlings
___ 5. Painting or building
___ 6. Watering
___ 7. Sowing
_X_ 8. Other Specify: Assembling two scaffoldings

Contribution /Donation (optional):

_______________________________________________________________

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that Jon B. Rodriguez Velazquez completed 4 hours of service at

Carite 3.0 Farm, Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Supervisor’s signature: Date: November 21, 2020

PRINTED NAME: Fernando Maldonado
CONCLUSION
Carite 3.0 is a well thought out project and probably a vision of what sustainable farming
will be in the future. From its own water source, rainwater collection system, to clean power
source, solar panels, Fernando’s farm works completely independent from Puerto Rico’s grid and
instructs future generations on how we should be farming. It is surprising how much the Carite
3.0 project has achieved in the last 2 years and what is hopes to be in the future. Some of the
projects Fernando hopes to implement into the farm are agrotourism, he showed us a house that
is meant to house guests and all the food will be produced in farm. Furthermore, Fernando
wanted to add cattle to the farm which can be used to produce the much-needed compost and
would save on the costs needed to transport the manure from elsewhere in the island. Carite 3.0
is representative of where we should head with farming in the future, as we talked with Fernando
he seemed as displeased as us knowing that government bailouts are handed out to companies
like Monsanto that have destroyed our southern aquifers instead of betting on the smaller farmers
that look for sustainable ways to farm. Certainly, we can say that Carite 3.0 is a glimpse into our
agricultural past, much of the plants and fruits grown were common household plants in pre-
industrial Puerto Rico but like in many places around the world the monoculture trend in Puerto
Rico has ended with our genetic variability and culture as well. We have certainly abandoned our
tuber-based diet of plants like yuca, batata, apio and others, which was a huge part of our culture.
In conclusion, we can say that Carite 3.0 rescues much of the essence that has been lost of our
agricultural lifestyle and implements new and innovative ways to farm, if it is an indicative of
our future, we can say it is in good hands.