Traditional and organic Farming in Lamay, Sacred Valley of the Incas (1Day)

Lamay is an agricultural district of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is constituted by 7 communities located between 9500 and 14000 feet, with different ecosystems and biodiversity. Lamay communities traditionally cultivate native crops, such as giant corn (known as “choclo”), fava beans, tarwi (lupines leguminous), quinoas, medicinal and aromatic herbs as muña, and finally, the queen of the Andes, the potato.
The “Association of Ecological Producers of Lamay”, APEL, is made up of 22 organic farmers, committed to converting Lamay into an Organic Valley and free of environmental pollution. In this way they are developing sustainable activities for environment conservation and the local communities. APEL does reforestation with native species and organic food production, veggies, honey, pollen and derivatives, which they sell to Cusco hotels and restaurants.
The farmers are also motivated by adventure tourism development, and cultural and interactive experiences, where the guests enjoy the Andean countryside and traditional agricultural and culinary labors.

A day with Lamay farmers

Departure…

Leave Cusco at 8 am towards Lamay, which is 50 minutes travel by bus.

Meeting the organic farmers…

The Lamay organic farmers will wait for us in one of the local farms – the one settled on for that day’s labor. Our local masters will explain to us their traditions and daily activities that are geared towards the ecological recovery of the Valley.

Get down to work…

We’ll start with the “Ayni”, or communitarian labor. According to the season and crop requirements, you we will be planting, harvesting and fertilizing organically, weeding or irrigating, but always using clean and healthy techniques for the Mother Earth and ourselves. We will use traditional agriculture tools used by the Andean farmers, such as chaquitaclla, tuki, and eventually, the Yunta. Local music will be part of our activities, giving rhythm to our farming dance.

And after the effort, relaxation…

We won’t have to wait for the powerful and refreshing “chicha de jora”, and the traditional Coca leaves, which we will blow to the “Pachamama” and the Apus, signifying a productive day of labor.

A short hike...and lunch time…

We will do a short hike to Erapampa, production centre of APEL and organic vegetables farm. During this hike, we’ll discover the beauties of Lamay creek. In the farm, we will be able to pick up some veggies and help prepare a Natural country lunch, or just relax until it is ready, and enjoy!. Food supplies are all organic, from Lamay and the Sacred Valley vegetables, free range chicken, duck or eggs, free of hormones and antibiotics. Local beverages as « chicha morada » (purple corn juice) or maracuya juice (passion fruit), will compliment our lunch.

Return…

After a relaxing afternoon we will come back to Cusco or to your lodging in the Sacred Valley. We will have the opportunity to buy some organic products and snacks from Lamay. And if there is time enough, on the road to Cusco, we will make a brief visit to the Pisaq local market to see a huge variety of the Sacred Valley handcraft. Arrival at Cusco at 6 pm.