Abstract:
Hacer Tierra, a term in Spanish that means grounding, is an art piece that reflects on the importance of Soil in our lives and the ecosystems we inhabit. Soil is more than matter; it is mater (mother), not isolated but in relation. Soil is alive. Soil has memory. Unfortunately, the current Soil degradation rates are alarming and demand an immediate response. Hacer Tierra is a method that can be understood as a ritual and a protocol that consists of four steps that can lead to a personal encounter with Soil and contribute to Soil regeneration. The steps include: 1. Recordar/ remember (traer al corazón/ bring to the heart): write a personal Soil story from childhood. 2. Conectar/ grounding: create a community healing sculpture made of clay and remediating agents (soil amendments, seeds of remediating plants, mycorrhizae fungi inoculum), and the story written from the previous phase. 3. Liberar/ release: the healing sculpture will be placed in a space where Soil healing is needed in the local area of Cholula (participants can take a piece of the sculpture to their own locations). 4. Actuar/ act: find concrete ways to contribute to Soil regeneration in our own environments and become regeneration agents.
Areas of STS Scholarship: Environmental/Multispecies Studies
