Bunkwimake Forest Garden
Reviving indigenous heritage through an edible forest garden.
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This project sees the creation of an edible forest garden in Bunkwimake, a remote community within the mountains of Sierra Nevada.
To date, there has sadly been substantial deforestation in the area. The planting of this forest and rewilding of the site addresses this issue, whilst simultaneously increasing food security for 300 local families, along with children who attend the local boarding school.
A diversity of fruits, seed and wood trees have been planted, combined with medicinal shrubs and over 40 species of plants.
Forest Maker
Jaguar Siembra
Forest Partner
Forest Report: November 2025
- Planted in April 2023, Bunkwimake Forest Garden is now 31 months old.
- Guided by the traditions of the Arhuaco indigenous community, “Mamos" (knowledge keepers) collaborate to maintain balance between the human world and nature using ancestral knowledge and ecological protocols.
- Spiritual payments (pagamentos) are practiced as an ancient information exchange technology, supporting harmony between communities and their environment.
- The project integrates these spiritual-ecological practices into forest gardening and regeneration initiatives on-site.
- By partnering with elders, we highlight indigenous leadership in sustainable land management and restoration.
- The evolving garden serves as a model for weaving together traditional knowledge and modern ecological design.
Forest Report: November 2024
- The community is actively harvesting cotton, yucca, and pumpkins this season.
- Trees have experienced slow growth during the summer heat.
- Despite the challenges, all plants are continuing to grow steadily.
- Recent rains have improved soil moisture and are helping with water retention.
- We remain hopeful that continued rainfall will support stronger, healthier growth in the coming months.
“To revolutionise our work and create greater impact we need to unite with indigenous peoples around the world; they have preserved incredible ancient wisdom that is invaluable for the restoration we are doing. We are honoured to have the opportunity to weave this approach into our project with SUGi. This is the first seed and we hope that giant forests will be born from this intention and prayer.”
Jaguar Siembra, SUGi Forest Maker
Forest Report:
Planting
Date Forest Planted: April - September 2023
- Two phases planted: aligning with the moon cycles in April and September 2023
- Over 100 community members planted the Forest Garden over several days of sowing, maintenance, and community work. We have achieved unity and symbiosis between people and the forest, channelling the energy of every person involved. The community grows with the forest.
- Plant mix: a diversity of fruits, seed and wood trees combined with medicinal shrubs and over 40 species of plants.
Growing this Food Forest for the benefit of more than 100 families and a local school. - First harvest in March 2024: corn, yuca and beans.
Forest Journal:
Seed Collection & Nursery Creation
Over 10,000 trees saplings, including:
- Cacao (Theobrema Cacao)
- Caney (Aspidosperma spruceanum)
- Pink Oak (Tabebuia rosea)
- Aguacatillo (Persea caerulea)
The Forest Garden
Alongside developing biodiversity, this forest brings together traditional knowledge and ancient agricultural concepts of the indigenous people. An effort that not only empowers the local community, but also offers them a better understanding of the indigenous cultural heritage.
The methodology will be documented in order to develop a scalable model that can be used by other indigenous communities, thereby regenerating more degraded areas and creating widespread abundance through food, community, bio-economies and cultural heritage preservation.
