Many years ago, Galina Santos Torres received two hectares of idle land in usufruct. When she had them in front of her she thought about how to transform that unpleasant place into a welcoming and, above all, a kind place that could give her, her family, friends, and neighbors of Corojito, in the municipality of Colombia in Las Tunas, what they needed.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- The challenge was great and it would make anyone's hair stand on end. Not her. Not to a delicate woman, but with firm hands. Not to someone born and lived all her life in the countryside and already owned another three hectares.
After analyzing some ideas, Galina set to work. Her husband and son were by her side, although she confesses that she could have done it alone; together they undertook the work that today makes them proud and allows them to live more comfortably.
Little by little the changes appeared, especially the fences and the clear parts in that immense space full of marabou. The strategy worked for her: "area that was freed of that undesirable woody plant, an area that was occupied by animals or crops.
"Because of this willingness to work, I began to get on the right track. Now I produce milk and deliver about 30 liters a day, half from cows and a half from goats. I also fulfill my plans for meat from large and small cattle.
"I plant yucca, plantains, and other crops. I have sugar cane to feed the animals."
She is not afraid of work or what people will say, she doesn't mind dedicating her days to so many activities. Sometimes she even closes her eyes and wishes that the clock would slow down so that the day would be more productive and she could dedicate a little extra time to each piece of the farm.
"As soon as I get up, I start working. First, I milk the goats and then I do things around the house. Later I take the females and males to pasture. I leave the care of the older cattle to my men. Around noon, I make lunch and get things ready for lunch."
She takes advantage of the daylight to do chores outside the home, and once inside, she does her chores well because "I have a nice house that I take care of myself.
"That's why I tell women to fight like me, that I'm not afraid of work. Cutting marabou doesn't kill and it does give a better income. If they do it they have freedom and can get everything and buy their own things."
Now she has joined the IRES project, which strengthens the capacities of households in the face of climate change, through the transformation of productive landscapes.
Her land has already begun to metamorphose and could be compared to a caterpillar that gradually turns into a butterfly. But there is still a long way to go because "now the goal is to plant cedars and bananas in greater quantities," without giving up what she conquered under the sun, with a machete, and with her hands, which from so much work have become rough without ceasing to be tender.
