Why Tourism In San Antonio

Ned Cresswell and Carlos

Ned Cresswell, owner of the San Antonio Farm is aswering a series of questions for a virtual interview about his interesting life in the San Antonio Community, in Ecuador.

Here my first question and his response: From London to an isolated village in Ecuador

My next question is:

Why is it important for you to promote tourism in the San Antonio Community and the Intag Region?

Ned’s answer:

Well, on a grand scale of course it is not important at all! We live in a crowded world of more than 6 thousand million people, in whose struggle to survive places like Intag are destroyed every day. The story of my own country, England, shows clearly how easily most people adapt to having their environment turned into a “concrete jungle”. So, in many people’s view, the huge copper deposits of Intag would amply justify the exploitation of the area.

My own point of view is different. As a biologist, I learnt that every species eventually reaches the point at which the growth of its population is no longer possible because the natural resources on which it depends have become exhausted, and its surroundings poisoned by its own waste products. And I think that man could be at this biological crisis point, or at least very close to it. If that is true, then how mankind cares for the environment over the next decades will be of the greatest importance.

I have no solutions to such complicated worldwide problems. All I can focus on is my adopted home of Intag, helping local people to continue being healthy, happy and productive, while conserving the native forests that capture the vital rainfall and maintain the rivers during the summer months. The increasing population of Intag also means that there must be alternative sustainable sources of income to supplement farming.

Tourism is one such possible source of income, and that is why I think it is worth promoting the natural wonders of San Antonio, the cotacachi nature reserve, and of Intag. We still have water here in abundance; the Alto Choco zone of which Intag is part is one of the wettest areas on the planet. If we take care of the forests, there could be plenty of water here for the years to come.

Ned

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Thanks for your answer! I really wish sustainable tourism thrives in the region so that the forest and species could be saved.

During our visit I was impressed by the crystal clear water of the streams, which is already very rare to find even in the country side. Here’s a picture I took:

And my next question for Ned:

For you, what’s the hardest part of being in charge of a farm? Are there things you’ve learned the hard way?

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From London To A Remote Village In Ecuador

Remember about San Antonio Community I recently visited and blogged about?

In this isolated place I met Ned Cresswell, an English man who’s the owner of the San Antonio Farm, where Carlos and I stayed for a few days.

I found it very intriguing to know about Ned’s way from London to Ecuador, and about his decision to settle down in an isolated community as the only foreigner (besides, most of the locals are somehow relatives among them).

So I asked and Ned agreed to have a kind of informal interview about his life in the San Antonio Community. I’m looking forward to read his responses and I’m sure they’ll be of interest to my readers.

Here’s my first question:

Please tell us a bit about your previous life in England, why you decided to come to South America and then stay in an isolated village in Ecuador.

And Here’s What Ned Answered:

I grew up in Northumberland, which is a “province” in the North of England, bordering with Scotland. My parents are farmers, and have always loved life in the country. My happiest childhood memories are of riding horses and hunting birds in the woods – a typically destructive boy!

As I grew up, I realised that I would never be a farmer in the style of modernised, industrialised England. I studied botany, but as soon as I graduated I moved south and took work near London as a gardener. Over the next 15 years I tried a series of jobs: postman, lawyer’s assistant, driver, “noise nuisance” assistant (can you guess what that is? I don’t think it exists in Ecuador yet!). I enjoyed all these simple jobs, but never felt sufficiently interested to build a career in any one field.

In London I spent 10 years studying shotokan karate, and am very grateful for the excellent teaching that I received. I think that, without my interest in karate, it would have been difficult for me to have spent so many years in London, as I found myself increasingly reacting against many aspects of modern city life.

In 2005 I said goodbye to England and set off for a 2 year tour of central and south america, mainly working unpaid on small farms. I soon found that farming in the andes is unlike farming in England, because in the andean countries most of the farms are much smaller, and are cared for using more traditional methods by the family that owns the land. Perhaps this is partly due to the topography, which makes the land less suitable for industrialisation. I like this way of life, which I suspect was common in England 100 years ago.

My brothers expressed surprise at the news that I had decided to buy a small farm in a remote part of Ecuador, without much planning. However, I had lived under circumstances that did not really suit my character for most of my life, and so I did not need to think twice when at last I saw an opportunity to live in a way that was better fitted to my character.

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Thanks for your answer!

I get it when you say “without much planning”. The people of the community told me you made only one short visit before buying the farm. Sounds crazy!

I think it’s great you found a lifestyle that fits you and decided to go for it. I don’t see the point on struggling to live  under other people’s standards, and unfortunately it is what most people in the modernized world is trying to do.

It was fun to hear about your job as noise nuisance assistant…lol! – You don’t need one of them in your farm, for sure!

* This interview will  probably continue next week, as Ned access the Internet only on Sundays, when he goes to the town of Cuellaje.

Here’s my second question. Feel free to expand your explanations, as I myself am very interested in what you have to say.

Why is it important for you to promote tourism in the San Antonio Community and the Intag Region?

Where Have You Been Traveling, Monica?

I’ve been busy working in a new project for my Spanish Speaking Mom Readers, but before that I spent some days in a place without Internet connection.

We went to the San Antonio Farm, in the San Antonio Community, located in the Intag Region, Province of Imbabura, here in Ecuador.

Sounds like far away? Well, the access is a bit complicated but truly worth the hassle.

Here some pics:

We left clean and tidy

From the bus: San Pablo Lake and the Imbabura Volcano

After about 6 hours and 3 buses we got to Cuellaje. Not so clean anymore

Next day at the San Antonio Community. The grand-grandmother and her grand-grandsister. The 8mo baby was born at home, has been breastfed from birth, is carried on the back of her grandma, and wear diapers only part time. I was surprised to find this family traditionally practicing Elimination Communication. I had the feeling of being in a Continuum Concept workshop.

At the San Antonio Farm

Fresh carrots for dinner

A big leaf

We found other kids, of course

Fishing

In our way to milk the cows

First time milking a cow

At the school: the vegetable garden

Showing the flute to the 5th and 6th grade students

With the students of 5th and 6th grades. Carlos is the little one there

Feeding the little chickens

Horseback riding

Orchids

The locals are so gentle and friendly with kids

Flute practice

Look at the spider!

Leaving from Cuellaje back to Otavalo, in our way to Ibarra, and then Quito

I loved the place and want to go back soon

If you’re visiting Ecuador, this is a fantastic and affordable place to visit for those who like experiencing and learning from other cultures. Learn more about the San Antonio Farm and Community here: Intagtour

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